Wolastoqey Elder calls for investigation into Native Womens Association of Canada

A letter written by a Wolastoqey Elder calls for an investigation into the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) and its operations. Alma Brooks, who has been involved in Indigenous women’s issues in New Brunswick for more than 30 years, said she sent the letter to a number of provincial and federal government officials including New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt, former Indigenous Services Canada minister Patty Hajdu (currently minister of jobs and families), Crown-Indigenous Relations Deputy Minister Valerie Gideon and New Brunswick Liberal MP David Myles. The letter, dated May 10, outlines Brooks’ concerns about the operation and management of two NWAC properties – a resiliency lodge in Chelsea, Quebec and a second resiliency lodge in Gagetown, New Brunswick. “These facilities were originally developed and funded under the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) to deliver urgently needed programs for Indigenous Women,” the letter says.  “However; they have since been repurposed…” It goes on to say, “These actions merit urgent federal & provincial investigations…the sudden suspension of operations involving both initiatives without transparency and accountability to community or the public, have prompted serious concerns.” In an email, NWAC Chief Operations Officer Beth Dimsdale said the Chelsea facility is in the process of getting repairs and once completed will be listed for sale. The property is also currently listed on a real estate website. NWAC put out a tender for a community-based organization to manage the New Brunswick property which opened on Mar. 19 and closed June 13. “NWAC invites qualified organizations to submit expression of interest or preferably a proposal for the delivery of Community Service, Support and/or Indigenous Cultural focused Programming at its New Brunswick Lodge and Gathering Centre, as well the overall management and care of the property,” the tender says. “NWAC would also consider proposals from qualified Indigenous Organizations for ownership of the property that must align with the intended purpose in which NWAC received public funds related to above.” It goes on to say the facility will not serve as a resiliency lodge in the future, “NWAC New Brunswick Lodge and Gathering Centre was initially purchased, renovated and built with the intention of NWAC offering Culturally Grounded Healing Services for Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, transgender and gender-diverse individuals in Canada. Due to funding constraints as well as an organizational re-prioritization of core advocacy work, NWAC is unable to offer the above noted programming.” Resiliency lodges are amongst the calls to action and justice in both the final reports of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Brooks told APTN that she was closely involved in the Wabanaki Lodge-a resiliency lodge in Gagetown, New Brunswick which was supposed to officially open in 2024 when they received a call from NWAC advising they shut down operations and lay off existing staff. “They clearly must’ve just disregarded the agreement and it wasn’t just government money,” she said “It was private money also and donations that are in that were valued in large. Very, very, very valuable artifacts and things like that that were donated and those things.” APTN provided NWAC with a copy of the letter but has not received a response. NWAC’s Gatineau office is also up for sale for a little under $8 million. Read more: NWAC puts Gatineau office up for sale for $8M NWAC deals with fallout from expulsion of provincial associations ahead of annual gathering, vote The organization experienced a big shake up in the spring of 2024 which began with NWAC laying off half of its roughly 150 contract and permanent staff due to federal funding cuts. At the time, the organization said funding for staff had dropped to $3 million from $11 million the previous year. Then CEO Lynne Groulx left shortly after and was replaced by Madeleine Redfern. Things came to a head last fall with the decision to expel provincial organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan. Carol McBride chose not to run again for president and was replaced by Josie Nepinak. At issue appears to be different visions of how the organization should be run with those loyal to Groulx open to ideas of generating own-source revenue through selling artwork and renting meeting rooms in the Gatineau office and the current administration that says it wants to return to a core mandate of advocacy. Brooks is one of the supporters of Groulx who said the organization has not been on solid footing since she left. “I just feel like this big change that happened after Lynne Groulx left – these major changes that happened without any community consultation, without any public notification, or anything, and just all of a sudden,” she said. Another supporter of Groulx is former president of the Aboriginal Women’s Association of P.E.I. Matilda Ramjattan. She told APTN she stepped away from NWAC after the abrupt departure of Groulx last spring. “I was enthralled with the work that was being done because it was positive and I’m a very positive person and to see the effort and the work that that the previous CEO had done – the blood sweat and tears,” Ramjattan said. “She worked very diligently and hard and it wasn’t to make herself look good. She did that for the people.” APTN has asked NWAC President Josie Nepinak numerous times for comment but has yet to receive a response. In an email, NWAC Vice-President Gena Edwards referred all questions back to Nepinak. In another email, Indigenous Services Canada media relations spokesperson Anispiragas Piragasanathar said the department is aware of allegations brought forward regarding NWAC but the federal government does not get involved with internal governance matters of the organization and is not in a position to provide a comment. The last audited financial statements on NWAC’s website are for 2023. Continue Reading