Item I2 - Dr. Carrie Best speaking at the Women's Constitutional Conference, February 14th, 1981, Parliament Hill, Ottawa

Dr. Carrie Best speaking at the Women's Constitutional Conference, February 14th, 1981, Parliament Hill, Ottawa

International Women's Rights Project (IWRP), Interviewee: Sima Simar, Interviewer: Sally Armstrong

Item

CA ON0034 10-187-F1-I2

1 moving image (mp4): col., 1 min., 55 sec.

This video documents Dr. Carrie Best speaking at the Women's Constitutional Conference on February 14, 1981 held on Parliament Hill, Ottawa. Dr. Best was the president of the Visible Minority Women's Society of Nova Scotia and co-founded the Clarion in 1946, one of the first newspapers owned and published by Black Canadians in Nova Scotia. The description titled "Equality and Racialized Women in Canada" on Constitute.ca reads: "The marginalization of racialized women still continues in Canada. See what Dr. Carrie Best said in 1981 and Joanne St. Lewis in 2006. We still have a long way to go in Canada to address the racism in our society." Constitute.ca was a project of the International Women’s Rights Project (IWRP), University of Victoria. Dr. Best states in the video: " I really don't need to tell you that I represent a minority group, because I happen to be the only one here representing the Black women of Canada. But that's not exactly ... Correction... and an apology… Over thirty years ago, I came here when Anne Francis had her conference, and I was definitely then, the lone representative of the Black women of Canada, and I presented a brief on their behalf, and I've come a long distance today, and I find that there is only one more of us here, and I think that should tell us something as women of Canada. Now 78, I'm still only number two. I would like to commend the Native Women's Association for their resolution, and I would like to quote this for you ..." At this point in the video the chairman states: "Dr. Best, excuse me but at this point in the agenda please, questions of clarification." Then Dr. Best goes on to state in the video: "Well this is a question of clarification if you'll permit me to read it. [...] [Dr. Best reads a quote from the charter on Indigenous rights and freedoms] Then Dr. Best states in the video: "[...] and I am suggesting madam chairman, that not only do we deny the existence of certain rights, but it appears that you have denied the very existence of the Black women of Canada."