Native Women's Association of Canada facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | NWAC |
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| Formation | 1974 |
| Type | National Aboriginal organization |
| Purpose | Advocate and public voice, educator and network |
| Headquarters | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
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Region served
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Canada |
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Official language
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English, French |
The Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) is a national organization for Indigenous people in Canada. It speaks for Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people. This includes First Nations people (both on and off reserves), Métis, and Inuit.
NWAC was started in 1974. Its main goal is to help Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people. They want to improve their social, economic, cultural, and political well-being. This means helping them in their own communities and in Canadian society.
Since 1974, NWAC has worked to make things better. They speak up for equal rights for Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse people, including LGBTQ+ people. They also work to protect Indigenous cultures.
NWAC works on many important topics. These include jobs, health, safety, justice, human rights, and the environment. They also focus on early learning for children and international issues.
Contents
How NWAC Started and Grew
NWAC began in 1974. It was formed by 13 groups of Indigenous women from all over Canada. Their goals were to keep Indigenous cultures strong and to achieve equal chances for Indigenous women. They also wanted to help create laws that would affect Indigenous women.
NWAC is led by a president and a board of directors. These leaders work with local Indigenous women's groups. They share information and ideas. The board also checks the work of the president and the groups in each province and territory.
NWAC's Fight for a Voice
In 1992, the Canadian government was discussing a big agreement called the Charlottetown Accord. The government invited four Indigenous groups to these talks. But NWAC was not invited. NWAC felt that these four groups mainly represented Indigenous men.
NWAC believed they were being left out. They said this went against their rights to speak freely and to be treated equally. These rights are protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. NWAC took the government to court to fight for their right to be included.
This court case was called Native Women's Association of Canada v Canada. It happened in 1994. NWAC argued that the government was not promoting equality for women. By being left out, NWAC could not share the views of Indigenous women in these important talks.
NWAC said that the right for Indigenous people to govern themselves should include the choices of Indigenous women too. In the end, the Supreme Court of Canada agreed with an earlier court. NWAC was still not included in the negotiations.
Later, in 2004, a group called the Women's Court of Canada looked at this case again. They pointed out that Indigenous women historically had equal roles in making decisions. They also said that Canadian law had a "patriarchal structure and discrimination." This means the law often favored men. The Women's Court of Canada said the government failed to include Indigenous women's interests. They believed this violated Indigenous women's rights.
Leaders of NWAC
Many strong women have led NWAC over the years. Here are some of them:
- Bertha Clark-Jones was NWAC's first president in 1974.
- In 2004, Beverley Jacobs became president. She started the Sisters in Spirit Campaign. This campaign helped people learn about the many missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada. She was re-elected in 2006.
- In September 2009, Jeannette Corbiere Lavell was elected. She is an activist who wants people to recognize Indigenous history, traditions, and culture.
- In August 2012, Michèle Audette became president. She is part Indigenous herself. She cared deeply about Indigenous women's rights. She worked against violence and poverty in Indigenous communities.
- In July 2015, Dawn Lavell-Harvard was elected. She has a PhD in education. She has been a strong voice for Indigenous women since 1994.
- Francyne Joe was elected in September 2016. She helped get money for education and career development. She also spoke up for families who wanted a national investigation into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
- Lorraine Whitman was elected president in September 2019. Before NWAC, she led the Nova Scotia Native Women's Association. She also shares her Mi’kmaw culture in schools and at public events.
Important Projects and Campaigns
One of NWAC's most important goals is to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people.
Working for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)
NWAC has been very active in remembering and helping families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Events to Remember MMIWG
NWAC has taken part in or created several events to honor MMIWG:
- On October 4, 2006, the first candlelight Sisters in Spirit Vigils was held in Vancouver. This event honored the memory of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Since then, these vigils have been held every year on October 4.
- On March 31, 2010, NWAC created "Knowledge to Action" Day. The goal was to share information about MMIWG. Experts, researchers, and community members talked about how to move forward on this issue.
NWAC's Work for MMIWG
- The Sisters in Spirit Campaign
The Sisters in Spirit campaign was started in 2005. It was a joint effort by NWAC, Amnesty International, and KAIROS. Indigenous women led this campaign. Its goal was to research and raise awareness about violence against Indigenous women in Canada.
The Canadian government stopped funding the Sisters in Spirit campaign in 2010. Because of this, the campaign ended that year. Corbiere Lavell, a former NWAC president, said that this was not just about money. It was about letting families affected by violence have their voices heard.
From 2005 to 2010, Sisters in Spirit recorded 582 cases of missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls. These cases happened over a twenty-year period.
- Sisters in Spirit Vigils
The Sisters in Spirit Vigils help support families of missing and murdered Indigenous women. They also raise awareness about this issue across Canada. These vigils were part of a five-year project. This project aimed to understand the reasons and patterns behind missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
The movement began in 2006. Bridget Tolley asked for a vigil to be held at Parliament Hill. This was to honor her mother, Gladys, who was killed in 2001. It also honored over 500 other missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. NWAC worked with Bridget Tolley to organize the event on October 4. Over 100 people attended.
Sisters in Spirit vigils can be rallies, community meals, or moments of silence. The number of vigils on October 4 has grown a lot. There were 11 in 2006 and 216 by 2014. Families, Indigenous community members, and concerned citizens take part in these vigils. NWAC's guide explains that men, youth, and even the media should be involved. It also says to respect the traditions of the land where the vigil takes place.
- Reports and Fact Sheets
In December 2015, the government announced a national investigation into the MMIWG issue. NWAC has released reports to check the progress of this investigation.
In December 2016, NWAC released its first report. It said that the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was not fully working. NWAC asked for clear communication and a process that understood trauma and respected cultures.
Their second report came out in April 2017. It showed where the investigation had problems and what needed more attention. The report said that a lack of clear communication made many families frustrated. It also said it was unclear if all families who wanted to share their stories would be able to.
NWAC also provides fact sheets on its website. These sheets have statistics and research on different parts of the issue. They explain the reasons behind violence against Indigenous women. These sheets help raise awareness and show how important this issue is.
