b'RECOGNITION AWARDSONWARecognition AwardsBy Rick GarrickThe association celebrates its extraordinary 2021 Award winnersE very year, the Ontario Native Womens Association (ONWA) recognizes women who have made a profound impact on the quality of life of Indigenous women in the province.The importance of volunteer work, teamwork and inclusivity were once again highlighted with the 2021 ONWA Recognition Awards, presented during ONWAs 2021 50th Annual General Assembly held October 22 to 24 in Thunder Bay. The award recipients were Fort William Elder Marlene Pierre, Lurleen Ashkewe, Alana Morrison and Dawn Lavell-Harvard.THE AWARDS The Indigenous Woman of the Year Award recognizes an Indigenous woman who has served her people compassionately in all areas of community service and demonstrated skill and ONWAs Recognition Awards are comprised of five separate awards: dedication to the provincial movement of ONWA. The Jeannette Corbiere-Lavell Award honours the contribu- The Celebrating 50 Years Award acknowledges the outstanding tions and impacts that Corbiere-Lavell made to the Indigenousachievements of an Indigenous woman who contributes to the community, the Canadian justice system and Canada as a whole.Indigenous womens leadership and equality movement.The Dorothy Wynne Achievement Award and bursary celebratesThe Alice Souliere Bursary Award was established in commem-Wynnes life and contributions, particularly her instrumental roleoration of Soulieres contribution to ONWA to encourage in building the foundation that would become ONWA.individuals to pursue Indigenous First Language Studies.62Spring/Summer 2022'