From Her Coastal Village to Geneva — Addressing Sex Discrimination in the Indian Act – CFN

November 6, 2024

K̓áwáziɫ Marilyn Slett is familiar with the international stage. As the elected chief of the Haíłzaqv (Heiltsuk) Nation, Slett has advocated for Indigenous rights across the country and across the globe. As she made the long journey from her coastal village of Waglisla (Bella Bella) to Geneva, Switzerland, she got deeply emotional, reflecting on the contents of the statement she was delivering to a United Nations Committee on ongoing issues of sexism and discrimination.

On October 14, Slett attended the 89th session of the Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), where the Committee reviewed Canada for its compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women and met with Indigenous organizations and women’s rights NGOs from across the country. Slett was entrusted with delivering a joint statement to summarize concerns with the ways in which the Indian Act has discriminated against women and their descendants, including members of her family and community.

“I got emotional on the plane on the way to Geneva… reading and thinking about families, women and the ongoing discrimination,” says Chief Slett over the phone, a few weeks after the event. “We wanted to make sure we were clear in our messaging… I felt a lot of weight and responsibility.”