Previous members
Here are the former members of the Indigenous Women’s Circle.
Diane Redsky, O.M., LL.D (h.c.) – Indigenous Women’s Circle Chair
Diane Redsky is a member of Shoal Lake 40 First Nation and lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As a nationally renowned visionary thinker and community leader, she has worked to address many issues facing Winnipeg’s urban Indigenous community. These include healthcare, justice, education, and social services. She spent most of her career at the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre. This is the largest non-mandated, non-profit, urban Indigenous–led organization in Manitoba serving Indigenous families in Winnipeg.
From 2011 to 2014, she led the Canadian Women’s Foundation National Task Force on Sex Trafficking of Women and Girls in Canada. The Task Force made 34 recommendations to end sex trafficking. Diane is currently chair of the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people (MMIWG2S+) Urban Working Group. The working group developed a national action and implementation plan entitled Urban Path to Reclaiming Power and Place, Regardless of Residency to address the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice.
Gabrielle Fayant, Co-founder, Assembly of Seven Generations – Indigenous Women’s Circle Vice-Chair
Gabrielle Fayant is a young Métis woman from Fishing Lake Métis Settlement in Alberta. She received the 2015 Métis Youth Indspire Award. She has also been nominated for the Samara Everyday Political Citizen Award.
Gabrielle co-founded the Assembly of Seven Generations, an Indigenous non‑profit, youth-led organization. The Honourable Carolyn Bennett named her a youth advisor for the Indigenous Youth Voices initiative.
Gabrielle also produced, wrote, and hosted the TV show Noongom (meaning “today” in Anishinabemowin). It highlights Indigenous Peoples’ current realities. Finally, she is the co‑host and producer of the Michif Hour on CKCU FM. This radio show talks about Métis history and contemporary issues while exploring Métis artists, past and present.
Brandy Stanovich, MMIWG2S+ Manager, Resiliency Lodge Chelsea Advisor, Native Women’s Association of Canada
Brandy Stanovich is the MMIWG2S+ Manager and Chelsea Lodge Advisor at the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC). She volunteers her time as president of the Indigenous Women of the Wabanaki Territories in New Brunswick. In July 2022, she was elected second vice president of NWAC.
Brandy takes on causes that affect Indigenous families and communities at the local, national, and international levels. Since working with NWAC, she has supported several undertakings. These include the Change the Bill initiative and projects focused on language, art, MMIWG2S+, and resiliency lodges.
As someone who is invested in protecting Indigenous languages, Brandy has worked with Woodstock First Nation to help create a Wolastoqey language curriculum and teach the language to students and families. She is also involved in NWAC’s work on preserving Indigenous languages.
Brandy is a mother to eight children. She enjoys spending time with her family, engaging in on-the-land activities, attending sweat ceremonies, canoeing, fishing, gardening, travelling, painting, and other crafts.
Cora McGuire-Cyrette, Executive Director, Ontario Native Women’s Association
Cora McGuire-Cyrette is the executive director of the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA). ONWA is the oldest and largest Indigenous women’s agency in Canada. It focuses on ending violence against Indigenous women and their families and ensuring equal access to justice, education, health services, environmental stewardship, and economic development.
Cora is a proud member of the Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek (Sand Point First Nation). She uses her voice to champion Indigenous women’s rights, cultivate healing, create safe spaces, and support Indigenous women as they reclaim their role as leaders.
Cora was involved in developing Ontario’s anti-human trafficking strategy and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. She currently chairs Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services and co-chairs the Indigenous Women’s Advisory Council of Ontario.
Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, Chair, National Family and Survivors Circle in Canada
Hilda is a member of the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and is currently chair of the National Family and Survivors Circle in Canada. For the past 20 years, she has been a tireless advocate and leader to prevent and end gender- and race-based violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
Through her grassroots advocacy work, Hilda has relentlessly spoken truth to power. She has held systems and structures accountable in addressing the ongoing genocide of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. She has presented at the United Nations and across Canada. She firmly believes that everyone in society has a responsibility – and is part of the solution – in ending all forms of gender- and race-based violence.
Jennifer Rankin, Senior Director, National Association of Friendship Centres, Ottawa
Jennifer is a member of Batchewana First Nation and has lived in Ottawa her entire life. Jennifer completed a BA in Indigenous studies at the University of Ottawa. She has over 10 years’ experience working with several national Indigenous organizations in health, research, and advocacy.
She has been working with the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) for over nine years. She manages the administration of Urban Programming for Indigenous Peoples. This program provides core funding to NAFC provincial and territorial associations and friendship centres across the country.
In September 2022, Jennifer was promoted to senior director. This new role provides senior-level operations support to the NAFC.
