NWAC Meets With The Prime Minister’s Office

Ottawa, ON—Today, the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) met with the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous Services Seamus O’Regan, and Minister for Women and Gender Equality Maryam Monsef.

After the historic signing of the Canada-NWAC Accord, this is the second step in establishing a renewed relationship where NWAC is recognized as a full and equal participant.

Discussions included the implementation of the Canada-NWAC Accord and the importance of our participation in the development of all policies, programs, and legislation to ensure a culturally-relevant gender based lens is applied. NWAC’s leadership and expertise ensures the specific and necessary inclusion of Indigenous women, girls, and gender diverse people.

NWAC stressed the need for social and cultural innovation initiatives including funding for culturally appropriate healing and healthcare services. With the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls closing, there is an urgent need for healing. NWAC’s upcoming Resiliency Centre led the dialogue, as it will facilitate important healing, honouring and commemoration resources and activities in NWAC’s new building.

NWAC also advocated for the full implementation of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Ongoing collaboration between NWAC and Canada on these key items is vital to advance a reconciliation process to decolonize, creating policies, programs, and legislation that enables self-determination, safety, and justice.

NWAC is optimistic this is the beginning of a productive dialogue, and an indication of Canada’s commitment to Indigenous women, girls, and gender diverse people.

After decades of discrimination the #WomenOfNWAC deserve nothing less than full equality and inclusion, followed by tangible action. #OurVoicesMatter

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For more information

Please contact: Lucy Juneau – Director of Communications.

ljuneau@nwac.ca 343-997-3756

Media Contact:

For information, or to arrange an interview, contact:

Roselie LeBlanc roselie@sparkadvocacy.ca or 604-928-3233

Pour obtenir plus d’information ou prendre des dispositions pour une interview, contacter:

Roselie LeBlanc, par courriel : roselie@sparkadvocacy.ca ou par téléphone: 604-928-3233