b"COVER STORYMessage fromTHE PRESIDENTTHE POWER OF OUR VOICESKrystal Brant W She is Wise magazine, the first elcome to the 11th issue of edition released since I became president of ONWA. Im excited to share the new directions, challenges and celebration of Indigenous women in SIW in the months and President, ONWA years ahead. One such challenge is a new federal election on the horizon. Now is the time to listen, gather information, engage and prepare ourselves for the important decisions that lie ahead. And what better place to do this but in the pages of She is Wise magazine.onwa.caThis issue of She is Wise serves to open our minds to the many ways Indigenous women @ONWA7 and their families work within the Canadian political system to advocate for change. It @_ONWA_ also outlines the various roles each of us can undertake to continue the work of those who came before us. By learning to recognize our strengths, motivations and allies, @onwa_official we can better understand the power of our voices. The crucial work that takes place in the political sphere impacts us all directly. By educating ourselves and engaging in meaningful conversations, we can ensure that the well-being of Indigenous women, families, communities and nations remains at the forefront of governmental decision-making. This is where we must exercise our inherent right to take our place in discus-sions that shape our lives.ONWA is proud to support both the distinct and collective messages of the stories in this issue. As we have learned, the gifts we carry give us purpose; one of those gifts is voice. By using our voices to support the political leaders who carry our best interests, or to participate in the political sphere directly, we can work towards justice and ensure the safety and wellness of generations to come.Published by: CONTRIBUTING EDITORDESIGN SPECIALISTAll rights reserved.Ingrid Green Bethany Giesbrecht The contentsof this is published for Ontario Nativepublication may not beWomen's AssociationASSISTANT CONTRIBUTING EDITOR PRESIDENTreproduced by any means, in www.mediaedgepublishing.com Sarah McPherson Kevin Brown whole or in part, without the SENIOR VICE PRESIDENTprior written consent of the 33 South Station StreetSENIOR EDITORRobert Thompson association.Toronto, ONM9N 2B2Justyne EsseryToll Free: 1-866-480-4717SALES / BRANCH She is Wise is printed robertt@mediaedge.ca NATIONAL SALES EXECUTIVESMANAGERon 10% post-consumer Return undeliverables to: Kristine Dudar, April Hawkes, Nancie Priv FSC certified paper using P.O. Box 15-684 City Road,NATIONAL DIRECTOR OFAshley Huston, Pat Johnston, Published soya based inks. When Fort William First NationPUBLISHINGVeronica Johnston December 2024 necessary to mail an issue ONP7J 1K3Maurice P. LaBorde in an enclosure, we use an 807-577-1492MANAGING EDITORSENIOR DESIGN SPECIALISTPublication Mail environmentally-friendly, 100% www.onwa.ca Andr MorriseauMarisa Giesbrecht Agreement #40787580 oxo-degradable poly-wrap. 8Fall/Winter 2024"