Our History.

Founded by Native American women and initially serving the Native community exclusively, Women of Nations (WON) has been in operation for 26 years.

We began as a community advocacy program, assisting abused women in obtaining Orders for Protection and advocating on their behalf with law enforcement, the judicial and social service systems and other entities as needed in the seven county metro area.

Our Programs.

Family and Community Advocates work tirelessly to support battered women and their children.  Women of Nations partners with a variety of public and private agencies to leverage resources and ensure effective, culturally appropriate services.  Current programs include:

• Family and Native Youth Crisis Line and Crisis Intervention, responding to nearly 700 calls annually
• Eagles Nest Shelter, providing safe sanctuary, support and case management to over 600 women and children each year
• Community Advocacy Program, providing advocacy and support to over 1,100 individuals yearly

Our Board.

Women of Nations is governed by an 10-member Board of Directors, 45% of whom are American Indian.  The board meets monthly to set strategic direction, review and monitor financial performance and program effectiveness and works in partnership with staff to meet the mission of our organization.

JoLynn Shopteese, President
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council
John Plano, Vice President
Independent Consultant
Mike Berre, Treasurer
Wells Fargo Corporate Services
Ceugant Scully, Secretary
Tubman Family Alliance
John Nordby
Retired
Grace Smith
Elder
Suzanne Kincade
Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center
Eileen Hudon
Founding Mother/Domestic Violence Consultant
Lisa Bellanger
Multicultural Indigenous Academy
Lillian Rice
Elder