Equay-wuk

Darlene Angeconeb is a member of the Lac Seul First Nation (Caribou Clan) and lives in Sioux Lookout. Her family participated in a government Indian Relocation program to Elliot Lake in 1966. In 1969, at the age of six, she attended Pelican Lake Indian Residential School. She later became a boarding student and completed high school in Sault Ste. Marie in 1983, going on to study fine art at the Ontario College of Art, and political science at Algoma and Laurentian universities.

Darlene started working for Equay-wuk (Women's Group) in 1999 as a Project Leader for the Nishnawbe Women and Self Government project. She empowers women living in remote northern communities by facilitating workshops on self government, starting women's groups and leadership. Perhaps her most successful achievement has been to expand Aboriginal women's political participation at the regional, Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) level. As a result of this, women from 49 NAN First Nation communities are now represented at the NAN Chief's.

In 2004, Equay-wuk was instrumental in the formation of the NAN Women's Council. For the work in increasing women's participation in self government and governance, an Honorable Mention Award from the Ontario Federal Council (OFC) was presented to Equay-wuk (Women's Group) in June 2005. It was in recognition of the accomplishments of the Nishnawbe Women & Self Government program.  

Darlene has also facilitated Cultural Sensitivity workshops for the Better Caregiving Project for which Equay-wuk (Women's Group) received a Human Services Award from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Darlene currently works as a Project Coordinator/Proposal Writer for Equay-wuk's Building Aboriginal Women's Leadership project.

Darlene has overcome many challenges such as the relocation program and residential school and shows leadership through her work and accomplishments.