b'POLITICAL PATHWAYSoffice at different levels of govern-ment, stating that to have that voice at the table offers perspective, insight and a lens that is not necessarily at the forefront.Woodhouse Nepinak and Landry both exemplify the significance of that point, bringing the lens of Indigenous women to their leadership roles. The work they do is informed by personal experience and knowledge about the needs of their communities, which Shuniah Townshipraises Indigenous womens concerns as Mayor Wendy Landry. a priority. Shuniah in 2010 after starting a youth group and opening a youth centre in the community located adjacent to the north side of Thunder Bay.I was successful in getting the youth centre going and I had already known a lot of people in the community just because I had six kids, Landry says. We were involved in hockey and sports and other things, so I got to know a lot of families, but it was really instrumental in being involved with that youth centre at the time to get to know the people of Shuniah.Landry says she knocked on 2,500 doors during her campaign for councillor and 3,000 doors during her successfulo F Y our campaign for mayor in 2014. I neverT orge ever thought I would go into municipal politics, but the only way to participatewnP athin the decision-making process ofOour communities is to run for those political seats, she shares. Being on the municipal council is definitely a learning curve. You have to learn about how finances are run, how budgets are developed, how you can use budgets, how municipalities are very restrictedKnowledge is a gift to the and limited in what they can and cannot do because were a creature of the prov- community and the world.incial government.Landry says her role as president atEmbrace your journey of strength, NOMA includes being involved withresilience, and cultural pride working with First Nations and bridging conversation around politics. We findthrough education, and pave the ourselves with the opportunity to bringway for future generations.people together and to bring those two worlds together to help them under-stand the differences in the political world of how we both exist, what our mandates are and what our differences are from a political perspective and howcentennialcollege.cawe can work together, Landry says. She also stresses the importance of having Indigenous people running for Ontario Native Womens Association19'