b"COVER STORYMessage fromTHE PRESIDENTRECL AIMING OUR VOICE THROUGH THE ARTSI t is with pride and joy that we offer to you the 7th edition of the She Is Wise magazine. It is no accident that we release this issue on the changing of the seasons, in the hope of inspiring you to gather your supplies, put pen to paper, bead to leather, and either begin your artistic journey or continue it through the winter months. In this issue, we gift to you the wisdom of the artists who have shared their journeys, their struggles Debra Vermette and their celebrations of making art. Finding their space to be artists in their chosen medium President, ONWA can be both a gift and a burden. These warriors remind us of the continuous fight to recognize systemic racism that plagues our work in the fields of writing, painting, music, crafting, fashion and film making. onwa.ca It is their work that reminds us to be who we are and celebrate all that we have been taught to not @ONWA7 like about ourselves to be courageous and to always put that first foot forward. These dreamers share the importance of staying true to spirit, recognizing our inherent rights to celebrate life and @_ONWA_ only do what is important. If youre lucky, you will even be able to make a living off of it and @onwa_official provide for your children. Isnt that what gets us up in the morning? The storytellers in this issue are not seeking fame and fortune, even though we wish it for them. A big part of their work and storytelling is about social justice. Recognizing the oppression of being, creating safe spaces for art to be celebrated and recognized for what it is life, love and hopefully, laughter.They remind us of the importance of voice and that representation is what matters. They represent us at our very worst and our very best, and in doing so they carry and heal us. We are so thankful for their creativity, their strength and their fortitude in moving us all towards a better world. In the wise words of Louis Riel, My people will sleep for one hundred years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back. We know this to be true. So, for this solstice, we encourage you to spend time with your family and friends, attend festivals that celebrate art, and feast, dance and sing with those who are passionate. Light your fires and honour the magic the winter months bring. Create and tell your story howeveryou want to tell it. Now is the time we bring our spirits back. Use your voice and always share your story. It is what has brought you to here. DebraVermet tePublished by: CONTRIBUTING EDITORPRESIDENTAll rights reserved.Ingrid Green Kevin Brown The contentsof this is published for Ontario Nativepublication may not beEDITORSENIOR VICE PRESIDENTreproduced by any means, in Women's Associationwww.mediaedgepublishing.com Roma Ihnatowycz Robert Thompson whole or in part, without the NATIONAL SALES EXECUTIVESDIRECTOR, prior written consent of the 33 South Station StreetBUSINESS DEVELOPMENTassociation.Toronto, OntarioM9N 2B2Brenda Ezinicki, April Hawkes, Michael BellToll Free: 1-866-480-4717Nolan Ackman, Pat Johnston,She is Wise is printed robertt@mediaedge.ca Ashley Huston BRANCH MANAGERon 10% post-consumer FSC P.O. Box 15-684 City Road,Nancie Priv certified paper using soya Fort William First NationNATIONAL DIRECTOR OF PUBLISHINGDESIGN SPECIALISTbased inks. When necessary to ON P7J 1K3Maurice P. LaBorde Marisa Giesbrecht Published December 2022 mail an issue in an enclosure, we use an environmentally-807-577-1492MANAGING EDITORJUNIOR DESIGN SPECIALISTPublication Mail friendly, 100% oxo-degradable www.onwa.ca Andr MorriseauBethany Giesbrecht Agreement #40787580 poly-wrap. 8Fall/Winter 2022"