Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day and the Summer Solstice with a Tribute to Indigenous Women in Media

Thunder Bay, ON – As the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and communities gather in ceremony, celebration, and reflection, the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) honours the alignment of National Indigenous Peoples Day and the Summer Solstice with the launch of the newest edition of She Is Wise magazine. This edition shines a bold and brilliant spotlight on Indigenous Women in Media — storytellers, filmmakers, journalists, and cultural influencers who are reclaiming voice, narrative, and space.

The Summer Solstice marks a time of renewal, growth, and sacred balance. For many Indigenous cultures, this is a powerful moment of spiritual reflection, cultural connection, and gratitude for the life-giving force of the sun. June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day, is not only a celebration of Indigenous cultures, languages, and achievements, but a reminder of the enduring strength, resistance, and beauty of Indigenous communities across Turtle Island.

“As we gather in community and celebrate, we also stand in truth-remembering the journeys that brought us here and committing ourselves to the healing, empowerment, and self-determination of our people,” says ONWA CEO Cora McGuire-Cyrette. “Indigenous women have always been storytellers — keepers of knowledge, memory, and truth. Our new edition of She Is Wise uplifts Indigenous women’s power in media and reminds us of the power for change that comes from Indigenous women’s voices.”

This special issue of She Is Wise features powerful stories of Indigenous women who are shaping media in transformative ways. Here are just a few highlights you’ll find in this issue:

• COVER STORY — North of North At the heart of this issue is North of North, an Inuit-led television series that flips the script on Indigenous representation. In “Challenging Convention,” creators Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril share how they are transforming the screen with unapologetic Inuit joy, humour, fashion, and storytelling. Filmed in Nunavut with a 50% Inuit writers' room and all-female Indigenous creative leadership, North of North is more than a show — it’s a declaration of sovereignty.

• Podcasting with Purpose: Story Sovereignty Award-winning journalists Connie Walker and Kim Wheeler are using podcasting to create trauma-informed spaces for memory, justice, and healing. Their stories go beyond headlines to hold space for deep truths and offer new ways to engage with Indigenous experiences in the digital era.

• A Festival for the People: imagineNATIVE at 25 imagineNATIVE celebrates 25 years of uplifting Indigenous creatives across genres. This milestone is a tribute to the Indigenous women mentors, visionaries, and community builders who have shaped the world’s largest Indigenous film and media arts festival — and continue to redefine Indigenous storytelling on a global stage.

As we honour this sacred day of light, culture, and renewal, ONWA invites all to read the latest edition of She Is Wise and celebrate the brilliance, courage, and leadership of Indigenous women in media — past, present, and future.

Read or subscribe to the She Is Wise magazine at: https://www.onwa.ca/she-is-wise-magazine

For more information and media inquiries, contact: 

Andre Morriseau, Communications Manager

Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA)

Email: amorriseau@onwa.ca

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About ONWA:

The Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) is Ontario’s longest standing and leading Indigenous women’s organization. Rooted in culture, community, and matriarchal values, ONWA is dedicated to ending violence against Indigenous women and supporting their leadership, voice, and self-determined futures.