b'DEPARTMENT OVERVIEWResponding to Womens Initiatives Director Nancy Johnson and Program Lead Barbara General.the MMIWG Calls to Action:An overview of the Womens Initiatives SectorBY JENNIFER ASHAWASEGAI-PEREIRAT he pandemic has proven toWomens Council and mandated by theWith a new sector comes a new leader: be a challenging time forChiefs-in-Assembly. Nancy Johnson has had to hit the ground many organizations, butAlthough the sector is new, COOrunning in her current role as Director of that didnt stop the Chiefshas had a guiding light to navigate thethe Womens Initiatives Sector at COO. of Ontario (COO) from launching itsJohnson started her work with COO in Womens Initiatives Sector. It couldntpath of womens concerns by way of theMay 2021 and was tasked with a list that have come to fruition at a more crucialFirst Nations Womens Council, whichhad been years in the making, along with timeover the past couple of years,has been in place for a decade. The Firstnewer initiatives. And in just over one reported incidents of violence towardsNations Womens Council is comprisedyear since their work has begun, a lot has women have increased. Since its incep- of representatives from PTOs andbeen done. tion, the sector has been busy imple- Independent First Nations from Among a number of initiatives in menting goals set out by the First Nationsacross Ontario.the works, Johnson says they have held 52l I ssue1 2022C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'