Quebec Native Women president re-elected 

Marjolaine Etienne was elected president for a second four-year term at the Quebec Native Women (QNW)’s annual general assembly in Quebec City on December 1.

“I feel as though there is a good amount of confidence from members in the presidency, due to my reelection,” said Etienne.

She said that the desire to continue the job she started in her first mandate is what led her to pursue re-election.

“The job is not done yet, there are still many files we started in my first mandate that need more work,” said Etienne, who won with 76 percent of the vote.

That includes the goals and recommendations laid out at the QNW’s Great Summit in May 2024 in matters of culture, identity, leadership, and socio-economic development, with a focus on the future of Indigenous women in Quebec.

“I’m looking forward to tackling the challenges laid forward by the Great Summit,” said Etienne.

Etienne is also looking to further help women who are victims of violence through the QNW. The non-profit works closely with the Native Women’s Shelters Network and is hoping to continue to raise funds and offer support to the network.

“That’s another thing that is on the table now, our action plan for supporting women who have suffered physical or sexual violence, and responding to the real needs of Indigenous women who are victims of that violence,” said Etienne.

Along with the Great Summit, one more accomplishment Etienne highlighted was the development of the Women Leadership Program, started in 2022 in collaboration with HEC Montreal and First Nations Executive Education.

The five-day program has, as of October 2024, already been used by more than 100 women from communities across the province.

“Being able to offer to women a leadership program will allow women throughout Quebec to fine tune themselves, be more trained and educated for leadership positions,” said Etienne. “Indigenous women, in their communities and in cities, they have ideas and projects too. They are not far off from making them happen, it just helps them have the tools to pursue those projects.”

It will also help women pursue roles with decisional power, both in business and in politics, Etienne added.

“There aren’t just those files. There are still so many needs and files to respond to those needs being worked on,” said Etienne.

She said when she gave her closing report at the general assembly, she was very proud of what had been done so far.

“We really made some good progress,” said Etienne.

Atikamekw Annick Flamand ran unsuccessfully against Etienne in the election.

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