April 6, 1992

We did some more baking tonight and talked about visiting elders next week to visit and distribute the goodies. We'll do it on Tuesday afternoon. There's no use trying to set up times as we'll have to work around the elders who aren't likely to stick to a scheduled time.

We also decided tonight that Wednesday, April 15 would be our last class. The evenings are getting too light and mild with spring coming. I'm finding it very difficult to go to class. Rather than let the class die, I think it'll be better to end it now.

April 8, 1992

We finished baking tonight. We went over our plans for the next week which involve quite a few events outside of class - visiting elders, shopping for our end of year party, and the wind-up party for the whole Learning Centre.

This last week I've thought about what I want to say about me as a white woman working with aboriginal women.

First, it's important to differentiate between my situation and, say, a white instructor with Black or aboriginal women in southern Canada. In Arviat, I'm part of a five per cent minority in the community and part of the minority in the whole NWT. The women I work with are from here. Period. Their ancestors for thousands of years are from here. They use their language every day.

I am, though, part of the culture which dominates in many ways, even though it's a minority. I do have more access to a power base many of the women in the class don't have yet. I have access to resources they don't. On the other hand, they have access to power and resources unavailable to me.

Second, I realize what I get out of the Women's Upgrading Program is a means of connecting to the community and to women's lives in a situation where people are divided, to varying degrees, according to race. I get to know about the people around me and learn about life. At times I feel like I get more out of the program than the ones who are supposed to be the learners.

This hit home last week when I was on the phone to my neighbour. As we talked, a few things that are going on in the community came out. I realized that I wouldn't know about these things if it weren't for the program. I don't really know that I'm learning until someone or something asks me to reflect.

I don't know if it's the media or me that's changing, but lately everything I read or hear on the radio is about feminism.

May 1, 1992

I was shocked this morning when I looked back and saw my last journal entry was three weeks ago. It's taking me quite a bit of time this morning to get back into the stream of writing this journal. I look at the book where I usually keep a quick penciled record of what happened in class, and thoughts, feelings. discussions I've had in the past few days. Oh no, it's virtually blank since April 8!