Women of Courage

Mariette Niquay-Ottawa
March 29, 2011
Manawan

"Grandmothers were clan mothers, but we don't listen to them anymore."

Mariette Niquay-Ottawa, Atikamekw

Children are at the heart of Indigenous families and communities. We need to take care of them, especially when their parents no longer can. In the past, clan mothers played this role, caring women who were respected by everyone in the family. When necessary, they knew how to use their authority to make sure the children were safe while the storm passed. Today, people no longer listen to them and there are still many children to look after. That's why Mariette Niquay-Ottawa, a grandmother, went back to work at a school.