b'KNOWING: ONWA ADVOCACYOf all the threats to Mother Earth, water- world are leaders around environmental related issues stand firmly in the fore- protection and advocacy, because we ground. According to UNICEF, roughlyrecognize that if the environment isnt 700 million people could be displacedwell, we are not well.by intense water scarcity by 2030, to sayWhen the UN put out the call for clear nothing about the contamination ofcommitments, pledges and actions, existing water. Water is more than justacross all sectors, ONWA was further a natural resource to us as Indigenousdeveloping their internal/external people, says McGuire-Cyrette. Water isMother Earth strategy to make a life, and not just human life, but all life.measurable impact. The UN accepted Water is part of our ceremonies, parttheir Mother Earth Strategy as part of of our culture, and part of who we are.the global organizations Water Action Thats why Indigenous people around theAgenda Commitment. A key group of Indigenous women attending the UN World Water Conference, from left: Cora McGuire-Cyrette, Madison Wigwas, Alana Robert, Ingrid Green and Jennifer Bolton We began this work back in 2014 when we created a water commission toolkit to support local water protectors in their advocacy, says McGuire-Cyrette. We started to look at what was happening internationally, particularly around the sustainable development goals within the UN, and how we could align our work with that international work. That was the beginning of the international work weve been doing.McGuire-Cyrette found it rewarding to attend such a large forum with people sharing the same advocacy. Its rare for Indigenous people to be in that space, PARTNER WITH US FOR YOUR where were advocating together on the same issues, and being able to hear from FAST TRACK TO SUCCESS! [others] around the world that there are similar issues, [including] the connection to safe, accessible water and the connec-tion to violence against Indigenous women. That was really being heard loud and clear, she says. Our winning products McGuire-Cyrette was also part of the and services include: Canadian delegation to the UNs 67th Session of the Commission on the StatusMagazines of Women. This years theme revolvedDirectories around innovation and technology. TheShow Guides Events commission reported that IndigenousProfiles women and girls are at increased riskBuyers Guides of technology-facilitated gender-basedE-Newsletters violence. In fact, they are often targeted. Video Technology is once again being used to Contact Robert Thompson 1.647.494.4229 Custom Content Marketingtarget Indigenous women for violence www.mediaedge.caSponsorship Sales[so] its critical that we as Indigenous women participate in these forums, says 36Spring/Summer 2023'