Bertha Clark Jones
1st president, Native Women’s Association of Canada
Recipient, 2007 Aboriginal Lifetime Achievement Award

Where were you born?
I was born in Clear Hills, Alberta.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a young person, I wanted to be a nurse. We only had schooling up to Grade 9 and I did not want to go away from home at that time. I had a doctor in Battle River, he was from Brantford, Ontario. The hospital at that time was run by the United Church and he said if you want to go, I can find you a good home in Brantford. But it was just a little too scary for a bush girl. I was only 16.

Who was inspirational in your life?
I guess my eldest brother always encouraged us. His name was Max. He was a boxer. He was such a good man, a good-living man. He worked up north all the time and he always encouraged us to do right and get an education.

What was your first job?
I worked at the hospital when I was still in school and after I couldn’t go any further in school, I worked at the hospital, not as a nurse but general duties.

Then what happened?
Then the war broke out, my sister and her husband moved to Grande Prairie, so I went and lived with them, worked around there until I joined (the Air Force). I was Physical Training and Drill Instructor.

How did you become involved in the Native women’s movement?
It wasn’t actually for me. I could see that the women in isolated communities, that there was a great need. We used to have conferences and they’d come up with their concerns. We got really involved in isolated communities with the women to help them to achieve their goals.

How have things changed?
They now have the opportunity, especially here in Alberta—where there’s so much oil industry—and many of our aboriginal young women are taking trades courses and making really very good money and they’re doing well.

What’s been your greatest challenge?
I guess the greatest challenge is if you’re not educated, you’ve got to work that much harder to keep within the employment flow.

Do you feel you’ve made a difference?
I think so. Like I stated when I received my award that you don’t do these things by yourself. We just had a really very, very active, strong organization in Alberta which was called the Voice of Alberta Native Women Society. There were many very good women there who really worked well and I credit them for my achievements.

What are your dreams now?