Our Executive Director
Karen Pictou
A Message from the Executive Director
On March 22, 2020 the Province of Nova Scotia declared a state of emergency and implemented measures to help contain the spread of COVID-19. Acutely aware of the dangers of the pandemic on vulnerable First Nation communities, who face substandard and overcrowded housing and high numbers of people with underlying health conditions, the NSNWA closed its doors to the public and sent staff home to work on March 16, 2020.
Never missing a beat, the NSNWA staff turned to a virtual platform to hold gatherings, conduct meetings, undertake training and continue to advocate for the needs of Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people. NSNWA provided staff with new technologies, flexible working hours and leave time they needed to manage home-schooling children, looking after family and setting up at home work spaces. Using these tools to step up to meet the challenge, staff wrapped up the fiscal year end and welcomed in the new fiscal year with new proposals and innovative ideas.
In response to this time of strict social distancing, NSNWA is pleased to launch its new website so we can continue engaging with you and our stakeholders. I personally invite you to explore the website to (re)discover our staff, governance structure and connect with the NSNWA. The NSNWA continues into the new fiscal year and the pandemic physically apart but using the digital world and its new website to stay connected.
