Urban Aboriginal women have higher levels of education than the female Aboriginal population in general. But this does not necessarily lead to employment. Some leave their home communities to escape physical and sexual abuse. All too typical was the woman who told of leaving home at 13 and growing up on the streets. When abuse is exposed, those networks are disrupted.
People feel powerless.
We are oppressed in our communities. Our women have no voice, nowhere to go for appeal processes. The Royal Commission to date has not heard the true story of Aboriginal women s oppression. The women are afraid to come out and speak in a public forum such as this. We are penalized if we say anything about the oppression that we have to undergo in our community.