Liz Stone, Indigenous Knowledge Leader, Sir Sanford Fleming College
Liz Stone is an Indigenous Knowledge Leader at the Fleming School of General Arts and Sciences. She has held many positions at Fleming College. They include Academic Chair of Indigenous Perspectives and professor of Indigenous studies. She has also been the executive director of Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle. It provides counselling services to Indigenous women and families.
Marjolaine Étienne, President, Quebec Native Women’s Association
Marjolaine Étienne is an Innu from Mashteuiatsh and a fellow of the Centre interuniversitaire d’études et de recherches autochtones at the Université du Québec en Outaouais. She is the representative of Indigenous Peoples in Canada to the United Nations Secretary-General. She also sits on the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples.
Marjolaine Étienne trained in human sciences and community work at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi. She has a wealth of professional experience, with more than 15 years of political life and community development in the Innu First Nation of Mashteuiatsh. Between 2003 and 2010, she was an elected member of the Conseil des Montagnais du Lac-St-Jean. She then became councillor and vice-chief of external relations. She was concerned about making the voices of elected Indigenous women heard within the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec-Labrador. For that reason, she set up a working group to provide them with support and training.
Melanie Omeniho, President, Les Femmes Michif OtipemisiwakFootnote 1 (also known as Women of the Métis Nation)
Melanie Omeniho is a descendent of the historical Métis community of Lac Ste. Anne and a proud member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. Her political and advocacy career led her to play a role in the development and incorporation of Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak. It also led Métis women across the homeland to elect her president for three terms.
Melanie has extensive experience in community development, social programming, and family and children’s services. She has worked to develop programs and advocate for her community to change several social programs so they better meet the Indigenous community’s needs. She received the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for her work on education, Indigenous youth, and advocacy for families involved with children’s services.
Rosemary Cooper, Executive Director, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada
Rosemary Cooper became Pauktuutit’s executive director on February 14, 2022, after two years as acting executive director. Rosemary joined Pauktuutit in 2016 as senior political advisor. Before this, she served as political advisor at Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. Before moving to Ottawa, Rosemary served in the Nunavut government as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services when the government was established. She also served as Assistant Deputy Minister of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs. Born and raised in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Rosemary is fluently bilingual in Inuktut and English.
Kaelyn Mercer, Tapui’tjitja’amitj Program Coordinator, Native Council of Prince Edward Island
Kaelyn (she/her) is a Mi’kmaw youth from Ktaqmkuk who lives in Epekwitk. She has spent years advocating and volunteering with different organizations on human, animal, and environmental rights. She was the Feminist Youth Ambassador for the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival. As a queer Indigenous woman who is reclaiming her culture, Kaelyn now works as the Tapui’tjitja’amitj (Two-Spirit) Program Coordinator at the Native Council of PEI. She provides supports and programs for 2SLGTBQQIA+ Indigenous people. Her goal is to raise awareness and educate others to reduce gender-based violence. She focuses on advocacy and work around decolonization, anti-racism, and intersectionality.
Sheila Isaac, Director of Mi’kmaq and Indigenous Post-Secondary Recruitment and Retention at the Department of Advanced Education for the Province of Nova Scotia
Sheila Isaac is a Mi’gmaq lawyer from Listuguj, Quebec. She lives in Membertou, Nova Scotia. She has one daughter, Chantal, and two grandchildren, who live in Saint John, New Brunswick.
Sheila is a highly regarded expert in Indigenous history and Indigenous women’s leadership. She has been a researcher and policy analyst for the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the Assembly of First Nations, the Native Women’s Association of Canada, and the Odawa Native Friendship Centre. Sheila has worked in her community as the band manager and director of human resources. She also worked with a team of Mi’kmaq lawyers on the Supreme Court of Canada’s Marshall decision. She has been a guest lecturer and keynote speaker for several organizations. She grades Indigenous proposals for the federal government.
Sheila is on the Indigenous Education Committee for the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada.
Sylvia Maracle, Consultant, Sylvia Maracle Consulting
Sylvia Maracle has changed the landscape for urban Indigenous programs and policies. She has done so through her tireless work ethic, her ability to foresee emerging issues, and her inability to accept “no” for an answer. Her achievements and work with the National Association of Friendship Centres, the Native Women’s Association of Canada, the Assembly of First Nations, National Aboriginal Head Start, and many regional and local organizations are internationally renowned. Sylvia retired after 43 years as executive director of the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres. She then started her own consulting business.
Sylvia Maracle travels the continent to First Nations and urban centres, lending her expertise and experience. The creation of a national network of service delivery agencies, like the Friendship Centres, will be felt for generations to come. Maracle has received national, provincial, and local recognition for her work and volunteer efforts. Maracle is Mohawk from the Wolf Clan of Tyendinaga.