Policy Sectors
Use this search tool to navigate through our various programs and policy pages.
Policy Sectors
The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is a national Indigenous organization representing political voices of Indigenous women, girls, and gender diverse people in Canada. NWAC is inclusive of First Nations—on- and off-reserve, status, non-status, and disenfranchised—Inuit, and Métis. An aggregate of Indigenous women’s organizations from across the country, NWAC was founded on a collective goal to enhance, promote, and foster social, economic, cultural, and political well-being of Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people in their respective communities and Canadian societies.
Since 1974, NWAC has established strong and lasting governance structures, decision-making processes, financial policies and procedures, and networks, to achieve its overall mission, vision, and goals. Today, NWAC engages in national and international advocacy aimed at legislative and policy reforms to promote equality for Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, gender diverse, and LGBTQQAI+ people. Through advocacy, policy, and legislative analysis, NWAC works to preserve Indigenous culture and advance the wellbeing of all Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people, as well as their families and communities.
NWAC works on a variety of issues, including: Employment, labour and business, health, violence prevention and safety, justice and human rights, environment, early learning childcare, and international affairs.
NWAC provides support much like a “Grandmother’s Lodge.” We—as aunties, mothers, sisters, brothers, and relatives—collectively recognize, respect, promote, defend, and enhance our Indigenous ancestral laws, spiritual beliefs, language, and Traditions provided by the Creator.
Click the button below to download the Accord for Native Women's Association of Canada:
Advocate for and inspire women, girls, 2SLGBTQQAI+ people, and the families of many Indigenous nations.
We envision an inclusive world that understands and respects the diversity and uniqueness of all Indigenous women, girls, 2SLGBTQQAI+ people, and families.
We envision Indigenous communities where all individuals have an opportunity to develop their talents to achieve their full potential.
We envision communities where all people can lead healthy lifestyles by maintaining balance in their spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health.
We envision communities that build a sense of pride and a strong identification of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQAI+ people, as well as who they are.
We seek to broaden Knowledge of issues affecting Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and their relationships with the environment and the land.
We see communities where all our people have an opportunity to learn our history and Traditional Ways, while attaining a high level of academic education.
We envision Indigenous children who are proud of who they are, and comfortable in a predominantly non-Indigenous environment.
We see communities where all Indigenous Peoples understand, respect, and embrace diversities and uniqueness of all Indigenous nations, while actively accepting and exercising their responsibilities in contributing to strong communities.
We see communities working in unity with all other Indigenous organizations to strengthen, and maintain, Indigenous and treaty rights, as well as assume responsibility in selecting leaders.
Finally, we see Indigenous communities with authority to determine how natural resources are utilized, and that can coexist in cooperation with society–free of racism and discrimination.
The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) strives to achieve its strategic goals and objectives by overcoming risks and challenges to harness opportunities that build on strengths. We accomplish this by:
1. Building a strong, resilient organization, through internal capacity building.
2. Being a full and equal participant on key issues of relevance to Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people, and their families.
3. Increasing communication and resource capacities of all Provincial and Territorial Member Associations (PTMAs).
4. Building leadership capacity for Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people.
NWAC’s objectives, or principles, are as follows:
• To be the national voice for Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people.
• To address issues in a manner that reflects changing needs of Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people in Canada.
• To assist and promote common goals of self-determination and self-sufficiency for Indigenous Peoples in roles of mothers and leaders.
• To promote equal opportunities for Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people in all programs and activities.
• To serve as a resource among our constituents and Indigenous communities.
• To cultivate and teach characteristics that are unique to our cultural and historical Traditions.
• To assist Indigenous women’s organizations, as well as community initiatives, in the development of local projects.
• To advance issues and concerns of Indigenous women, bringing together Indigenous organizations with common goals.
The Board of Directors holds responsibility for the overall governance of NWAC. It passes all resolutions with regard to new initiatives undertaken by NWAC personnel and its members. The Board meets on a regular basis to evaluate, review, and provide direction to the president, PTMAs, and administrative staff.
