Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory) was honoured to have hosted women from across Treaty #3 to support one another during the first annual Empower Her Conference on May 28th.
Hosted by Ogimaawabiitong’s Anti-Human Trafficking Team, the Empower Her conference brought community members, service workers, and clients together to empower them on their journeys, educate one another on the signs of human trafficking, and learn coping mechanisms, hear stories of hope, and more.
Held at Kenora’s Perch Bay Resort, Elder Ruth Skead led the conference’s opening and closing ceremonies, with support from the all-women drumming group – the Binesiikwe Singers of Manitoba.
The conference also featured special guest Timea Nagy – a best-selling author, UN speaker, and international educator.
As a survivor of sex trafficking, she became a leading voice in the fight against human trafficking. She founded ‘Walk with Me’, a non-profit organization against human trafficking, in 2009. Her story has since been featured in the Canadian Museum of Human Rights.
Ogimaawabiitong sends a huge Miigwetch to everyone who supported the conference, including Elder Ruth Skead, the Binesiikwe Singers, Kenora Sexual Assault Centre, Victim Services of Kenora, Grand Council Treaty #3, Ontario Native Women’s Association, and Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong.
Empower Her is a bi-weekly drop-in program created to support young women and girls ages 15 to 25 in building meaningful connections and embracing a vibrant, sober lifestyle. Hosted by the Anti-Human Trafficking Team at Kenora Chiefs Advisory, this initiative offers a safe, welcoming space for participants to enjoy shared meals, fun activities, and peer support that extends beyond weekly sessions.
In addition to social connection and sober recreation, Empower Her includes life skills programming designed to help participants build confidence, independence, and practical tools for daily living. From cooking and budgeting to healthy relationships and self-care, the program is rooted in holistic growth and empowerment.
For more information on the Empower Her program, please contact our Anti-Human Trafficking Team at 807-467-8144, Kyle Gilmour at kylie.gilmour@kenorachiefs.org, or Jessica Stewart at jessica.stewart@kenorachiefs.org.
