b'KNOWING: ONWA ADVOCACYAdvocating forOur membership and Board ofCheryl Bagnall, Roxanne Ruediger and Tina Bobinski at the 2023 UN Permanent Forum on Directors mandated us to expandIndigenous Issues in New YorkINDIGENOUS WOMENS RIGHTS our international advocacy, so INTERNATIONALLY were here to raise our voicesCora McGuire-Cyrette, CEO, ONWAONWA has been increasingly amplifying Indigenous womens voices in the larger global arena, recognizing that people were continuing to speak on behalf of Indigenous women even while they were in the room to speak for themselves. ONWA saw and quickly addressed the need to make space for Indigenous women to take up their leadership roles and speak on their own behalf.Its time for us to reclaim our voices and our leadership in being able to tell our own story of who we are, the issues were facing, and the solutions to these issues. Thats critical, and thats what reconciliation with Indigenous women looks like. Our membership and Board of Directors mandated us to expand our internationalWe must not tokenize Indigenous peoples knowledge on planetary care, advocacy, so were here to raise our voices, to continue Indigenousas it is inherent to who we are in relation to Mother Earth and all living womens advocacy and to stand in solidarity with Indigenousbeings. WE ARE HER AND SHE IS USand that is the reality of our lives women around the world, says ONWA chief executive officeras Indigenous women. The time for action and accountability is nowour (CEO) Cora McGuire-Cyrette. grandchildrens grandchildren are relying on us to take up our responsibilities today. -Alana Roberts, ONWA Youth Council Board MemberHere are just a few of the calls for action ONWA made at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues this past April:Our language teaches us to recognize all relations, what their roles are and what our responsibility is to them. The language interprets our experiences Canadas current Nation-to-Nation approach continues to discriminate andon the land, it helps us to know who we are within our world, our social exclude Indigenous women, Indigenous womens organizations and urbanstructure, who we are as a people in relation to all other worldly beings. Yet Indigenous peoples.Indigenous women are the experts in their own lives andthrough the process of colonization and its lasting intergenerational trauma, know the solutions to issues they experience. Indigenous womens organiza- Indigenous languages were put under attackIndigenous languages tions must be supported to lead the work. -Cora McGuire-Cyrette,in Canada are in a state of endangerment. -Lisa Echum, ONWA CEO, ONWA Board MemberThe Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship CentresTThhee O Onntario Ftario Federederaation of Ition of Indigenous Fndigenous Friendship Criendship CenentrtresesThe Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centresstrives to improve the quality of lifefor urban Indigenous strstrivives tes to impro improovve the qualite the quality of lify of lifefefor uror urban Iban Indigenous ndigenous strives to improve the quality of lifefor urban Indigenous people by providing innovative research, policy, training people by pry prooviding innoviding innovvaativtive re researesearch, policch, policyy, tr, training aining people bpeople by providing innovative research, policy, training and community development to 29 Friendship Centres and c ommunity devy developmenelopment tt to 29 Fo 29 Friendship Criendship Cenentrtres es and communitand community development to 29 Friendship Centres across Ontario.acr oss Ontartarioio. .across Onacross Ontario.Join the movementJoin the moJoin the movvemenementtJoin the movementScan the QR code to SScan the QR ccan the QR code tode to o Scan the QR code to acess our careers pageacess our caracess our careers pageeers pageacess our careers pageor visit oforgareersor visit ofofororggarareerseersor visit or visit oforgareersOntario Native Womens Association33'