Cape Breton union leader wants to take Indigenous women into decision-making places

Terri Leigh Gould is the First Mi'kmaq woman from Unama'ki (Cape Breton) and Mi'kma'ki to be elected for the position of Atlantic Region's women's representative for the National Indigenous Peoples' Circle with PSAC. The Eskasoni First Nation woman hopes to see more programs and services for Indigenous members and more training in leadership roles and support for PSAC members. CONTRIBUTED Article content An Eskasoni teacher’s assistant wants to bring voices of Indigenous women into spaces where decisions are made. Article content She’ll now have an opportunity to do that since her June election to a national leadership position within the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). Article content Article content Terri Leigh Gould, who’s spirit name is Standing Buffalo, is now the Atlantic Region’s women’s representative for the National Indigenous Peoples’ Circle with PSAC. Article content Article content She is the first Mi’kmaq woman from Unama’ki (Cape Breton) and Mi’kma’ki to be elected for this position, replacing Angela Decker of Newfoundland and Labrador. The National Indigenous Peoples’ Circle (NIPC) was created in 2003 to give Indigenous members the opportunity to come together and discuss issues that affect them in the workplace, in their communities and at national and international levels. Article content Gould currently works in education as a teacher’s assistant at Eskasoni Elementary and Middle School. Article content “Education is very important to me because our young people are the next generation of leaders, workers, advocates and knowledge keepers,” she says. Article content She has a long history of involvement with the union. She is the women’s representative for her local Eskasoni Teacher’s Union DCL 80510, and serves on the local bargaining team. She is involved in the Cape Breton Area Council. Article content Presently, the Eskasoni Teacher’s Union is advocating for privacy rights in light of facial scanning systems being used in the workplaces. The union says it has serious concerns about where their biometric data is being stored – considering the program originates from the United States. Article content Article content The facial recognition is being used to gauge employee attendance. The Eskasoni Teacher’s Union has asked the school board to pause the scanning until their concerns and questions have been addressed. Article content Eskasoni teacher’s assistant and PSAC member Terri Leigh Gould stands at…