Everything is Going to Be Alright

Monday, December 26, 2011 by Michelle

Last winter, in the depths of a miserable night of rain and my own life's sadness, I was coming home from a class on the Skytrain. Just out of Stadium Station, I looked North and saw a neon sign that surprised me with a message that read, "Everything is Going to be Alright". This unexpected message of hope and optimism lifted me out of the sadness that had been engulfing me in that moment, and truly made me feel hope, even if only briefly. "Yes, yes, it will be alright. Even if it won't really be alright, surely it will be alright." Sometimes art makes that kind of difference. Sometimes art makes ALL the difference.

Of a Certain Age

Thursday, December 8, 2011 by Michelle

Over the past year, I’ve been mildly afflicted by an occasional slight fever. Oddly, it’s usually near the end of my menstrual cycle, then it just clears up. It’s very strange, now that I think of it, that I always seem to be on my way to being sick without actually arriving.

I suddenly realized the other day, “as a woman of a certain age”, that I may be having mild hot flashes. Because they’re dressed as a pleasant warmth to my face, it honestly didn’t occur to me it was anything but an occasional mild bug. I guess I was thinking perimenopause would be flashier and more dramatic. The “Oh, Someone Open a Window NOW!” kind of intensity, with lots of sweat and a complete disregard for the chattering teeth of those around me.

Then, for the first time since the age of 11, I skipped a period. Sailed right over it. It didn’t even say “whoosh” when it went sweeping by; it just didn’t show up. I still had my usual back discomfort (twice this cycle) and other mild symptoms, but nothing happened. (I just hope it doesn’t overcompensate because I’m really liking this!)

Oh, and I’ve noticed over the past year or so that I’m craving creative outlets; I’m knitting again, am quilting more, and am taking a sewing class so I can make myself a dress. These aren’t odd for me as I've always been a crafty woman, but it is interesting that there a sense of a little urgency to it for me now.

If this is perimenopause, I’m very happy with it!

Remembering, on December 6th

Tuesday, December 6, 2011 by Michelle

On December 6th, 1989 at École Polytechnique in Montreal, Quebec Canada, 14 women were killed and 10 more people injured by a man who claimed he was fighting feminism. He then shot himself. He left behind a suicide note that blamed feminists for ruining his life. The note included a list of nineteen Quebec women whom he considered to be feminists and apparently wished to kill.

I remember walking down the halls in a fog at Simon Fraser University as an undergraduate when I heard the news, scared of male classmates and what they may conceal in their hearts and backpacks. And I remember the sorrow I felt for these women and their families, friends and classmates.

Let’s remember these sisters today as we continue to work for a better world for women, one where we can all live, work and study in an environment of respect and safety

(first paragraph of was mostly pinched from a well-written communique from BC Society of Transition Houses)

Attawapiskat First Nation

Friday, November 25, 2011 by Michelle

I wrote a letter to my local MP (yes, I do that sort of thing) about the state of emergency in the Attawapiskat First Nation. The tragedy is, I believe, a continuation of institutionalized racism and underlines the lack of government concern for the well-being of the aboriginal people of Canada. This has been going on for YEARS. I will be following up with the government officials noted below Libby Davies' response (note that links may be broken, but you can cut and paste). Please take a moment to do so as well.

Thanks

Michelle

Dear Michelle,

Thank you for contacting my office regarding the housing crisis in Attawapiskat First Nation. We have received many offers of help from average Canadians and this response of goodwill has been very inspiring. Unfortunately, since the state of emergency was declared in Attawapiskat, not a single federal or provincial official has visited the community.

On October 18th, 2011 the community of Attawapiskat declared a state of emergency because of the immediate health threat faced by families living in tents and makeshift sheds in the isolated, far north community. This crisis has been years in the making, as a result of chronic underfunding. There are major concerns about the adequacy of the water and sewage system. The housing backlog has reached crisis proportions.

Attawapiskat First Nation has been fighting for years for the most basic services other Canadians take for granted. The community has had no grade school for the past 12 years. Frustrated children in the community launched their own national fight to shame the government into building them a grade school. This fight is being taken by the children all the way to the United Nations. The story of this fight can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gy38grr35c

The Federal government has promised to allocate $500,000 to remediate some abandoned houses in the community. However, this is little more than a band-aid solution as the abandoned houses are in serious state of advanced decay. At most, there may be three or four abandoned shacks that can be repaired with this money.

What is needed is a long-term commitment to ensuring adequate housing and infrastructure for this community.

To ensure his office is aware of your support for this issue, I am Cc'ing my colleague, Charlie Angus, on this message. If you have not yet seen the YouTube footage from Charlie's visit to the community on November 7th, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6abZ0LFT5CQ

The people of Attawapiskat desperately need your help. We are looking at a fundraising drive to help bring supplies. We will be back in touch as soon as we have plans in place.

In the meantime, we are pleading with people to contact your Members of Provincial and Federal Parliament asking them to support the people of Attawapiskat First Nation. To this end, I am including below contact information to help you with reaching the elected officials who should be concerned with this issue. Encourage others at your church, community groups, schools or in your workplace to do so as well.

Thanks again for writing on this important issue, and please stay in touch.

Sincerely,

Libby

******

Office of the Prime Minister

House of Commons

Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca

Honourable John Duncan

Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

House of Commons

Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

E-mail: john.duncan@parl.gc.ca

Kathleen Wyne

Minister of Aboriginal Affairs

160 Bloor St East, 4th floor

Toronto, ON M7A 2E6

E-mail: minister.maa@ontario.ca

Premier Dalton McGuinty

Legislative Building

Queen's Park

Toronto, ON M7A 1A1

E-mail: dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org