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Announcements

Membership

Ontario Native Women's Association (ONWA) membership is based on the establishment of either Chapters or Councils within the province of Ontario. Membership provides Indigenous women the support, capacity development opportunities, and visibility they need to further enhance their lives. ONWA Membership provides Indigenous women within Ontario the opportunity to collectively influence both national and provincial policies and legislation as it relates to issues that affect them.


Chapters are incorporated organizations, and Councils are non-incorporated grassroot women’s organizations. Chapters and Councils are registered by regions (North, East, South, and West) based on the Medicine Wheel so that the voices of Indigenous women are heard from all four directions.

Chapters

Any previous Local or new group of Indigenous women whose organization is registered and in good standing as an Incorporated group through the provincial or federal government will be eligible to become a full service delivery site of the ONWA. Chapters will be required to enter into a MOU with the ONWA in order to strengthen clarity and accountability in the relationships.

Councils

A grassroots group of women, who chose not to become an incorporated body, but maintain a presence to provide supports, educate and advocate for Indigenous women and/or children in their community.  These groups can also be in the process of becoming an ONWA Chapter.

Membership Services

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Indigenous Women’s Leadership

Builds capacity and supports Indigenous women as leaders in their current roles as leaders of organizations and communities. Maintaining relationships with ONWA’s membership.

Provincially Available | Thunder Bay

ONWA in Ontario

As of August 2024, ONWA’s membership consists of 16 Chapters (incorporated organizations providing frontline services) and 23 Councils (grassroots groups supporting community development models), representative of ONWA’s four regional directions – North, South, East, West – throughout the province. (This number is likely to increase as ONWA continues to work with communities and expand the membership.)

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Reflected in the map, ONWA is currently delivering services and programs in 26 sites across Ontario. 10 of these sites are direct service delivery sites, whereas the remaining 16 are through our Chapter membership organizations.


ONWA recognizes that Indigenous women’s agencies are stronger together as a collective and we will continue to build relationship and capacity with Indigenous women and their agencies as a result our membership numbers may change from year to year.

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Eastern Region

Chapters

  1. Biimaawzogin Regional Aboriginal Women’s Circle (BRAWC)

  2. Georgian Bay Native Women’s Association

  3. Lovesick Lake Native Women’s Association

  4. Minwaashin Lodge

  5. Nakehndan: Knowing Your Truth

  6. Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services

  7. Orillia Native Women’s Group

  8. Tyendinaga Native Women’s Association

Councils

  1. All Our Relations

  2. Bawaating Anishnabekwewok

  3. Daughters of the Fur Trade

  4. Indigenous Women On-Line

  5. Kingston Thunder Women

  6. The Matriarch's

  7. Rainbow Women

  8. Waibejawong Anishnabequek

  9. Wiikwemikong Anishnawbekwek

Southern Region

Chapters

  1. Hamilton Wentworth Chapter of Native Women Inc.

  2. Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto

  3. Niagara Chapter-Native Women Inc.

Councils

  1. Deshkan Zii Bi Indigenous Women’s Association

  2. Indigenous Women of Niagara

  3. Métis Women’s Circle

Western Region

Chapters

  1. Beendigen Inc.

  2. Biidaajiwun Inc.

  3. Kenora Anishinaabe-Kweg Aboriginal Women’s Organization

  4. Sunset Women’s Aboriginal Circle

Councils

  1. Grassy Narrows Women’s Group

  2. Mindemoyag Women’s Group

  3. Thunder Bay Council

  4. Wabigoon Aboriginal Women’s Group

Northern Region

Chapters

  1. Anishnaabe Kateri Association

Councils

  1. Anishnabequek Timmins

  2. Aroland Ladies of 242

  3. Constance Lake Anishinawbe Quek

  4. Ginoogaming First Nation Council

  5. Mamowedew

  6. New Post Women’s Group

  7. Rocky Bay Women’s Council

Feather

Board of Directors

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ONWA’s leadership is based on a policy governing board of Directors comprising of twelve Indigenous women, including four youth Director positions to ensure the mentorship and voices of our future generation is reflective in our work. All the Directors are elected from ONWA’s membership. A regional Grandmothers’ Council, who are non-voting members of the board, provide advisory and mentorship support to the Board of Directors.

EAST

Melinda Commanda

Secretary

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Stephanie (Mikki) Adams

Director

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Hunter Corbiere

Youth Director

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Suzanne Knapp

Grandmother

SOUTH

Krystal Brant

President

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Paula Whitlow

Vice President

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Sophia Carnovale

Youth Director

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Renee Thomas-Hill
Grandmother

WEST

Tana Troniak

Treasurer 

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Debra Vermette
Director

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Madison Wigwas

Youth Director

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Catherine Everson

Grandmother

NORTH

Lisa Echum

Director

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Roberta Wesley

Director

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Ashley Wesley

Youth Director

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Gwen Provost

Grandmother

Board of Directors

Krystal Brant

PRESIDENT

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Cora McGuire-Cyrette

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Cora McGuire-Cyrette has been serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA), the largest and oldest Indigenous women’s organization in Canada, since 2015. Ending violence against Indigenous women and their families and ensuring equal access to justice, education, health services, environmental stewardship, and economic development, sit at the cornerstone of the organization. 

 

A proud member of the Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek (Sand Point First Nation), she uses her voice to champion the rights of Indigenous women and girls, cultivate healing, create safe spaces, and supporting Indigenous women and youth as they reclaim their role as leaders.

 

As a role model in Indigenous women’s leadership, Cora was integral to the development of the Ontario Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Cora serves as Co-Chair of the Indigenous Women’s Advisory Council of Ontario, and the Chair of the Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services, among others.

 

Cora holds a BA in Indigenous Learning and Sociology from Lakehead University and an MMBA from York University, Schulich School of Business. She lives in Thunder Bay with her husband and has three children and two grandsons.

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