Manitoba appoints Cora Morgan as special adviser on Indigenous women's issues

A longtime advocate for Indigenous children, women and families has been named Manitoba's special adviser on Indigenous women's issues, the province announced Wednesday.

Cora Morgan was also appointed as secretary to the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people and gender-based violence committee cabinet, Minister for Women and Gender Equity Nahanni Fontaine said in a news release Wednesday.

"I feel really honoured and very excited about the potential and the opportunity that this has to make a difference for our people, particularly … Indigenous women and girls," Morgan, who is Anishinaabe from Sagkeeng First Nation, said in an interview Wednesday. 

She has advocated for changes in the province's child welfare system, and has also worked as the First Nation family advocate for the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and as the Onashowewin Justice Circle's executive director.

Fontaine said in her new roles, Morgan will develop the province's MMIWG2S+ strategy and engage with community members.

Morgan said the NDP government made some significant commitments during last year's provincial election campaign to address issues that impact Indigenous women.

"No other government has made … really strong commitments to support the issue of MWIWG, so I think it's really important to carry out those obligations and those commitments made," she said. 

"I think that it's also very important to work around the area of prevention, and improving the quality of life and the safety for our women and girls."