Honouring Catherine (Kitty) Everson: a legacy of healing, hope and love

Thunder Bay, ON – The Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) is deeply saddened to share the passing of ONWA Grandmother, Catherine (Kitty) Everson, who journeyed peacefully into the Spirit World. A beloved and cherished matriarch and Elder, Kitty’s passing touches the heart of the entire organization, and our communities.

Kitty’s life is a testament to the strength, resilience, and love that served as the foundation of her leadership. She held a deep commitment to honouring Indigenous ways of knowing and being. As a pipe carrier and knowledge holder, she offered a guiding light rooted in culture and tradition.

As a survivor of residential school, Kitty dedicated her life to healing. She could often be found gathering medicines, and was a strong advocate for language revitalization. She loved speaking her language, and sharing her knowledge with others.  In her home community of Lac Seul First Nation, she worked to support survivors as part of the Residential School Survivor Healing Program.

Kitty’s passion for healing, and commitment to community development, extended to everything she did. She developed programs and services to support Indigenous women and their families, such as the Kenora Street Patrol and the Morningstar Detox Centre. She was a founding member of the NeChee Friendship Centre and was a member of the Lake of the Woods Pow Wow Club. She helped to establish Clarissa Manor as a transitional home for women who were previously incarcerated, and worked as a Native Court Worker for the NeChee Friendship Centre for over 20 years.

Kitty loved visiting with family and friends. As the mother of 8 children, grandmother of 15 grandchildren, and great-grandmother to 11 great-grandchildren, she held her family together grounded in her culture. She taught family, friends and community what strength and resilience looks like. Kitty’s guidance was fundamental to ONWA’s work.

As we mourn her departure, we proudly honour her legacy and spirit, the sacred path she walked, and the gifts she offered to community and future generations. May her journey to the Spirit World be guided by the love of her ancestors and the strength in knowing her family and friends will honour her path of healing.

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