b'ABORIGINAL VICTIM & FAMILY SUPPORT Its basically whatever kind of supportsloved ones, and ONWA holds that connec- Yet despite all the challenges, Machimity the families are needing, says Machimity,tion in high regard. The focus of this worksays she wouldnt have it any other way. adding that a lot of what she doesis to help families find healing, both for theI have always wanted to do this kind of depends on what community membersmissing and murdered and for themselves.work. I always wanted to be in a position request. Sometimes thats running weeklywhere I can help others. In her role as drop-ins, where people participate inMachimity has experienced many of thethe Indigenous victim family liaison, sharing circles or quilting projects tosame feelings as the people she worksMachimity has become the person she commemorate MMIWG. And some- with. I have those moments whereneeded for families of Missing and times its as simple as providing a warm,Im angry and Im upset that moreMurdered Indigenous Women. Her comforting meal.wasnt done, and that things could havequiet nature is helpful to those who need been different had my mom not beensupport and, combined with her own DIFFERENT JOURNEYS Indigenous, she says. I feel those frustra- experiences, she uses this to help loved tions, and thats kind of what drew me toones of Missing and Murdered Indigenous The families Machimity meets are all atthis position.Women find their way to healing.different points in their journeysome have loved ones who have died recently, while others have loved ones who went missing 20 years ago. Regardless of whereGreetings to our members, and to all of our healthcare providers. We want to take this opportunity they are at in their journeys, Machimityto seek your engagement as we continue to address the issues that are common when addressing says the most helpful thing she is able toIndigenous health outcomes for all nations. To our Indigenous, and non-Indigenous, healthcare do for them is simply listen. Its importantproviders, we are inviting you to register as a member of CINA. We have just updated our to provide a safe space for families tomembership enrollment and have provided a section for you to indicate your health expertise. release all of those emotions that theyWhy are we seeking your expertise? We are preparing committees based on our membership of hold in, she says.those who have experience in a number of health topics. We want to be able to reach out to you to A lot of times it feels like people areparticipate in research, and to put out indicators on Indigenous Health Human Resources in Canada. just holding on to all of these emotionsWe are getting ready to develop the National Nursing Leadership Forum. This will open interests for that they have. After theyve lost some- our Indigenous healthcare providers and, more importantly, open opportunities to bring forward our body, there arent a whole lot of spacesIndigenous Nurse and Midwife Leaders. We have identified the late Fall 2020 in Niagara for this event.where they can just kind of let all thatTake a moment to fill out the membership forms, and in the meantime, check out our website and go, [spaces] that are safe for them. Sosocial media platforms. More importantly, send us your suggestions! [the most helpful thing is] a safe space for them to release all of that, and just have someone to listen, explains Machimity.Marilee A Nowgesic, Chief Executive OfficerWhile Machimity acknowledges thatCANADIAN INDIGENOUS NURSES ASSOCIATIONeveryone processes the loss of a loved50 Driveway, Ottawa, OntarioK2P 1E2one differently, she says she finds itT: (613) 724-4677Toll Free: 1-866-724-3049 F:(613) 724-4718more natural to relate to the families ofWebsite: www.indigenousnurses.caMMIWG that she works with because her own mother was murdered when Machimity was a teenager. Her mothers death really began to bother Machimity as she grew older, especially when she had a child of her own. She describes a feeling of frustration at not having her mother around anymore, and also at the circum-stances of her death. It wasnt normal for somebody to have died the way that she did and for it not to be followed up with,Infection Prevention and Control Canada (IPAC Canada) and its says Machimity. 1500members are dedicated to safe healthcare.Eliminating the What makes Machimity such a naturalriskofhealthcare-acquired infections is our work and our vision. fit for her positionher ability to relateIPACCanada represents its members and the public in the pursuit of patient on a personal level to the families ofand staff safety and in the promotion of best infection preventionand MMIWGhas also proven her biggestcontrolpractices. challenge. The hard thing for me is not taking those stories personally. and notLearn more about IPAC Canada, its resources, info@ipac-canada.orgtaking those stories home with me. I doand its best practices for infection prevention 1-866-999-7111/204-897-5990carry all of these stories that I have heard,and control: www.ipac-canada.orgbut theyre not my stories, she says. For its part, ONWA does not collect these storiesNO PREVENTABLE INFECTIONS FOR CANADIANS. EVER.and knows they are not our stories to tell. The stories of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women are connected to their Ontario Native Womens Association37'