By CJME News

A chief’s story: attacked for being an aboriginal woman

Mar 3, 2015 | 6:50 AM

As people across the country gather for roundtables to discuss missing and murdered indigenous women, a Saskatchewan leader is adding her personal story to the conversation about violence towards aboriginal women.

Kimberly Jonathan, now the interim leader of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, had just left a woman’s sweat in Fort Qu’Appelle and was carrying her bags into her motel room. A man approached her as she went to unlock the door asking for a cigarette. Jonathan told him she didn’t have one, and turned to go inside her room.

“At that point, I was grabbed from behind by the hair, pulled down to the ground, and was dragged.”

“I struggled. I kicked. I fought for what I believed to be my life,” Jonathan described as she spoke withCJME on Monday afternoon. 

Jonathan was able to get away from her attacker that night, but she says she believes she was targeted simply because she is an aboriginal woman.

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“We can no longer blame the victim. This can happen to any indigenous woman. It can happen to anyone.”

Now as a chief, Jonathan has had to face more adversity. She had at least one man tell her that he and his people would not support her candidacy unless she slept with him.

It was at that point that Jonathan’s mother asked her if she was sure she wanted to be a chief.

“This is exactly why I’m running. I’m not running to get reelected. I’m not running to get any special, personal favours or recognition. I’m here for the people.”

Right now, the people Jonathan is most worried about are woman like her and the many who have gone missing across the country.

Jonathan continues to call for a national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous woman. Until that happens, she’s glad to see that people are starting to take action, and having the conversation about these women.

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow