CREE WOMEN OF EEYOU ISTCHEE ASSOCIATION (CWEIA) Annual Report of 2015-2016
Kwey!! It was a year of transition where CWEIA underwent a leadership change for 2015-2016. During all of her 5-year tenure with CWEIA, Mrs. Virginia Wabano’s commitment and dedication was very much appreciated. CWEIA also went from 31 to 180 registered members, which is considerable, as it is often a challenge to increase our membership.
At our 8th Annual General Assembly held at Washaw-Sibi’s Cultural Camp, it was marked as an election year for the President position of CWEIA. Our present President, Mrs. Linda L. Shecapio was elected in September 2015, followed with a first-time undertaking of traditional inauguration, as she will serve CWEIA for the next four (4) years and will also serve an official term within CWEIA. Additionally, at this event, CWEIA honored Mrs. Virginia Wabano’s services, as she committed herself since 2011. We are definitely pleased with and grateful for our proud sponsors and supporters for another successful year. It is important to note here that two (2) of our on-going provincial funding agreements went into ‘status quo’ as a result from provincial governmental change and program revision. Furthermore, due to unexpected circumstances throughout the year, we had a total of seven (7) Board of Director meetings to prioritize and iron out some of the issues faced within our organization and notably in developing strategies and orientations as we worked towards our new 5-year Strategic Plan.
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Throughout this annual report of 2015-2016, you will see our core activities, and that CWEIA positioned itself for future growth driven by volunteers, partners and supporters like you. We present this report as it is organized with the headings of servicing our members, building and maintaining relations, the upkeep of our traditions and culture, the budget 2015-2016 and ending with concluding remarks. With this, the activities implemented will show you how your support made a positive impact in 2015-2016.
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B THE UP-KEEP OF OUR TRADITIONS AND CULTURE
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On March 21-24, 2016, CWEIA organized 1st Kuukuminuuwich uchiskuutimachaauniwaau iskwaauhititaau ᑰᑯᒥᓅᐧᐃᒡ ᐅᒋᔅᑰᑎᒪᒑᓂᐧᐋᐤ - ᐃᓯᐧᑳᐅᐦᐄᑎᑖᐤ in Chisasibi, QC. It was a huge success, as our grandmothers led with clear direction and diligence for the purpose of the gathering. The grandmothers also spoke and made it clear that this event continues annually, as it is very important to pass on the culture and knowledge of rites of passage, ceremonies, and Eeyou/Eenou way of life.
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SERVICING OUR MEMBERS Empowering Local Women Association The 12 of our 13 communities (includes Urban), were able to organize, lead, and mobilize their local women to participate in their chosen workshops, as they saw a need to implement in their respective communities: • • • • • • • •
Goal setting Workshop Create your own vision board Healthy eating and Yoga Initiation Women Empowering Gala Healthy Relations with Self and Others Self Esteem Empowerment Conference on Empowering Our Woman Business Start-up Healing Opportunities Healing has now become a central component for CWEIA. Therefore, we had a fortunate opportunity to send nine (9) of our female members and one (1) male to attend at the Healing Our Spirit Worldwide Indigenous Conference in Hamilton, New Zealand. Furthermore, we were able to bring four (4) members to a provincial gathering of First Nations on Dialogue for Life in Montreal, QC.
Women Entrepreneurship Femmessor Program ended on Dec 31, 2015. However, CWEIA continued to offer assistance to Eeyou/Eenou Women pursuing entrepreneurship, as CWEIA believes in supporting their fellow women to be economically-driven. On that note, CWEIA organized a focus group with Cree Women Entrepreneurs to discuss how we can be of better service to them.
BUILDING AND MAINTAINING RELATIONS Reconnecting the Path of Our Ancestors and Rebuilding Our Spirit by Miyupumaatisiun Chisasibi Wellness CWEIA accepted to be a partner at the Regional Residential Gathering, and we had the opportunity to organize and facilitate the last day. It was a day filled with Eeyou/Eenou speakers and specific topics were shared by the following: • • • • •
Grandmother Moon Teachings - Irene Otter Philosophy of Nishiiyuu Men - Wayne Rabbitskin Teepee Teachings - Sarah Louttit Traditional Parenting - Janet Fox Women and Wellness - Linda L. Shecapio
Regional Committees and CWEIA Representations We are grateful that CWEIA’s voice is now more in demand. Throughout the year we attended over 25 meetings and events to network with regional entities within Eeyou Istchee. These regional entities are as follows: • • • • • • •
Women Shelter File Regional Suicide Prevention Intervention & Post-Intervention Early Childhood Committee Cree Social Economic Regional Table CNG - Council Board CREECO ‘Think-Tank’ Session CHB-Nishiiyuu Dept.: Invitation to Strategic Planning
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Nishiiyuu Regional Council of Elders 5th Traditional Gathering & A.G.A. CNACA 10th A.G.A. Welcoming of Walkers in Chisasibi Cree Justice Community Dialogue CNYC - “Inspire Hope Youth Conference” Chisasibi Mental Wellness team strategic planning
CWEIA’s BUDGET FOR 2015-2016
CONCLUDING REMARKS On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you for your continuous support towards our efforts in 2015-2016 and your patience, as we work towards smoothing the transition of our new leadership, while working effortlessly on our 5-year Strategic Plan, as it is one of our many exciting turning points for CWEIA. Please continue to join us in creating our non-profit organization as we strive towards a catalyst role for healing, as our ancestors’ message was delivered during the traditional inauguration of our new leadership. We will continue to care wholeheartedly and engage in improving ourselves as we work towards unity for women, our children, our families, our elders and our respective communities of Eeyou Istchee. CWEIA will continue making connections and partnerships in leading healthy communities, as we support and encourage our fellow women to speak loudly, as the caretakers of our homes and the Eeyou way of life. Eeyou/Eenou women are the ‘backbone’ of ensuring the foundation of what constitutes a healthy family and a healthy community. We will continue to lead the way in the area of healing the wounds of colonization. We will support in honoring our strengths and work collectively towards finding healthy solutions, while implementing our approaches by respecting and reviving our Eeyou/Eenou ways of life with the guidance of Chimaandou and the guidance of our elders. We are definitely aware that there is still a lot of work to be done and we are committed in responding to the needs of our communities, not only in our daily lives but as well as in our present-day governance structures, which will strengthen and sanction women with respect and equal opportunities in social, economic, and political domains and more importantly, will recognize and value our inherit right as life-givers, life-educators, and life-nurturers. Meegwetch! In Nishiiyuu Spirit, Board of Directors and Staff Cree Women of Eeyou Istchee Association