National Indigenous Health and Wellness Association
Our Community Services located in Ottawa, Kingston & Cornwall. | Confidentiality is assured in a safe, and judgement free environment. | Our Offering of Gifts through Programs and Services Offered in Person or Virtually
About N.I.H.W.A.

About N.I.H.W.A.

Established in 2019, N.I.H.W.A.. provides culturally developed programs and services to Indigenous men, women, and their families regardless of their status, tribal heritage and/or lineage.

N.I.H.W.A. is dedicated to ensuring access to justice, education, health services, environmental conservancy including economic development.

About us

Our board members

Loretta DeSousa
Loretta DeSousa
CEO/Program Developer/Facilitator

Loretta is Pikwakanagan First Nation, and holds a Master of Education, a B.A. in Psychology, and a CYW Diploma. Loretta has worked as an Entrepreneur, Educator, Behaviour Counsellor, and Program Developer. She feels blessed to have worked with Indigenous people in multiple ways and enjoys being a part of her community and empowering Indigenous women and girls.

Lori Lamour
Lori Lamour
Board Member/Facilitator

Lori is Pikwakanagan First Nation with a Diploma as a Personal Support Worker and Elder Care Services. She has been working in nursing homes and home care services for over 22 years. Also, she has a Diploma in Equine Studies and specializes in Equine Care, Training, and Lessons. Lori has a diverse background and her ability to care for the needs of others is unique and a gift she provides to her community members.

Juanita Mnichol
Juanita Mnichol

Anishnawbe kwe n’dow, Giizhig Kwe,  Ginnoozsha Dodem  ( Pike Clan), 62 years young from Sagamok First Nation. She is a mother, daughter, grandmother, sister and friend to many. She is a Raindancer wo loves working and helping people. She has an extensive history of working in social work as an addiction counsellor, youth counsellor, as a lead sexual assault counsellor, a cultural facilitator and helper to the elders. Presently she is actively participating in her community as a member of the Sagamok Elder committee, Justice committee, and the Sagsamok Grandmother and Aunties Group and is  please to be part of this organization.

Lizanne LeClair
Lizanne LeClair

Lizanne is of Migma and Acadian descent from Nova Scotia, Giizhigwaande Wasse Yage Nbe Kwe, Bascacanese Nongus, Mkwa Dodem, N’Swakamok n’doongebah Wikwemikong migwa dida. Grew up in Sudbury Ontario and is now residing in Wikwemikong, Ontario. She had been following an indigenous traditional way of life (Ojibway, Cree, Lakota, Shipibo) She is a mother, daughter, grandmother, sister and friend to many. Carries her sacred bundle in a good way, a Sundancer, Raindancer and part of an international Star Lodge. She is an intuitive artist and beader and has facilitated many workshops, drum making, ribbon shirt and skirt  making, shakers, medicine bags, intuitive art therapy, anger management, self esteem, domestic violence, parenting, meditation, ho’oponopono. She is certified in several modalities, Meditation, Reiki, Shamballah , Ho’oponopono. As well as she offers Cedar Bath, Women’s pipe ceremony, Star Lodge Sweat lodge Etheric Cleansing, and Chakra Balancing. She enjoys working with medicines and essential oils. Lizanne is a certified life coach and specializes in helping people to heal from trauma and spiritual coaching.

Our community facilitators

John Roy
John Roy

John Roy is Wolf clan and was given the name Raven, originally from Da'ooganing (South Bay) in Wiikwemkoong on the beautiful Manito Mnissing (Manitoulin Island). John's first Language is Nishnaabemowin who has been teaching Nishnaabemowin since the late 1980's. John has been working with the homeless for over 22 years in all aspects of Outreach and now currently works in a shelter in Toronto. He enjoys working within the Native community and gets great satisfaction from people succeeding in their lives. He has been involved with ceremonies all his life, in the early years, they had to keep ceremonies hidden because people would think they were doing witchcraft, he continues attending ceremonies. He shares the teachings that go with Nishnaabemowin.

Patricia Newman
Patricia Newman

My name is Patti I started doing my crafts as a hobby just more for therapy, love working with my hands and so then decided to start my own business in 2015. I am Mi’kmaq from my mother’s side and my teachings are Ojibwe, I am known as a knowledge keeper taught by Chief Raymond Stonefox. I descended and currently live in the Thunder Bay area close to Fort Williams First Nation. I enjoy making specific Indigenous jewellery, and a variety of clothing for men, women, and children, such as dresses, skirts, and shirts cat toys. I also make bags and shakers along with feather boxes are just a few of the articles. All my orders are done upon request.

Our sacred mission

National Indigenous Health and Wellness Association is a Non-For-Profit organization that collaboratively works with and support Indigenous communities by empowering its community members throughout North America.
Through its strength base program development, along with its policy evolution, being its focal point. N.I.H.W.A. acknowledges its community members by honoring Indigenous culture, language, traditions, and its teachings. N.I.H.W.A.’s vision is to promote equality and justice in Indigenous communities through collaboratation.

Our Offering of Gifts

Building bridges with community
Building bridges with community

Professional Development through Education and Training that includes but not limited to these topics:

  • Indigenous History
  • Indigenous Culture
  • Indigenous Traditions
  • Being Trauma Informed
  • Practicing Mindfulness and Awareness
Workshops
Workshops

Include but are not limited to these topics:

  • Healthy Parenting
  • Healthy Financing
  • Elder Care
  • Algonquin Language
  • Metis Language
  • Inuit Language
  • Drugs/Alcohol Awareness
  • Anger Management
  • Self-Care
  • Sacred Teachings
  • Drum Making/Teachings
  • Beading
  • Dress Making/Teaching
  • Healthy Feasting (Diabetes Awareness)
Sacred circles
Sacred circles

Include but are not limited to these topics:

  • Healing through Trauma
  • Healthy Families
  • The Gift of Sharing
  • Community Building Circles
Seminars

Include but are not limited to these topics:

  • Building Bridges with Community Agencies (Guest Speakers)
  • Elder Care
  • Diabetes
  • COVID Awareness and Precautions
  • Child Safeguarding Your Home
  • Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention
  • Community Indigenous Organizations (Resources and Services)