b'RECOGNITION AWARDSDOROTHY WYNNE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:LURLEEN ASHKEWELurleen Ashkewe, the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program Coordinator at Orillia Native Womens Group, was recognized with the Dorothy Wynne Achievement Award for her commitment and dedication to her work at the Orillia Native Womens Group, which includes the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program and the Community Action Program for Children. The recognition is such a great honour not only for myself and my community, but all Indigenous women working in frontline positions during the pandemic, Ashkewe says. The work that we do for our community is a team effort. Just knowing that Ive made a difference in one persons life is the only gratitude I need.Ashkewe also helped to organize Orillias first Truth and Reconciliation Walk, which was held last year from City Hall to J.B. Tudhope Memorial Park on Lake Couchiching. We were only supposed to be a group of 100, and I could not get over the support we got from Orillia, Ashkewe says. Everybody took part in itit was beautiful. Everybody had their orange shirts on.Ashkewe stresses the importance of reconciliation, noting that her father, grandparents and aunts and uncles were residential school survivors. My dad was in a residential school for 13 years, Ashkewe says. Now weve even got the Indian day school (settle-ment), which is where I went on my reserve in the early 1970s. But I think its more about the awareness now that everybody is actually seeing the impact [of what] our families went through.CERTIFIEDJust knowing that Ive made a difference in one persons life is the only www.integrated-pm.caDebra Donovan, President | ddonovan@integrated-pm.ca gratitude I needLurleen Ashkewe,Orillia Native Womens GroupThe Orillia Native Womens Group, which has a staff of five, continued to work collaboratively with Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations throughout the Simcoe County area during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a little bit chaotic but we survived, Ashkewe says. We were still able to service and support all of our families in the Orillia and Barrie area, a lot with our food support. We [also] had housing support and we have mental health [supports] that we are doing right now.64Spring/Summer 2022'