ONWA gets new home

Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s Corinne Fox is pleased with the new Ontario Native Women’s Association location in Thunder Bay.
“It’s awesome,” Fox said during the July 8 grand opening at the former St. John Elementary School site. “It’s a fabulous site and they couldn’t have been more lucky for the women and children who will access services here.”
ONWA moved its head office to the 380 Ray Boulevard location effective March 14 with funding from the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs after many years at the former 212 East Miles Street location.
“This location and the facility is going to allow us to provide much better services to the community,” said Betty Kennedy, executive director of ONWA. “We’ve expanded our services now to include a community garden as well as a community kitchen. We’re running youth programs now that we were not able to do before.”
ONWA president Dawn Harvard said the new location offers a safe and positive environment for women to bring their children.
“They can connect with Mother Earth and be out in the gardens and the green space,” Harvard said. “We’re now in a space that is very positive and very bright.”
Harvard said the organization is now starting a homelessness initiative and a new employment and training program for Aboriginal women.
“These are very positive steps towards self sufficiency for some of the women that come to our offices,” Harvard said.
ONWA was founded in 1972 to promote the betterment and equality of Native women. The provincial organization represents Aboriginal women and their families on matters that affect the political, social, education, economic and justice issues of their daily lives. ONWA has 83 local volunteer organizations in on- and off-reserve communities.