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 that speaks for Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people in Canada. This includes First Nations people living on or off reserves, as well as Métis and Inuit people.
NWAC was started in 1974. Its main goal is to improve the social, economic, cultural, and political well-being of Indigenous women within their communities and in Canada.
Since it began, NWAC has worked to create strong ways of working and making decisions. It also builds connections with other groups. NWAC speaks up at national and international levels to change laws and policies. These changes help make things more equal for Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and LGBTQ+ people.
NWAC works on many important topics. These include jobs, health, preventing violence, human rights, the environment, and early learning for children. They also work on international issues.
Contents
History of NWAC
How NWAC Started
NWAC began in 1974. It was formed by 13 groups of Aboriginal women from all over Canada. Their main goals were to keep Aboriginal culture alive and to help Aboriginal women have equal chances. They also wanted to help shape laws that affected Indigenous women.
NWAC is led by a president and a board of directors. These leaders work together and share information with local groups. The board also reviews the work of the president and the groups in different provinces and territories.
Speaking Up for Rights
In 1992, the Canadian government was discussing a big agreement called the Charlottetown Accord. The government included four Aboriginal groups in these talks. However, NWAC was not included. NWAC believed these four groups mainly represented Aboriginal men.
So, NWAC went to court. They argued that they were denied their rights to freedom of expression and equality. This court case is known as Native Women's Association of Canada v Canada. It happened in 1994.
NWAC said the government was not promoting equality for women. By being left out of the Charlottetown Accord talks, NWAC was also left out of important discussions about Canada's laws. They argued that the right of Aboriginal people to govern themselves should include the choices of both Aboriginal men and women. In the end, the Supreme Court of Canada agreed with an earlier court, and NWAC was not included in those specific negotiations.
Looking Back at the Case
In 2004, a group called the Women's Court of Canada looked at the Native Women's Association of Canada v Canada case again. This group included lawyers and experts who cared about equality. They remembered that Indigenous women historically had equal roles in making decisions.
They also pointed out that Canadian law had a "patriarchal structure and discrimination." The Women's Court of Canada said that the government failed to include Indigenous women's interests in the constitutional decisions. Because of this, they announced that the government had 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 the first president in 1974.
- In 2004, Beverley Jacobs became president. She was well-known for starting the Sisters in Spirit Campaign. This campaign aimed to make people aware of the many missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada. She was re-elected in 2006. Her own niece/cousin was murdered in 2008, and Jacobs chose not to run for re-election in 2009.
- In September 2009, Jeannette Corbiere Lavell was elected. She is an activist who wants Indigenous history, traditions, and culture to be recognized.
- In August 2012, Michèle Audette was elected. She is half-Native and has always cared deeply about Native women's rights. She works against violence towards Indigenous women and poverty in Indigenous communities.
- In July 2015, Dawn Lavell-Harvard was elected. She had a PhD in education and had been speaking up for Indigenous women since 1994. She resigned in September 2016 for family reasons. Before NWAC, she was president of the Ontario Native Women's Association for eleven years.
- Francyne Joe was elected in September 2016. She helped get funding for education and career development. She also supported 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 was president of the Nova Scotia Native Women's Association. She also shares her Mi’kmaw culture in schools and at public events.
Important Projects
Ending Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls
One of NWAC's most important projects is working to end violence against Indigenous women.
Events for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
NWAC has taken part in or created several events to remember Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls:
- On October 4, 2006, the first candlelight Sisters in Spirit Vigils was held in Vancouver, British Columbia. This event honored the memory of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Since then, candlelight 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 missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Experts, researchers, and community members came together to discuss the issue and find ways to move forward.
NWAC's Work for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
- The Sisters in Spirit Campaign
The Sisters in Spirit campaign was started in 2005 by Indigenous women, with help from NWAC, Amnesty International, and KAIROS. Its goal was to research and raise awareness about violence against Aboriginal women in Canada.
The Canadian government stopped funding the Sisters in Spirit campaign in 2010, so the campaign ended that year. Corbiere Lavell, a former NWAC president, said that it was important to involve people affected by the violence. She wanted to give families who lost loved ones a chance to share their stories.
From 2005 to 2010, Sisters in Spirit recorded 582 cases of missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls over a twenty-year period.
- October 4 Vigils
The Sisters in Spirit Vigils help support the 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 to understand the reasons and patterns behind missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
The movement started in 2006 when Bridget Tolley asked for a vigil on Parliament Hill. This was to honor her mother, Gladys, who was killed in 2001, and over 500 other missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. NWAC worked with Tolley to organize the event on October 4, which had over 100 people attend.
Sisters in Spirit vigils can be rallies, community meals, or moments of silence. The number of vigils on October 4 grew from 11 in 2006 to 216 by 2014. These events involve affected families, Indigenous community members, and other concerned citizens. NWAC's guide suggests that men, youth, and even the media should be involved. It also stresses respecting the local customs of the area where the vigil takes place.
- Reports
In December 2015, the Canadian government announced a national investigation into this issue. NWAC has released reports to check the progress of this investigation. In December 2016, NWAC's first report said that the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was not fully working since it was created in September 2016. NWAC also asked for clear communication and a process that understands and respects people's experiences and cultures.
Their second report came out in April 2017. It pointed out where the investigation had problems and what needed more attention. The report said that a lack of clear communication left many families and communities feeling frustrated. It also stated that it was unclear if all families who wanted to share their experiences would be able to.
- Fact Sheets
NWAC also provides fact sheets on its website. These sheets have statistics and research on different parts of the issue, like the reasons behind violence against Indigenous women. These sheets help raise awareness and show how important this issue is using facts.
