Friday
Sept 11
Saturday
Sept 12
Sunday
Sept 14
Friday

September 11, 2026

Membership Regional Caucuses
Membership Regional Caucuses
Membership Regional Caucuses
Networking and Delegate Registration Opens
11:00 AM
11:00 AM
11:00 AM
Networking and Delegate Registration Opens
Networking and Delegate Registration Opens
Lunch
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
Lunch
Lunch
Kaministiquia Room
Welcome
1:00 PM
1:00 PM
1:00 PM
Welcome
Welcome
Melinda Commanda, President and Cora McGuire-Cyrette, CEO
All Caucus Session: Building our Bundles
1:30 PM
1:30 PM
1:30 PM
All Caucus Session: Building our Bundles
All Caucus Session: Building our Bundles
Cora McGuire-Cyrette, CEO
Break
2:00 PM
2:00 PM
2:00 PM
Break
Break
Regional Caucus Engagements
2:15 PM
2:15 PM
2:15 PM
Regional Caucus Engagements
Regional Caucus Engagements

Announcement of Election Results. Building the ONWA Bundle through Regional Teachings: Knowing our roles, building our bundles by region

Regional Caucus Report Back
3:30 PM
3:30 PM
3:30 PM
Regional Caucus Report Back
Regional Caucus Report Back
Kaministiquia Room

Return to Kaministiquia Room for Regional Caucus Report Back from all regions

55th Annual General Assembly
4:30 PM
4:30 PM
4:30 PM
55th Annual General Assembly
55th Annual General Assembly
Dinner
4:30 PM
4:30 PM
4:30 PM
Dinner
Dinner
Kaministiquia Room
Opening Ceremony & Welcome
5:30 PM
5:30 PM
5:30 PM
Opening Ceremony & Welcome
Opening Ceremony & Welcome
Suzanne Knapp (Grandmother, Eastern Region), ONWA Passwewe Ikwewug Drum Group, Cora McGuire-Cyrette (CEO), and Melinda Commanda (President)
AGA Business Proceedings
6:00 PM
6:00 PM
6:00 PM
AGA Business Proceedings
AGA Business Proceedings
Call to Order
Call to Order
Call to Order
Melinda Commanda, President

Acceptance of Chair (Stan Wesley) & Recorder (Minute Solutions)

Roll Call & Declaration of Quorum
Roll Call & Declaration of Quorum
Roll Call & Declaration of Quorum
Stan Wesley/Chair

Acceptance of 2026 Agenda & 2025 AGA Minutes

President’s Report
President’s Report
President’s Report
Melinda Commanda, President
CEO Report
CEO Report
CEO Report
Cora McGuire-Cyrette, CEO
Chief Electoral Officer Report
Chief Electoral Officer Report
Chief Electoral Officer Report
Joan Riggs

Acceptance of 2026-2027 Chief Electoral Officer

2025-2026 Auditors Report
2025-2026 Auditors Report
2025-2026 Auditors Report
Dave Covello, MNP

Appointment of 2026-2027 Auditor

Resolution Report Presentation
6:45 PM
6:45 PM
6:45 PM
Resolution Report Presentation
Resolution Report Presentation
Heather Cameron, Associate Director of Policy, Strategy & Communications

Covers 2025-2026 Resolution Report, 2026-2027 Resolutions, and Acceptance of 2026-2027 Resolutions

Closing Ceremony
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
Closing Ceremony
Closing Ceremony
Suzanne Knapp, Grassy Narrows Drum Group

Honouring Outgoing Board Members & Honour Song

Saturday

September 12, 2026

Building Our Bundles: Sharing Knowledge Systems
Building Our Bundles: Sharing Knowledge Systems
Building Our Bundles: Sharing Knowledge Systems
Sunrise Ceremony
7:30 AM
7:30 AM
7:30 AM
Sunrise Ceremony
Sunrise Ceremony
Teepee
Breakfast
8:00 AM
8:00 AM
8:00 AM
Breakfast
Breakfast
Kaministiquia Room
Opening Ceremony & Welcoming Remarks
9:00 AM
9:00 AM
9:00 AM
Opening Ceremony & Welcoming Remarks
Opening Ceremony & Welcoming Remarks
Gwen Prevost (Grandmother, Northern Region) and ONWA Passwewe Ikwewug Drum Group
Welcoming Remarks
Welcoming Remarks
Welcoming Remarks
Sophia Carnovale (Vice President & Youth Council Member, Board of Directors)
Moving Indigenous Women's Stories to Advocacy and Action (Keynote)
Moving Indigenous Women's Stories to Advocacy and Action (Keynote)
Moving Indigenous Women's Stories to Advocacy and Action (Keynote)
Cora McGuire-Cyrette (CEO), Roberta Wesley (Board Director), and Alysha Wesley (Youth Director)
Break

