Thread by @BraybrookA

🧵During the first leg of my @ChurchillTrust Fellowship tour in Ottawa, I have had a wonderful experience and met some truly inspiring people. As I leave Canada for the next part of my tour in the United States, I wanted to share some highlights! @DjirraVIC 1/24

One of the best things about my time in Ottawa has been connecting and having meaningful conversations with strong and influential First Nations women here, including Allison Fisher (Executive Director @WabanoHealth) 2/24

Mary Daoust (Executive Director, @MinwaashinLodge & Co-Chair of Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition), and President Carol McBride (Native Women’s Association of Canada @NWAC_CA) 3/24

Each organisation is unique in its own way and I’m inspired with so many more ideas to bring home for @DjirraVIC’s own Aboriginal Women’s Centre in Victoria! ❤️ 4/24

My time in Ottawa has also shone an even brighter light for me on the similarities between the lived experiences of First Nations women in Canada and Australia, and the ongoing, devastating impacts of colonisation on every aspect of our lives @DjirraVIC 5/24

I cannot express just how grateful I am for this opportunity to speak to and spend time with other First Nations women. There’s an immediate connection - you can feel our sister energy @ChurchillTrust @DjirraVIC 6/24

In a trip to Ottawa filled with so many highlights, spending time with Allison Fisher - First Nations woman from the community of Wikwemikong on Manitoulin Island - captured my heart @WabanoHealth @DjirraVIC 7/24

Allison gave me a personalised tour of the Wabano Centre and I held on to every word she spoke as she explained the cultural significance of this special place. Every corner of this space had meaning 8/24

The photos I took do not capture its energy, and I’m not sure I can find the words to describe it. But this visit has validated everything I have ever wanted for @DjirraVIC . When you walk through our doors, I want you to feel the energy — 9/24

- of love, support, cultural affirmation, self-determination — with no judgment.

My meeting with Mary Doust—executive Director of @MinwaashinLodge and Co-Chair of the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition—and her Minwaashin colleagues Flo, Irene and Natasha was also an eye opener! 10/24

We had so much in common as we shared our experiences as women and running NFP organisations working for and with First Nations women. We deal with so many of the same issues – like women and children’s safety, homelessness, kids being taken, criminalisation & incarceration 11/24

And on top of this, the ongoing funding uncertainty and never having the resources we need to meet the growing demand and to provide a service that our women deserve @MinwaashinLodge @DjirraVIC 12/24

@MinwaashinLodge works on the frontline. It has a real community feel and they have created an important and culturally safe place. There’s art, spaces to gather, private counselling rooms 13/24

And just as I was about to leave, mums and their kids started arriving into the large area where there was a big table and chairs. It was Tuesday night – community dinner night! @MinwaashinLodge 14/24

I was also lucky enough to meet & spend time with President McBride at the Native Women’s Association of Canada @NWAC_CA. They are located in a central area in a six story building 15/24

From the outside, it looks like just another office block, but once you’re inside, it’s a completely different experience. The walls are covered in art - breathtaking pieces – with so much color and energy @NWAC_CA 16/24

@NWAC_CA has several social enterprises, an events space, shop &café. As we say at @DjirraVIC, this is Aboriginal women’s self determination in action. I met with President McBride in ‘The Grandmother Moon Room’ & she told me it’s her favourite b/c she’s a Grandmother of 4. 17/24

Every room name - a special meaning and something for everyone to connect. Other rooms were named ‘The Two Spirits Room’ and ‘The Sundance Room’. This is a creative space - look at the chairs… they are yellow and they look like they are dancing! 18/24

The roof top garden with a water feature & greenhouse was pretty special - I even tried the wild strawberries. I have received so many gifts from the people I’ve met with and I have also given our gifts - 19/24

- the women’s spirit scarf, my dragonfly, my mum’s hand painted women’s spirit rock, and some other little @DjirraVIC treasures. One gift in particular I was given at @NWAC_CA was a smudging pack 20/24

I was presented this by a First Nations woman named Candice, who explained carefully how I need to use it. I held onto every word she spoke. You never blow on the smoke - because you’re giving your power away. You use a feather to wave the smoke around @NWAC_CA 21/24

You use your hands to bring the smoke to your head first so it clears your mind, then your ears so you listen, your mouth to speak kind words, your heart to be a good person @NWAC_CA 22/24

Then you take the smoke to the parts of your body that you feel pain and you ask that it leaves. While Candice was speaking, I felt emotional and tears began to flow. It meant so much to me, I could feel everything she was saying @NWAC_CA @DjirraVIC 23/24

I am looking forward to what will come next in a new country on @ChurchillTrust Fellowship. My next stop is New York City - the city that never sleeps! I haven’t been sleeping - so this will help! @DjirraVIC 24/24