407 Black Street
Whitehorse, YT
Y1A 2N2
Tel: 867-667-6162
Website: yawc.ca
President
Terri Szabo
867-689-1149
NWAC BOD Representative
Lorraine O’Brien
lorrwesjo@hotmail.com
867-689-1149
Vice -President
Susan Burns
867-689-1149
Executive Director & Office Manager
Emilie Dory
867-667-6162 x 1007
Youth
Katelyne Magun-Wolftail
5114 - 49th Street
Yellowknife, NT
X1A 2P7
Tel: 867-873-5509
Website: nativewomensnwt.com
President
Denise McDonald
Denise.mcdonald@northwestel.net
867-678-4303
NWAC BOD Representative
Grace Blake
867-446-0698
Vice -President
Brenda Gauthier
867-872-0526
Executive Director & Office Manager
Brenda Norris
867-873-5509
Youth
Jody Zoe (NWT)
144 Briar Avenue
Kamloops, BC
V2B 1C1
Tel: 250-554-4556
President
Gena Edwards
250-318-4673
Vice -President
Lynn Kenoras-Duckchief
250-318-1158
Executive Director & Office Manager
Bernie Charlie
Bernie.charlie@shaw.ca
Youth
Natalie Sterling-Moses
109 Burnside Dr.
Kirkland Lake, ON
P2N 3P9
Tel: 855-647-7874
Website: keepersofthecircle.com
President
Nancy Wabie
n.wabie@keepersofthecircle.com
705-642-5074
NWAC BOD Representative
Alexandra Bridges
855-647-7874
Vice -President
Alexandra Bridges
855-647-7874
Executive Director & Office Manager
Arlene Hache
a.hache@keepersofthecircle.com
855-647-7874
Youth
Brianna Julien (ON)
briannajulien123@gmail.com
2 Herald Avenue Suite 210
Millbrook Mall
Corner Brook, NL A2H 4B5
Tel: 709-632-3700
Website: nnwa.ca
President
Cathy Halbot
709-632-3114
NWAC BOD Representative
Cathy Halbot
709-632-3114
Vice -President
Erica Hurley
709-632-3700
Youth
Brooke Blanchard
52 Martin Crescent
Truro, NS
B2N 6N7
Tel: 902-893-7402
Website: nsnwa.ca
President
Bernadette Marshall
Mobile: 902-324-9600
NWAC BOD Representative
Bernadette Marshall
Mobile: 902-324-9600
Vice -President
Annie Gibbit Stevens
902-565-4297
902-379-2800
Executive Director & Office Manager
Karen Pictou
902-893-7402
Youth
Anissa Blackmore
312 Sweetgrass Trail
PO Box 145
Lennox Island, PEI
C0B 1P0
Tel: 902-831-3059
Website: awapel.org
President
Matilda Ramjattan
902-831-3059 Ext 228
902 888-7479
NWAC BOD Representative
Matilda Ramjattan
902-831-3059 Ext 228
902 888-7479
Vice -President
Kristin Lewis
902-831-3059
Youth
Alyssa Jo Bernard
youth@awapei.org
902-960-1409
18104 – 102 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
T5S 1S7
Tel: 780-479-8195
Website: laaw.ca
President
Lisa Weber
780-479-8195
NWAC BOD Representative
Lisa Weber
780-479-8195
Vice -President
Marggo Pariseau
780-244-8307
780-935-8747
Executive Director & Office Manager
Rachelle Venne
780-965-3215
Youth
Erica Gladue
736 Iglulik Drive
Iqaluit, NU, X0A 0H0
Tel: 867-979-5357
Tel: 800-263-1452
Website: amautiit.ca
President
Madeleine Redfern
867-979-1167
NWAC BOD Representative
Madeleine Redfern
867-979-1167
Executive Director & Office Manager
Victoria Perron
867-223-4536
Youth
Ningeolaa Killiktee
301-286 Smith St,
Winnipeg, MB
R3C 1K4
Tel: 204- 942-1828
Website: manitobamoonvoices.com
President
Co-Chairs
Denise Cook
204-999-2426
Melissa Critch
204-960-0020
NWAC BOD Representative
Denise Cook
204-999-2426
Vice-President
Co-Chairs
Executive Director & Office Manager
Shannon Hoskie
204-942-1828
Youth
Jessie Harper-Langford
431-778-4359
152 Main Street,
Fredericton, NB
E3A 1C8
Tel: 506-206-8220
Fax: 506-206-8221
Website: iwwt.ca
President
Brandy Stanovich
506-324-1282
Vice -President
Amy Sock
506-523-3826
Executive Director & Office Manager
Katalin Eve Koller
506-260-1331
Youth
Mariah Deleavey
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest from NWAC, our events, partners and supporters. You can unsubscribe anytime.
© 2022 Native Woman's Association of Canada