Snacks served in Kaministiquia Room

10:30 AM
10:30 AM
10:30 AM
Break
Break

Snacks served in Kaministiquia Room

From Global Mechanisms to Local Action

Reflections from Indigenous Youth Leaders and Allies

10:45 AM
10:45 AM
10:45 AM
From Global Mechanisms to Local Action
From Global Mechanisms to Local Action
Sophia Carnovale (Vice President-Youth Director), Stephanie Mikki Adams (Secretary-Board Director), Melinda Commanda (President), and Jackie Neopole (Executive Director, CRIAW)

Reflections from Indigenous Youth Leaders and Allies

13 Grandmother Moon Fashion Show
11:30 AM
11:30 AM
11:30 AM
13 Grandmother Moon Fashion Show
13 Grandmother Moon Fashion Show
Lunch
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
Lunch
Lunch
Kaministiquia Room
Caring Community Workshops
1:00 PM
1:00 PM
1:00 PM
Caring Community Workshops
Caring Community Workshops
Strengthening Community Capacity: Sharing Promising Practices

This workshop creates a space for membership organizations to share knowledge and learn from best practices

Strengthening Community Capacity: Sharing Promising Practices
Strengthening Community Capacity: Sharing Promising Practices
Sheri Jackson (Executive Director, Georgian Bay Native Women's Association), Suzanne Jackson (President, Daughter's of the Fur Trade), and Kendall Mitchell (Executive Director, Nakehndan)
Amethyst Room

This workshop creates a space for membership organizations to share knowledge and learn from best practices

Governance and Board Training

This workshop is for those who are interested in strengthening their expertise as a board member, as well as those who are interested in learning more about becoming a board member

Governance and Board Training
Governance and Board Training
Joan Riggs (Catalyst Research and Communications) and Madison Wigwas (Youth Director)
McGillivray Room

This workshop is for those who are interested in strengthening their expertise as a board member, as well as those who are interested in learning more about becoming a board member

Sharing Wise Practices: Community Action

This workshop provides a space to share wise practices in community-led event planning and execution. The Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition and the Matriarchs will share the knowledge, action and advocacy work they are implementing on the ground to addressing MMIWG2S+

Sharing Wise Practices: Community Action
Sharing Wise Practices: Community Action
Mary Daoust (Executive Director, Minwaashin Lodge), Stephanie Mikki Adams (Executive Director, Inuuqatigiit Centre for Inuit Children, Youth and Families), and Jennifer San (Indigenous Women's Safety Table Coordinator, Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition)
Pointe Du Meuron Room

This workshop provides a space to share wise practices in community-led event planning and execution. The Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition and the Matriarchs will share the knowledge, action and advocacy work they are implementing on the ground to addressing MMIWG2S+

Healing Empowerment Reclamation and Safety (HERS): Addressing Lateral Violence

This workshop will explore ONWA's lateral violence training, which is grounded in the lived experiences and voices of Indigenous women

Healing Empowerment Reclamation and Safety (HERS): Addressing Lateral Violence
Healing Empowerment Reclamation and Safety (HERS): Addressing Lateral Violence
Collin Graham (Training Manager)
Kaministiqua Room

This workshop will explore ONWA's lateral violence training, which is grounded in the lived experiences and voices of Indigenous women

Break

Snacks served in Kaministiquia Room

2:30 PM
2:30 PM
2:30 PM
Break
Break

Snacks served in Kaministiquia Room

Indian Auction
2:45 - 4:00 PM
2:45 - 4:00 PM
2:45 - 4:00 PM
Indian Auction
Indian Auction
Stan Wesley
Annual Recognition Awards Gala
Annual Recognition Awards Gala
Annual Recognition Awards Gala
Symposium

