b"Message from theEXECUTIVE DIRECTORT I M E F O R HEALINGCora McGuire-CyretteW hen we first conceivedHowever, as we began to assemble this issue, we the idea that ourfound ourselves, along with the rest of the world, second issue of Shefaced with an unprecedented challenge. So our is Wise would lookimmediate need turned to addressing the safety Executive Director, ONWA at art as a tool for healing, we had no ideaof our staff and our community. For Indigenous that our entire world would soon be in direwomen, COVID-19 compounded existing crises, need of healing from a global pandemic. Forand we went into crisis preparations.ONWA, healing has always been a central focus. Indigenous women are the centre of ourFirst, we stabilized the safety of our staff and community, and when they are healthy andteam members so they could work the frontlines well, so too are their families and our extendedwithout being on the frontlines. We asked community. Indigenous women know what theirstaff for ideas on how to continue to support the needs and capacity are for healing. Weve beencommunity and came up with five Go Bags doing it for generations, and we understand thatthat would allow us to provide support while healing is a spectrum. practising physical distancing. These included In this edition, we focus on art-based healing.food security, family support, moon-time Healing through art is a form of meditation thatsupport, health support, and programming in the supports all four aspects: spiritual, emotional,home supports.physical and mental. It is a safe but powerful wayThe food security Go Bag contains non-to talk about trauma, and it reflects the strengthperishable food items. We recognized that some and resiliency of our community and everythingnorthern communities had no food supply in we have overcomefrom colonial violence tothe local grocery store at the start of the crisis. gender-based violence to lateral violence. We have access to a supply chain so were able to get shipments into some of those communities without disrupting the public supply chain. The health support Go Bag contains everything from Pedialyte to gift cards for Tylenol and Advil. Family support consists of diapers and formula.For programming in the home, we set up virtual programming through Facebook or Zoom, and our staff dropped off supplies for gardening, beadwork, and arts and crafts to community members. We also practised healing in the home. Many elders are lonely, and we were able to set Published by: MANAGING EDITORPRESIDENTAll rights reserved.Andre MorriseauKevin Brown The contentsof this publication is published for Ontario NativeSENIOR VICE PRESIDENTmay not bereproduced by any Women's AssociationEDITORRobert Thompson means, in whole or in part, www.mediaedgepublishing.com Roma Ihnatowycz DIRECTOR, without the prior written consent SALES EXECUTIVESBUSINESS DEVELOPMENTof the association.33 South Station StreetBrenda Ezinicki, April Hawkes,Michael BellShe is Wise is printed on Toronto, OntarioM9N 2B2Nolan Ackman, Pat Johnston,BRANCH MANAGER10% post-consumer FSC certified P.O. Box 15-684 City Road,Toll Free: 1-866-480-4717Ashley Huston Nancie Priv paper using soya based inks. Fort William First Nationrobertt@mediaedge.ca When necessary to mail an ON P7J 1K3SENIOR GRAPHIC Published June 2020 issue in an enclosure, we use an 807-577-1492PUBLISHERDESIGN SPECIALISTPublication Mail environmentally-friendly, 100% www.onwa.ca Maurice P. LaBorde James T. Mitchell Agreement #40787580 oxo-degradable poly-wrap. 10Spring/Summer 2020"