Native Women's Association of Canada

Native Women's Association of Canada
Name	Native Women's Association of Canada
Founded	1974
Location	Ottawa, Ontario
Key people	Flora Cook (former), Beverley Jacobs (former), Jeannette Corbiere Lavell (founder)
Focus	Indigenous women's rights, human rights, health, justice

Native Women's Association of Canada is a national Indigenous-led organization founded in 1974 to represent the interests of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women and their families across Canada. It has engaged with institutions such as the Canadian Human Rights Commission, Supreme Court of Canada, United Nations bodies, and federal departments to advance policy on violence, health, and legal recognition for Indigenous women. The association has participated in inquiries and commissions including the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and has worked alongside organizations such as the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and the Métis National Council.

History

The organization originated in the context of activism during the 1970s alongside figures like Jeannette Corbière Lavell and groups such as the Native Women's Association of Canada (founders' network), responding to legislative changes linked to the Indian Act (1876) and court decisions including Lovell v. Canada (contextual). Early campaigns paralleled movements led by Allan Adam-era leadership, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, and advocacy by leaders such as Beverley Jacobs and Flora Cook. Over subsequent decades the association engaged with the House of Commons of Canada, provided submissions to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and participated in international forums including the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Mandate and Objectives

The association's mandate emphasizes protection of the rights of Indigenous women, children, and families through advocacy, research, and program delivery in areas highlighted by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and Canadian instruments such as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Objectives include addressing gendered violence reflected in reports like the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and advancing legal reforms related to the Indian Act (1876), child welfare matters evidenced in cases before the Supreme Court of Canada, and health inequities cited by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Governance and Structure

Governance has consisted of an elected board of directors drawn from regional and provincial organizations including representatives linked to entities like the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and provincial Indigenous women's groups. Leadership figures such as Beverley Jacobs and executive directors have overseen programmatic divisions aligned with national policy units and community outreach teams that liaise with bodies like the Canadian Human Rights Commission and parliamentary committees in the House of Commons of Canada.

Programs and Initiatives

Programmatic work has included community-based initiatives addressing violence prevention inspired by frameworks from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, health programs intersecting with findings from the Public Health Agency of Canada and partnerships mirroring collaborations with the Canadian Women's Foundation. Other initiatives have targeted legal education in the wake of rulings from the Supreme Court of Canada, research projects similar to those by the Canadian Observatory on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and public awareness campaigns conducted in coordination with media outlets and cultural institutions such as the Canadian Museum of History.

Advocacy and Policy Impact

Advocacy efforts have produced submissions to international mechanisms including the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and influenced domestic discussions in venues like the House of Commons of Canada and the Senate of Canada. The association has contributed to policy dialogues around amendments to the Indian Act (1876), child welfare policy reforms linked with provincial ministries, and national strategies responding to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Engagement with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and participation in forums convened by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples informed its policy recommendations.

Partnerships and Funding

Partnerships span Indigenous organizations such as the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and the Métis National Council, non-governmental organizations like the Canadian Women's Foundation, and academic collaborators including researchers affiliated with institutions like the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia. Funding sources have included federal program funding administered through departments similar to those accountable to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and project grants connected to initiatives endorsed by the Public Health Agency of Canada and philanthropic bodies.

Criticism and Controversies

The association has faced public controversies over governance, financial accountability, and program delivery that involved scrutiny by media outlets such as the Globe and Mail and questions brought before parliamentary committees in the House of Commons of Canada. Debates included disputes with provincial Indigenous organizations, critiques from commentators in outlets like the National Post, and legal challenges referenced in discussions before administrative tribunals and courts including the Federal Court of Canada.

Category:Indigenous women's organizations in Canada