b'HISTORICAL OVERVIEWOfficially incorporated on November 17, 1971, the Ontario Native Womens Association (ONWA) mandates to empower and support all Indigenous women (regardless of status or locality) and their families in Ontario through research, advocacy, policy development and programs focusing on local, regional and prov-incial activities. One of ONWAs founding objectives was to unite isolated Indigenous womens organizations across the province to strengthen their voices, which was achieved primarily through monthly newsletters released in the 1970s and 1980s. Those newsletters provided information to Indigenous women and their families about the activities and programs of ONWA and itsStill from Courtney Montours film Mary membership, employment opportunities, available grants, politicalTwo-Axe Earley: I Am Indian Again.movements and resources.ONWAs letters patent cite the founding members and firstIn an interview with TBNewsWatch in 2011, one of ONWAs late directors as Dorothy Lyons, Elizabeth Fenton, Jean Plummer,grandmothers, Dorothy Wynne, spoke about the foundational Beverley Frizado, Donna Lyons, Edith McLeod, Mary Pekki, Cecileyears of the organization: When the Ontario Native Womens Maclaurin, Rosemarie Ahitla and Marge Lyons, all of ThunderAssociation was formed in 1971, we found our voice. A lot of issues Bay, Ont. have been resolved. Weve come a long way.The late 1970s and beyond saw a significant rise in IndigenousDue to the significant work of strong Indigenous women who activism, particularly Indigenous womens activism: in 1975,came before, Indigenous women in Canada today have more Two-Axe Earley presented a brief on the discrimination faced byrights and face less discrimination. Our work is far from over, but Indigenous women in Canada to the United Nations Conferencethere is hope and healing in recognizing the progress that has on Women; in 1979, Indigenous women from Tobique Reservebeen made. Indigenous women of the 20th century persisted, marched from Oka to Ottawa in protest of the discrimination inmobilized and advocated for active change in Canadian systems the Indian Act and neglected housing conditions on reserves. with great courage and tenacity. Because of the relationships built The Canadian government passed Bill C-31 in 1985, which allowedover half a century ago, organizations like ONWA and individuals Indigenous women to regain their status and pass it to theirsuch as those featured in every issue of She is Wise can persist, too, children. However, the stipulation remained that status could notknowing that real change is possible. Every Indigenous woman be passed on to their grandchildrena point that in 2009, Sharonwho trod this path before us has proven what we already know to McIvor challenged further.be true: that she is wise in ways of life. Ontario Native Womens Association23'