Native Women's Association of Canada
Encyclopedia
The Native Women's Association of Canada, or NWAC, is one of Canada's National Aboriginal Organizations, and represents Aboriginal
women, particularly First Nations
and Métis
women. Inuit
women are represented by the separate organization, Pauktuutit
. Despite the existence of Pauktuutit and Women of the Métis Nation, NWAC has enjoyed more representation in meetings of Canadian leaders as they are generally viewed as the national voice representing Aboriginal women in Canada.
for Aboriginal women, and having a role in shaping legislation relevant to Aboriginal women. NWAC is led by a president and board of directors, who cooperate and exchange information with local organizations. In September 2009 Jeannette Corbiere Lavell was elected as the organization's new president. Meanwhile, the Board studies the actions of the President and its provincial/territorial member associations and makes recommendations.
In 1992, when the Charlottetown Accord
was being negotiated, the federal government included four Aboriginal groups in negotiations and gave them money. NWAC, which was not included, alleged the four groups primarily represented Aboriginal men and launched a court challenge for representation, claiming to have been denied rights to freedom of expression under section 2
and sexual equality under section 28
of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
. In the case of Native Women's Association of Canada v. Canada
(1994), the Supreme Court of Canada
found against NWAC.
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
women, particularly First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
and Métis
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
women. Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
women are represented by the separate organization, Pauktuutit
Pauktuutit
Pauktuutit is an organization in Canada that represents Inuit women. It was officially started in 1984 and is headquartered in Ottawa for easier access to the Parliament of Canada. Every Canadian Inuit woman is considered to be a member of Pauktuutit...
. Despite the existence of Pauktuutit and Women of the Métis Nation, NWAC has enjoyed more representation in meetings of Canadian leaders as they are generally viewed as the national voice representing Aboriginal women in Canada.
History
NWAC was founded in 1974 as an aggregate of 13 Aboriginal women's groups from coast to coast to coast, with the goals of preserving Aboriginal culture, achieving equal opportunityEqual opportunity
Equal opportunity, or equality of opportunity, is a controversial political concept; and an important informal decision-making standard without a precise definition involving fair choices within the public sphere...
for Aboriginal women, and having a role in shaping legislation relevant to Aboriginal women. NWAC is led by a president and board of directors, who cooperate and exchange information with local organizations. In September 2009 Jeannette Corbiere Lavell was elected as the organization's new president. Meanwhile, the Board studies the actions of the President and its provincial/territorial member associations and makes recommendations.
In 1992, when the Charlottetown Accord
Charlottetown Accord
The Charlottetown Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada, proposed by the Canadian federal and provincial governments in 1992. It was submitted to a public referendum on October 26 of that year, and was defeated.-Background:...
was being negotiated, the federal government included four Aboriginal groups in negotiations and gave them money. NWAC, which was not included, alleged the four groups primarily represented Aboriginal men and launched a court challenge for representation, claiming to have been denied rights to freedom of expression under section 2
Section Two of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Section Two of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is the section of the Constitution of Canada's Charter of Rights that lists what the Charter calls "fundamental freedoms" theoretically applying to everyone in Canada, regardless of whether they are a Canadian citizen, or an individual or...
and sexual equality under section 28
Section Twenty-eight of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Section Twenty-eight of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a part of the Constitution of Canada's Charter of Rights. It does not contain a right so much as it provides a guide as to how to interpret rights in the Charter...
of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a bill of rights entrenched in the Constitution of Canada. It forms the first part of the Constitution Act, 1982...
. In the case of Native Women's Association of Canada v. Canada
Native Women's Association of Canada v. Canada
Native Women's Association of Canada v. Canada, [1994] 3 S.C.R. 627, was a decision by the Supreme Court of Canada on section 2, section 15 and section 28 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, in which the Court decided against the claim that the government of Canada had an obligation to...
(1994), the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
found against NWAC.