Indigenous people lived on the land we now call Canada long before paper money was even invented, but an Indigenous person has never before been honoured on a banknote.
That鈥檚 something a new campaign is hoping to change.
The Native Women鈥檚 Association of Canada launched 鈥淐hange the Bill鈥� in January, a campaign aiming to get an Indigenous woman on the $20 bill.
鈥淲e hope to influence the Bank of Canada in a positive way to actually achieve that goal of 鈥� an Indigenous woman on that $20 bill, and get to people鈥檚 hearts,鈥� Lynne Groulx, CEO of the Native Women鈥檚 Association of Canada, told CTV鈥檚 Your Morning on Wednesday.
鈥淭he idea has come about because, as you know, Indigenous women have made contributions in Canada, very historic and important ones, and we鈥檙e at a time where a lot of people are talking about reconciliation, and we just felt that this was a beautiful way 鈥� reconciliation through art, featuring these amazing stories of these women who have made these wonderful contributions.鈥�
More than 20,000 people so far hoping to bring the project to the attention of the central bank.
As part of the project, Indigenous artists were commissioned to reimagine the $20 bill with the faces of both notable Indigenous women who have made significant contributions to history, as well as inspiring figures from individual artists鈥� communities.
One of the women featured is Margaret Pictou, an Indigenous women who joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War II and was featured on recruitment posters to encourage women to enlist.
鈥淪he was a photographer ... her role was to take photographs of bridges 鈥� she had to literally swing upside down from an airplane to get these aerial shots,鈥� Groulx said. 鈥淟ater on in her life, she became the first Indigenous female chief in Canada, and then she was also a strong advocate for her language, Mi鈥檏maw language in her community.鈥�
Another design honours activist Cindy Blackstock.
鈥淪he is the leading advocate for Indigenous children in this country,鈥� Groulx said. 鈥淪he filed a case of discrimination against the government of Canada more than 15 years ago and was successful in having that brought to the Human Rights Tribunal. And a settlement award was ultimately in place for discrimination against Indigenous children on reserve.鈥�
A third design honours Josephine Mandamin, who walked 17,000 kilometres around the shorelines of the Great Lakes carrying a bucket of water to raise awareness of water pollution and the need to protect our waterways.
鈥淭here鈥檚 healing through art,鈥� Groulx said. 鈥淩econciliation can happen through art. It transcends different cultures.鈥�
The campaign is hoping to reach 25,000 signatures.
More information on the campaign , where art prints of the reimagined $20 bill can also be purchased.
