North’s memoir shows a woman of action, a leader, a “thriver”

Sheila North is an accomplished Cree woman.

She was the first woman to serve as grand chief for the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO). She placed second to incumbent Perry Bellegarde in the 2018 election for Assembly of First Nations (AFN) national chief, arguably a paving stone on RoseAnne Archibald’s path to becoming the first woman national chief in 2021. She has been a journalist with a number of news organizations, including CBC, where she has returned to continue her career after unsuccessfully challenging for the position of grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) last year.

Yet, North admits, when Great Plain Publications approached her to write her memoir, she surprised herself by realizing “I did have a lot to write about in a short life.” The result is My Privilege, My Responsibility.

As a journalist, a career North dreamed about since being a child, she has told the stories of many. However, telling her own story was difficult.

Finding the memories was easy, she says, but some “were a little bit triggering at times.”

“Even experiences around bullying,” said North. “The same things and abuse you feel as a child, they pretty much feel the same as an adult. That was kind of surprising to me.”

Reflecting on those childhood memories took the gloss off some of them as North came to understand that many were underpinned by an Indigenous reality; “the health condition of our people, in general, makes us the most vulnerable people in Canada,” she says.

Sharing her story reminded her that other people had similar experiences, but not everyone ends up in the same space. For North those experiences included abuse as a youngster, an unhealthy marriage, raising two children as a single mother, experiencing racism, poverty and food insecurity, and struggling to get an education.

“A lot of people have told me also that they see themselves, they see similar stories. That was what I learned. That I was, I guess, a survivor, a thriver, in a lot of ways. And I’m grateful for that. I feel bad for many that are still struggling … and in a lot of ways I am still struggling, but I do definitely feel that I’m a thriver and I celebrate others and also try to work with people who are not feeling that way yet,” she said.

North, a member of Bunibonibee Cree Nation, writes her story with grace, seeing love and beauty in the people who make questionable decisions. She credits her parents and grandparents for setting that example for her.

“I remember conversations that they had and the actions that they had that would show a lot of forgiveness and a lot of patience for people and realizing that people are the way they are because of these experiences beyond their control,” said North. Understanding this makes her compassionate.

But what she won’t put up with is people whose behaviour is hateful or abusive toward others and she calls them out—not all by name—in My Privilege, My Responsibility.

The first half of North’s book relays her lived experiences and sets her up for the second part of her book, and arguably the second half of her life, where those experiences create a strong woman who chooses a path of advocacy and leadership.

North recounts being at the forefront of numerous issues: as the creator of the MMIW hastag, her push to get missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls onto the radar of male Indigenous leaders; the advent of the Idle No More movement; and the success of Rock the Vote for the 2019 federal election.

She talks about being recruited to run for the MKO, AFN and AMC. During those races, North writes that she experienced sexism and bullying on an ongoing basis. They weren’t easy campaigns.

“For Indigenous people, I realize there are many things that cause people to act the way they do, including being misogynistic or ignorant,” writes North of the AFN campaign. “Indigenous peoples have been forced to absorb the racism they’re subjected to and came to believe that they are lesser people. That causes some to lash out against each other. What hurt the most was seeing and hearing adults, respected adults, who’ve also come through so much in life, act like bullies I’ve come across my whole life.”

North has returned to her career as a journalist and is presently hosting Winnipeg News Late Night. That doesn’t mean her days in politics are over.

“Never say never,” she said. “There’s definitely people still talking to me about these things and…Elders have taught me and told me to always listen to the people, what they want, and sometimes you don’t have a choice. It’s your responsibility to step up at a certain time in our lives.”

For Indigenous people who read her memoir, North wants them to understand they may not be where they want to be at this point, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get there.

For non-Indigenous people, she’s hoping her memoir opens their eyes to the realities facing Indigenous people and women in particular.

“We don’t choose to be victims. We don’t choose to be living in poverty. We don’t choose to have a lack of education. We try. And I think Canada and the world is missing out on brilliant experts and professional experts in our lives because we didn’t give the same opportunities to Indigenous people as we do non-Indigenous people in terms of education and access to health and things that contribute to overall well-being,” said North.

My Privilege, My Responsibility is available at major bookstores and online.

Local Journalism Initiative Reporters are supported by a financial contribution made by the Government of Canada.