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.
Membership Services
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.)
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
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Biimaawzogin Regional Aboriginal Women’s Circle (BRAWC)
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Georgian Bay Native Women’s Association
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Lovesick Lake Native Women’s Association
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Minwaashin Lodge
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Nakehndan: Knowing Your Truth
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Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services
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Orillia Native Women’s Group
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Tyendinaga Native Women’s Association
Councils
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All Our Relations
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Bawaating Anishnabekwewok
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Daughters of the Fur Trade
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Indigenous Women On-Line
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Kingston Thunder Women
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The Matriarch's
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Rainbow Women
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Waibejawong Anishnabequek
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Wiikwemikong Anishnawbekwek
Southern Region
Chapters
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Hamilton Wentworth Chapter of Native Women Inc.
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Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto
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Niagara Chapter-Native Women Inc.
Councils
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Deshkan Zii Bi Indigenous Women’s Association
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Indigenous Women of Niagara
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Métis Women’s Circle
Western Region
Chapters
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Beendigen Inc.
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Biidaajiwun Inc.
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Kenora Anishinaabe-Kweg Aboriginal Women’s Organization
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Sunset Women’s Aboriginal Circle
Councils
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Grassy Narrows Women’s Group
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Mindemoyag Women’s Group
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Thunder Bay Council
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Wabigoon Aboriginal Women’s Group
Northern Region
Chapters
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Anishnaabe Kateri Association
Councils
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Anishnabequek Timmins
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Aroland Ladies of 242
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Constance Lake Anishinawbe Quek
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Ginoogaming First Nation Council
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Mamowedew
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New Post Women’s Group
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Rocky Bay Women’s Council
Board of Directors
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
Stephanie (Mikki) Adams
Director
Hunter Corbiere
Youth Director
Suzanne Knapp
Grandmother
SOUTH
Krystal Brant
President
Paula Whitlow
Vice President
Sophia Carnovale
Youth Director
Renee Thomas-Hill
Grandmother
WEST
Tana Troniak
Treasurer
Debra Vermette
Director
Madison Wigwas
Youth Director
Catherine Everson
Grandmother
NORTH
Lisa Echum
Director
Roberta Wesley
Director
Ashley Wesley
Youth Director
Gwen Provost
Grandmother
Krystal Brant
PRESIDENT
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.