The Métis Nation of Ontario Women’s Council is pleased to announce Santana Sanftenberg as this year’s Women Honouring Women Award recipient.

Santana is being recognized for her dedication to creating welcoming spaces for Métis women, families, and community members in Timmins. As Women’s Representative with the MNO Timmins Community Council, she opens her home and gives her time to those who want to gather, share stories, and learn traditional skills from Elders and Knowledge Keepers. She has also led family workshops and supported community events, helping ensure inclusivity and connection are at the heart of every gathering.

Santana is a Métis woman, daughter, sister, mother, and cousin living in Timmins, Ontario, in the Abitibi Inland Métis Community. Her Métis roots trace through her mother’s side to the Historic Mattawa/Ottawa River Métis Community, and she is a proud descendant of the McGregor/Riel family.

Her career in public health has deepened her understanding of the health needs of Métis women, girls, and families and shaped the way she gives back to her community. She also continues to share traditions from her own upbringing, including berry picking, with her children.

Santana extends her thanks to the MNOWC for the guidance and generosity of its past and present members, whose work and teachings have supported her in reconnecting with Métis culture and passing that knowledge on within her community.

Maarsii, Santana, for your dedication to community.