Abbreviation NWAC Legal status active | Formation 1974 | |
Type National Aboriginal Organization Purpose advocate and public voice, educator and network Headquarters Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | ||
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.
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History
NWAC was founded in 1973 as an aggregate of 13 Aboriginal women's groups from coast to coast to coast, with the goals of preserving Aboriginal culture, achieving equal opportunity 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.
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.