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Local events coming up to celebrate International Women’s Day

Mar 8, 2017 | 11:02 AM

Today is International Women’s Day, a day recognized globally to honour women’s advancements in society while remembering the struggles of the past.

As many areas in our region get set to host events today, the Battlefords and Cut Knife have special celebrations planned for later this month.

“Strength & Resilience of Indigenous Women” is an evening event with stories, arts, sharing circles and a flea market. The celebration will take place on Sunday, March 19 at the Senior Centre in Cut Knife and Saturday, March 25 at the Pioneer Hall in North Battleford.

“We’ve made great improvements in regards to women’s issues,” Marcella Pedersen the Women’s Advisory Chair with National Farmers Union Region said. “We have female astronauts [and] prime ministers. Women can work and have a family. Women have real choices today.”

Both events will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner served that evening. Inspirational stories will be highlighted and participants are encouraged to bring art to either display or sell.

“In recent years the tone of International Women’s Day has transformed from being a reminder of the negatives to a celebration of the positives,” Pedersen said. “We realize that it was only 100 years ago that women got the right to vote and when you think about it was only in 1929 we were recognized legally as persons.”

Pedersen also noted she feels Indigenous women’s issues are also starting to be addressed.

“I am absolutely positive that most of the First Nations women can see that with the Idle No More Movement, Missing and Murdered Women, Truth and Reconciliation and Standing Rock, your voices are being heard that all people no matter where they live need love, shelter, food, air and land.”

Tickets for the dinner are $15 and available in Cut Knife at the Pharmacy and in North Battleford at the Co-op Pharmacy.

 

Email: roger.white@gmail.ca

Twitter: battlefordsNow