The summit came from an idea from another political summit she had worked that featured women in politics of all backgrounds, and thought it should also be applied to Indigenous women in politics. “We really have to depend on each other; it really came from a group of women sitting around saying, this is a challenge I have and what do you guys do to deal with this? And it just kind of spurred,” said Doxator. So for three days in Ottawa, the IWLS took place, with various The purpose of that workshop was to find a way for these women to relate with each other and network. Over the three-day workshop, attendees were able to decide what they wanted to do, and Doxator said the summit was made to be theirs. “We weren’t dictating to the women, this is how it should go; we were merely suggesting various topics on workshops.” But besides working on the heavy topics of discussion, such as sexual exploitation or economic development in their communities and nations, there was workshops and presentations for Indigenous women, such as chiefs or councillors, but non-Indigenous women were welcome to participate as well. City councillors, some MPs, and other non-Indigenous women in leadership were there as part of a “speed dating” type workshop. “We sat across from one another, and you were basically given a few minutes to talk with one another and then you had to rotate, and you got to meet everybody in the room,” said Doxator. SUMMER/WINTER 2018/19 – Chiefs of Ontario Advocate magazine l 71