Guest arrival, networking, and live music

5:30 PM
5:30 PM
5:30 PM
Symposium
Symposium
Amethyst Room

Guest arrival, networking, and live music

Gala Opening
6:30 PM
6:30 PM
6:30 PM
Gala Opening
Gala Opening
Stan Wesley (Master of Ceremonies) and Suzanne Knapp (Grandmother, Eastern Region)
Welcoming Remarks
Welcoming Remarks
Welcoming Remarks
Chief Michele Solomon (Fort William First Nation) and Cora McGuire-Cyrette (CEO)
Métis Jiggers Performance
7:00 PM
7:00 PM
7:00 PM
Métis Jiggers Performance
Métis Jiggers Performance
Métis Jiggers
Gala Dinner
7:15 PM
7:15 PM
7:15 PM
Gala Dinner
Gala Dinner
Honoring Annual Award Recipients

Awards include: Alice Souliere Bursary Award, Indigenous Women of the Year Award, Dorothy Wynne Achievement Award, and Indigenous Women's Movement Award

Honoring Annual Award Recipients
Honoring Annual Award Recipients
Cora McGuire-Cyrette (CEO)

Awards include: Alice Souliere Bursary Award, Indigenous Women of the Year Award, Dorothy Wynne Achievement Award, and Indigenous Women's Movement Award

Gala Closing - Honour Song
9:15 - 9:30 PM
9:15 - 9:30 PM
9:15 - 9:30 PM
Gala Closing - Honour Song
Gala Closing - Honour Song
Grassy Narrows Drum Group
Sunday

September 13, 2026

Building Our Bundles: Healing Together
Building Our Bundles: Healing Together
Building Our Bundles: Healing Together
Sunrise Ceremony
7:30 AM
7:30 AM
7:30 AM
Sunrise Ceremony
Sunrise Ceremony
Teepee
Breakfast
7:45 AM
7:45 AM
7:45 AM
Breakfast
Breakfast
Kaministiquia Room
Opening Ceremony
8:45 AM
8:45 AM
8:45 AM
Opening Ceremony
Opening Ceremony
Gwen Prevost (Grandmother, Northern Region) and ONWA Passwewe Ikwewug Drum Group
Inuit Throat Singers Performance
9:00 AM
9:00 AM
9:00 AM
Inuit Throat Singers Performance
Inuit Throat Singers Performance
Our Stories include our Healing Journey
9:15 AM
9:15 AM
9:15 AM
Our Stories include our Healing Journey
Our Stories include our Healing Journey
Stephanie Mikki Adams

Storytelling through Poetry (Book Reading)

Break
10:00 AM
10:00 AM
10:00 AM
Break
Break
Kaministiquia Room

Snacks served in Kaministiquia Room

Building Our Sacred Bundles: Healing Medicine Turtle Workshop
10:15 AM
10:15 AM
10:15 AM
Building Our Sacred Bundles: Healing Medicine Turtle Workshop
Building Our Sacred Bundles: Healing Medicine Turtle Workshop

ONWA's "Healing Medicine Turtle" encircles the values of Indigenous approaches to healing, nurturing, gathering strength, guidance, and perseverance. By practicing our culture and weaving our traditional teachings into our lives, we are provided the guidance and strength needed to heal and let go

Lunch & Book Signing
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
Lunch & Book Signing
Lunch & Book Signing
Stephanie Mikki Adams
Kaministiquia Room

Lunch served in Kaministiquia Room and Book Signing with Stephanie Mikki Adams

Youth Council Fundraiser
1:00 PM
1:00 PM
1:00 PM
Youth Council Fundraiser
Youth Council Fundraiser

Ribbon Skirt & Basketeers Draws

Healing Medicine Turtle Workshop (Continued)
Healing Medicine Turtle Workshop (Continued)
Healing Medicine Turtle Workshop (Continued)
Closing Ceremony
2:00 - 2:30 PM
2:00 - 2:30 PM
2:00 - 2:30 PM
Closing Ceremony
Closing Ceremony
Gwen Prevost, ONWA's Passwewe Ikewewug Drum Group

Closing Ceremony with Gwen Prevost (Grandmother, Northern Region) and Traveling Song by ONWA's Passwewe Ikewewug Drum group.

agenda