Manitoba Moon Voices Inc. (MMVI) is a non-profit organization supporting leadership and advancement for/by Indigenous women and gender diverse people in the Province of Manitoba.

While respecting the diverse paths of self-determination of Indigenous women and gender-diverse people, Manitoba Moon Voice Inc. (MMVI) is a resurgence between women and gender-diverse people, their communities, organizations and allies by connecting, collaborating and moving forward locally, nationally and internationally. MMVI will acknowledge, reclaim and remember Indigenous women and gender-diverse people’s roles and responsibilities in leadership and traditional governance, while honouring their accomplishments.

Building stronger connections among Indigenous women and gender-diverse people, their communities, organizations and allies across Manitoba to support our collaborative voice and empower each other. We share and promote knowledge and resources through positive actions and self-determination, while incorporating ancestral practices, with Indigenous women and gender-diverse people everywhere.

To build a strong connection among Indigenous women, gender diverse people, organizations and allies across Manitoba supporting a collaborative voice in support of each other while also delivering responsive, effective, and valued research, education, access to resource sharing, and advocacy at the local, provincial, national and international levels.

What initially began as a pilot project called “Aboriginal Women Reclaiming Our Power” hosted by Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc, has evolved to become an independent non-profit incorporated organization; managed, directed and operated in the same vision as the original project.

Resource Sharing

To create culturally safe and sacred space and opportunities for dialogue around issues facing Indigenous women, gender diverse people and their families.

Research

To promote and model educational learning and development opportunities that embody de-colonization, healing, transformation, and mobilization that supports the process of reconciliation and self-determination of Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people.

Advocacy

To serve as a vehicle for Indigenous women and gender diverse people to reclaim our voice and rightful leadership position in the political arenas to ensure opportunity and authority to collectively raise issues at the regional, national, and international levels.

Re-Membering

To increase Indigenous women’s and gender diverse people’s ability to affect change personally and within their families and communities through sharing stories and acts of power; resilience and resistance; and re-connecting to culturally appropriate ways of building peace and well-being for Indigenous women, gender diverse people and their families in all areas of our lives.

Members will be part of a Circle, with many strengths, knowledge, and expertise from varied perspectives and experiences.

The work we do, the issues we are facing, the trauma we all continue to carry is ever present and impacting. To ensure we collectively move forward in a good way, we look to the seven teachings as our main guiding principles of action and conduct.

• If we truly wish to address violence, we must commit to our own healing path respecting first ourselves to ensure we also respect those surrounding and within our Circle
• Respecting ourselves individually as well as collectively as a larger Circle and community will help reduce lateral violence and model transformative and healing open dialogue and communication and actions that will support positive growth and development.
• All members must commit to the respectful acknowledgement that all people entering Manitoba Moon Voices Inc. carries valued purpose, gifts and strength that all may learn and benefit from.
• We commit to utilizing an innovative consensus – making process that will bring to bear knowledge and expertise from varied perspectives.

• We commit to honestly knowing and speaking our intentions. We commit to ensure our intentions are not rooted in individual agendas but for the collective development and advancement of Manitoba Moon Voices Inc., Indigenous women and gender diverse people in Manitoba.

• We must courageously commit to challenging our colonized ways of thinking and doing. We commit to collectively supporting each other to decolonize ourselves in all that we do within Manitoba Moon Voices Inc. and our circle.
• We collectively share this journey seeking to incorporate our ancestors and grandmother’s guidance.

• We commit to honouring and valuing our differences and finding supportive ways to work together utilizing peoples strengths and gifts. We will be our strongest in creating change and transformation, for our families to empower ourselves and the work we do.
• We will reconnect to spirit and the land.

• We commit to bringing the truth forward with our stories, experiences and reclamation of our voice collectively and inclusively.
• We commit to honouring our truth as Indigenous women, gender diverse people, families, and Nations.

• We commit to modeling and acting with humility and integrity that honours the dignity and value in our families and each other.
• The work of Manitoba Moon Voices Inc. is guided by the value of reciprocity.

• All Manitoba Moon Voices Inc. members carry wisdom to contribute to our work. The greatest wisdom leading our journey is the teachings of our ancestors, the ways of our culture, and the sacredness of our ceremonies.
• We commit to ensuring our work is grounded in the wisdom of our culture, customs and ceremonies – while being open to and honouring the different ways of all nations.

These principles are found throughout the Nations of Turtle Island and are reflective of and model the teachings found in The Miishoomis Book by By Edward Benton Banai.

Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC)

Two Spirited People of Manitoba

Winnipeg Indigenous Executive Circle

Giganaawenimaanaanig Committee

Federal Government of Canada

Manitoba Government

Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC)