Reclaiming Our Sacred Truth

Reclaiming Our Sacred Truth

Thunder Bay, ON – This May, the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) is proud to honour and promote mental health awareness. The Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) theme this year, “Unmasking Mental Health”, reflects the importance of reconnecting with our inner selves. Indigenous women often wear invisible masks as a form of protection, shaped by lived experiences, trauma, and societal expectations. This week, we invite all Indigenous women to gently begin unmasking, to reclaim their inner sacredness, and to embrace their mental wellness journey with compassion, care, and cultural pride.

Mental health is a vital part of our overall well-being. It includes emotional, psychological, and social wellness. ONWA acknowledges the impacts of colonialism, intergenerational trauma, and systemic barriers on Indigenous women’s mental health. We continue to advocate for holistic, culturally grounded supports that uplift Indigenous women, families, and communities.

As part of ONWA’s initiatives this year, we are honoured to host the Indigenous Women’s Health Talk, a virtual webinar providing space for culturally relevant conversations on wellness, healing, and resilience. The Talk will take place on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, and will be available virtually as a live stream through ONWA’s social media accounts (Facebook, YouTube and Twitch): https://www.onwa.ca/social. The Talk will explore the concept of masking—what it means, how it shows up, and how we can begin honouring our true selves through self-reflection activities.

This week, ONWA will also be sharing tools and teachings that encourage Indigenous women to reflect, recenter, and reclaim their wellness journeys. We encourage women to pass these teachings along to their families and communities, and to take time to honour themselves through culture, creativity, and connection.

ONWA remains committed to the holistic wellness of Indigenous women through traditional practices that support emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Together, we can honour and reclaim the sacredness that lies within us all.

For more information and media inquiries, contact::
Andre Morriseau, Communications Manager
Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA)
Email: amorriseau@onwa.ca
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