The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) has announced the sale of several assets, including its $8 million headquarters in Gatineau, Quebec, amid what it describes as “serious and significant financial irregularities.” The organization says it is cooperating with a federal audit of its finances covering 2018 to 2024, while also conducting its own internal review.
The move follows a turbulent year for the prominent national advocacy group, which has faced criticism from grassroots advocates and former allies. In a statement released July 15, NWAC pledged, “We are committed to rebuilding NWAC as an organization of truth and transparency.” It has been promised that funds from the sale of its assets would be reinvested into advocacy work supporting the social, economic, cultural, and political wellbeing of Indigenous women.
NWAC’s real estate investments, including a resiliency lodge in Chelsea, Quebec, are part of a broader shift toward generating self-sustaining revenue through property development. However, this approach has drawn skepticism. Critics say the organization strayed from its grassroots mandate and disconnected from the communities it claims to represent.
Among them is long-time activist Bridget Tolley, who has led efforts with Families of Sisters in Spirit for more than 20 years. Tolley said NWAC became detached from its roots after its Sisters in Spirit initiative lost federal funding in 2010. She was surprised to receive a recent email from NWAC offering support for her annual Oct. 4 vigil, but expressed concern about the organization’s motives. “I don’t want them to be involved because they used us the last time,” she said.
Public records reveal NWAC’s headquarters was mortgaged three times, rising from an initial $1.8 million in 2018 to $7.5 million by 2022. A second property, the Chelsea lodge, was purchased in 2019 for $880,000. NWAC did not provide further details about the financial irregularities, nor did it grant interview requests.
Despite the scrutiny, NWAC maintains that its real estate strategy was aimed at achieving greater financial independence. The organization says it is now returning its focus to advocacy after shuttering commercial projects, including a café, gift shop, and gallery that had been planned for its headquarters.
The market outlook for NWAC’s properties remains uncertain, particularly as demand for commercial space in the federal-heavy Hull sector of Gatineau has declined since the shift to remote work. Still, real estate experts say the properties could hold value if the right buyer is found.
As NWAC looks to reset, questions linger over its transparency and relationship with grassroots communities.
