Ontario Native Women’s Association finds new home

For nearly four decades the women behind the Ontario Native Women’s Association weren’t sure they’d ever find a permanent home.

The organization, which started in a battered trailer on the Fort William First Nation, had migrated to a somewhat sketchy home on Miles Street.

But on Friday they finally found a place they could call their own.

ONWA president Dawn Harvard called the process of finding their “forever home” a three-year ordeal, but a dream come true.

“As we toured site after site, we feared we would never find a suitable building. Yet here we are today, standing in this beautiful green space … next to a building that houses all of our staff and all of programs,” Harvard said.

“In these halls you’ll see that the Creator sent the beautiful sunlight through our windows to cast the light on all that we do, both spiritually and physically.”

The building that called out to ONWA’s executive is the former St. John Elementary School on Ray Boulevard, a building with plenty of green space surrounding it, a peaceful oasis for those in need of the organization’s services.

Programs housed at their new facility include a community kitchen, sharing circles, traditional teachings and crafts, life-skill workshops, a community garden, fitness program and a resource centre to assist women with employment and training opportunities.

“Like the garden here that we’re watching here grow, it’s our time to flourish and take our rightful place, not just as equals in our families and in our communities, but now also as leaders in the larger society,” Harvard said.

Jeannette Corbiere-Lavell, the president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, is a founding member of ONWA, said it’s been a long road getting to this point, a journey well worth the effort.

“There were lots of really difficult times, but I remember the good times when we would come together and we shared whatever little resources we had. And that’s what we are as Nishnawbek women. We’re taught to watch out for each other and to show that compassion, to share whatever we have, be it little or be it large,” said Corbiere-Lavell, who also happens to be Harvard’s mother.

Betty Kennedy, ONWA’s executive director, called the new facility an excellent rebirth for an organization charged with serving the entire province.

The new digs have taken some getting used to, she admitted, but it’s nothing they can’t and haven’t overcome. 

“I feel as we gather to celebrate, there’s a renewed sense of vision and passion in our staff, in our board and in our locals,” Kennedy said. “They have embraced all the positive changes and seem to be working in the community to strengthen the voice of Aboriginal women and families across Ontario.”

The facility opened its doors on March 14, and cost about $650,000 to purchase, $500,000 of which came from the province.