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Blanche Brillon Macdonald (11 May 1931 – 8 June 1985) was a Canadian Métis born in Faust, Alberta of French and First Nations heritage.〔(The History of Metropolitan Vancouver's Hall of Fame )〕 She launched her career as the winner of Miss English Bay in 1949 before becoming involved in the support of the rights and culture of Aboriginal peoples as well as numerous women's organizations. ==Métis identity== Blanche Macdonald grew up in a very proud Métis family. Given the social conditions in the 1930s of tension between the Indigenous population and European settlers, being Métis meant fighting much harder for your spot in society. The influence of Blanche’s Cree-speaking grandmother, along with witnessing traditional Aboriginal practices as a part of everyday life rooted the rest of Blanche’s life as a proud, strong Aboriginal woman. In the 1960s, Blanche started to reclaim her Indigenous identity and become more involved in the Aboriginal community in Vancouver. 1 year after the Friendship Centre opened (called The Vancouver Indian Centre at the time), she was sitting on the board. Blanche also worked with First Nations designers and discovered and promoted Indigenous models. Blanche ran Self Appreciation classes in prisons (for men and women) at Oakalla, Matsqui and Maples Women’s Prison. Blanche was working for the United Native Nations of which she organized the first ever United Native Nations Conference, the Friendship Centre, and was a founding member of the Professional Native Woman’s Association. Blanche was a business woman at a time and place in history when the climate for women in business was not favourable. She became involved in the First Nations women's movement, eventually initiating a journalism program for Native students as well as a newspaper catering towards First Nation communities across British Columbia. For her work, she was honored with a Women of Distinction Award〔(Past Recipients - YWCA Vancouver )〕 from the YWCA for business and entrepreneurship as well as for her role as the Chief Executive Officer of the Native Communications Society of B.C. She was a board member for the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the Modelling Association of America,〔(Modelling Association of America )〕 the New Play Centre, and the Lakeside Advisory Board for Women. Blanche was living with her children on the Musqueam Indian Reserve in the 80s and was also teaching classes to Musqueam youth from her home. In 1980, Blanche was adopted into the James Sewid Family at an Alert Bay Potlatch Ceremony. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Blanche Brillon Macdonald」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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