YWCA NWT says it has appointed Darlene Powder as its first in-house Elder.
In a Monday press release, the organization said Powder will help provide feedback and guidance related to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action.
“I’m proud to be working with YWCA NWT to help guide their work on truth and reconciliation,” Powder stated.
“These are heavy, emotional topics that can be hard to talk about for many residential school survivors. I’ve seen true healing when people have the opportunity to connect with their culture and it’s important to give people a chance to vent if they need to and provide programs for land-based healing and traditional activities, as that’s where sharing happens and where healing for families and communities can begin.”
According to the press release, Powder began working with YWCA NWT in 2010 at the Alison McAteer House family violence shelter and in 2015, she transitioned to the transitional housing program.
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YWCA NWT said Powder was “instrumental” in establishing the Indigenous mental wellness program, which she has led since 2020, and she started Kokum Korner at Gotı̨ li kò. The organization said Powder has also delivered and co-facilitated workshops on a variety of topics including Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, truth and reconciliation, loss and grief mental wellness, and addictions and co-dependency.
“Darlene’s experience and knowledge is a true gift to the organization and the women and families we serve,” Hawa Dumbuya-Sesay, YWCA NWT’s executive director, stated. “We look forward to improving the lives of all northerners as we put the truth and reconciliation calls to action in place.”
In December, YWCA Canada formally apologized to Indigenous people for its historical involvement in the operation of residential schools and Indian hospitals.
YWCA NWT said at the time it was committed to engagement, research and creating a community-informed plan for reconciliation and redress.
“For the past several years, YWCA NWT has been working internally to ensure our programs and services are aligned with the TRC calls to action and address the needs of the people we serve, many of whom are Indigenous and are living with the colonial legacy of residential schools,” Dumbuya-Sesay stated in Monday’s press release.
