b'COVER STORYMessage from the EXECUTIVE DIRECTORTHE HARD WORKOF RECONCILIATIONCora McGuire-CyretteR econciliation in a contemporary lens is about changing the systems that are influencing Indigenous womens lives to reflect the reality of our relationships. Reconciliation means hearing Indigenous womens stories and understanding that racism and discrimination continue to play a huge role in our lives. Executive Director, ONWA In our 6th edition of the She is Wise magazine, we have several Indigenous womens stories that reflect their perspective of what reconciliation means to them and how they manage this respon-sibility, not only for themselves but for their children, families and communities. For Cindy Blackstock, reconciling Canadas relationship with Indigenous children has become her lifes work. Cindy continues to advocate for our children and families and has become a national hero across our communities as a role model of authentic leadership with a purpose. Andrea Landry speaks to the need for systems change to ensure that Indigenous women can mother their children in a manner that is reflective of Indigenous values and teachings. Landry focuses her lifes work on better aligning her home and work goals to ensure she is able to teach about the importance of healing and love. Colonialism destroys Indigenous family structures, and we need to reconcile with our selves to come into our self-power. Colonial trauma has paved the way for a lack of connection in our lives leading to mental health and addiction issues that impact our ability to cope.Reconciling relationships can ensure that we connect as we are meant to. The Linklater women are passing family traditions on through parenting and fostering relationships. They recognize the changes that need to happen, and in doing so, make space for strong cultural identities, not only for themselves, but for the children who need this as well. Making room in their lives for others has been a key aspect of their healing journey through generations.As the largest and oldest Indigenous womens organization, ONWA recognizes the need to develop programming and provide services in areas that are new to the organization. Utilizing a living model approach to our programming, ONWA can pivot and adjust to provide necessary and needed programming that reflects the reality of Indigenous womens needs. Advocacy for programming to address the overrepresentation of Indigenous women in the criminal justice system and Indigenous children in the child welfare system is a key area of focus; coupling that with support for Indigenous women experiencing homelessness and navigating the healthcare system is why we need to reconcile relationships with Indigenous women. Indigenous womens lives are complex and navigating these systems on a daily basis is a daunting task.Our lived experiences are not isolated events; they are common and normalized and Indigenous women have been leading this change to reclaim our power over our bodies, minds, and spirits. Reconciling respectful relationships is a very difficult but worthy endeavour that we must all chal-lenge ourselves to face. Rennie Linklater is certain that in making space for mental wellness as an individual, family and nation, we will all have better outcomes that support meaningful change in Indigenous lives. She has focused her career on developing Indigenous strategies to address traditional knowledge practices in healing, knowing the difference that they make.Ontario Native Womens Association11'