Retirement Announcement
It is bittersweet to let you know, that as of June 5, 2024, the Board was aware of my
retirement plans and my last day being Friday Aug. 2, 2024.
This past year has allowed me to tend to severe health demands of family members, while
irregularly supporting the Board and staff to deal with and assume added duties. For that I say
Miigwetch, as it was not easy, however, my absence truly started to prepare all of us for this
transition.
First off, I would like to say Thank you, Chi Miigwetch and Nyaweh to all of you and Creator as
well, for everything the Chapter has given me during my tenure.
My professional career with this organization, enabled me the opportunity to not only lead,
guide, develop and establish new programs and services for the Indigenous community but
also receive crucial Indigenous teachings, the chance to learn and grow, as well as initiate
some longstanding friendships, create incredible memories and participate in major
accomplishments, which I shall deeply cherish for the rest of my life.
I have learned from each and every one of you and truly trust I have served you well. I am
grateful to the chapter for investing, time, and effort in me and for the trust bestowed upon
me throughout the years.
As many of you know, a short while prior to the Covid Pandemic, I had been starting to talk
about retirement. Then, the Covid Pandemic hit so that was not a suitable time for changes, as we all jumped
into urgent care mode, and bravely weathered through that most horrible, unpredictable time
I hope we never have to face again.
For me, the chapter has been like a home away from home. I was blessed and supported
throughout the years by an extraordinary Board of Directors, resolute, loyal employees, many
general members, and the community as well.
The acceptance I received, first as an Indigenous woman raised off reserve who knew little
about her heritage, then as a Two Spirited woman in Leadership is nothing short of amazing and a huge tribute to the chapter. Early days saw you make sure I went to Elders and Youth Conferences and Cultural Gatherings around the province and to Anishinaabe ones so I could meet significant Elders and learn more of my heritage. This will always be a treasured memory for me, that you arranged for me to attend those teachings and, inadvertently, meet some of my extended family for the first time. That gift is priceless.
Together we have made a tremendous difference in the lives of many Indigenous women,
children, and families and in fact, positively influenced provincial and federal legislation and
policy as well. As you know, the phrase: “Small but Mighty” is often stated about this Chapter.
One of the main goals for my specific work had been to secure ongoing, core or block funding
for the chapter as it had not received any stable funding from any source other than Bingo.
Then as you know, that disappeared. Therefore, throughout the years, my efforts were often
in that direction and eventually through many smaller projects, many smaller grants and
service contracts, while keeping the focus of Indigenous women and families in the forefront,
together.
We were able to secure some Ontario Provincial Funding that has now become what is now
called: Evergreen. We were able to apply for and secure funds for programs through Ontario
Native Women Assoc. We had advocated for more programs to provided across the province
through local chapters, as many were already being delivered in Thunder Bay area. This has
furthered the reach of ONWA while now offering more services for Indigenous women and
families across the province.
These two major funders (MCCSS and ONWA), the programs and services provided through
these funds, have allowed the chapter to stabilize. To be able to put away funds for
‘operations to continue’ for at least 6 months, should a shortfall ever happen or should
funding suddenly cease.
In 1992 when I started here, there was a good amount in a reserve fund from Bingo. It was
used for operating the Day Care during the SARS Epidemic, the 911 Crisis and beyond.
Today there is an equal amount of funds in our reserve, with a combination of GICs invested to
garner interest and a new Endowment Fund, called the Indigenous Advancement Fund which
is held in trust by the Niagara Community Foundation. This Endowment Fund receives
donations each year, and is a legacy set up by siblings who wished for the Chapter to have
funds in perpetuity. The total is well over 100,000 today.
These funds are pooled together with other small charity endowments, and each receives
‘unrestricted funds’ annually based proportionally on the amount invested. Unrestricted funds
mean the chapter can use them for whatever they need, unlike Grants or Service Contracts
that have strict guidelines for their budgets and expenditures.
It is satisfying to know; the Chapter is in a strong financial position going into this transition.
The current operating budgets for the past few years have reached just over a million dollars,
putting the chapter into a different bracket entirely which requires Financial Audits as
compared to Financial Statements. Recalling our first Audit ever that was a bit nerve wracking
but came back fine. I am pleased to say all Audits, thereafter, have been the same.
Programs and services provided through the chapter have also changed. While the coming of
full time Junior Kindergarten, the previous SARS Epidemic and 911 Crisis all put a damper on
the enrollment for our Day Care, resulting in its closure the chapter continued to reinvent
itself with meeting expressed needs of community members. Namely, intense advocacy and
intervention with Children’s Aid issues and our families. Forging the first written commitments
from FACS Niagara to reduce the numbers of Indigenous children in care, we went on to sign a
written Memo of Understanding and to work towards forming a stronger bond with our
counterparts, the two friendship centers resulting in more wrap around services for our joint
participants, their children and building on the foundational work done by Niagara Chapter-
Native Women Inc.
Countless hundreds quite possibly thousands, of Indigenous lives have been positively affected
and many, many being reunited with their families through this tremendous work the chapter
has done for well over a decade now.
Services have grown with the ‘Original Pathways,’ Alternative Dispute Resolution service being
one the very first of its kind in the whole southern Ontario region and a flagship for others to
follow. Influential firsts have grown out of this Chapter, with the support of the Board for
which I am grateful to have been part of.
I have enjoyed the development of innovative programs, the onboarding and training of new
employees, on-the-job trainees and placement students and I am immensely proud to have
been your inaugural Executive Director. As this transition continues to unfold, know that the
Aims and Objectives of Niagara Chapter-Native Women Inc. and each one of you will always
remain close to my heart. I am grateful for the gifts bestowed upon me and that they could be
of service to the People. I wish the Chapter much continued success.
Chi Miigwetch again for all you have given me.
Baamaapi and O: nen ki’ wahi
Sincerely,
Wendy Sturgeon