The Journey from Patriarchal Norms to the Emergence of Matriarchal Societies

In my Bachelor's of Indigenous Social Work, I wrote a research essay for the course "Indigenous Women's Studies and Gender Diversity". I believe, and the research I have done up to this point clearly shows, how the destruction of our matrilineal, family - centric and community-driven nations was a key strategy utilized by the colonial state to divide and conquer the Indigenous population of Turtle Island. The introduction of a patriarchal system and the "three c's of colonization, capitalism and Christianity" displaced women from their traditional role as the matriarchs of their families and as having equal and varying roles beside the men within the community. I reflect on this in the excerpt of my essay:

"Despite the enforcement of patriarchal norms, there has been a quiet movement of Indigenous women, operating in the background of daily life, who have continued to pass on traditional teachings and knowledge to both family and community in order to restore gender balance within community and national governance; to restore the Matriarchal roles within nation and workplace; and, to decolonize and Indigenize the patriarchal education system we call Academia. Moreover, while the fight against colonial hetero-patriarchal mainstream society may have seemed daunting at times, Indigenous women have been utilizing strength and resiliency drawn from their ancestors to restore and reclaim their rightful places and turn patriarchal hierarchy into matriarchal and gender balanced equality to benefit the greater good, returning the power of Indigenous women to their traditional state of family Matriarchs, Chiefs and councillors, and strong business women."

    “Where are your women?” a question posed by Cherokee Chief Attakullakulla (one of my Grandfathers) upon meeting a colonial United States (US) delegation. As Marilou Awiakta reports, Chief Attakullakulla's party included women "as famous in war, as powerful in the council," while the US party included only men (1993, 9). In terms of governance, where were (are) their women.” (Lawrence, B. & Anderson, K. 2005, p.1) Traditional roles of Indigenous women included serving as council and as leaders in both war and peace."

" “…the gathering and preparation of furs involved a considerable amount of female labour, from making clothes and equipment for hunters and trappers, to cleaning and drying pelts…women played an essential role in the commerce that was the principal reason for the {fur trading} company's existence.” (Van Kirk, 1983). “Colonial governments historically refused to negotiate with Indigenous women, accepting only male representatives when discussing terms of relationship. They then actively disempowered women by attacking the clan systems and other forms of female representation, and by making it illegal for Indian women in Canada to take part in the band councils that replaced traditional Indigenous governments." (Lawrence, B. & Anderson, K., 2005, p.1). Furthermore, they taught their Indigenous male counterparts to treat their women in the exact same manner. The Indian Act of 1876 took away not only any female representation within Indigenous governance but also made women subservient to their male counterparts."

While many people perceive matriarchy as placing the women at the top of a heirarchical system in the same manner patriarchy works, this is not the case at all. Matriarchy is a non-hierarchical system in which everyone has a voice, with women placed on equal footing with men in all decision-making, and with children and Elders central to the community. Everyone has a role to play. Furthermore, decision-making is consensus-based and not from the top-down hetero-patriarchal fashion that was imposed upon us. The saying that it takes a village to raise a child comes from Matriarchal systems. Everyone has a role within their communities, and community members look after one another.

In a time where mental health statistics have never been higher than they are now, where 54% of children in care are Indigenous, and our rates of poverty and homelessness are at levels not seen before, we need change. Traditional Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing have much to teach about how communities can thrive when everyone works together rather than against one another out of fear and greed. Capitalism is a system of extraction and profit and has created a breaking point within society - Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike - we are in great need of change, and that change includes dismantling the patriarchal and hierarchical system we live in now. When all members of a community work together instead of against one another, a sense of unity and belonging returns. The mental health crisis would gradually lessen, poverty rates would drop, and we would be happier and healthier overall. Families would relearn how to function, and extended families would thrive again. Many of the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual issues we face today could be solved if we returned to a system that served everyone, and not just the few at the top who thrive on ego and power. Everyone would play an important role in the well-being of all.

As someone who grew up carrying the legacy of intergenerational trauma caused by hundreds of years of the oppression of colonization, I am a great advocate for the healing journey, including the healing of this systemic oppression we still live under. This trauma impacted every area of my life, including the type of parent I was, the type of partners I had, the types of jobs I held and let go of because of poor self-esteem and self-image, hypervigilance, and a lack of the skills I just didn't learn because of ancestral family breakdown. These things were not just a "me" problem, but a reflection of the larger systemic issues that patriarchal governance created long ago. I advocate for individual, community and systemic healing that absolutely needs to happen so that everyone experiencing mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health issues can get better and thrive! The matriarchy is alive, and there is a movement of Indigenous women and women of all nations who are pushing for these changes for the benefit of all. It is time.