The Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW) is a national non-governmental organization founded in 1976 as a response to International Women's Year. CRIAW is committed to advancing the position of women in society, to encouraging research about the reality of women's lives and to affirming the diversity of women's experiences. CRIAW provides the following: publication of women-centered research; sponsoring an annual scholarship in women's history; sponsoring a national theme conference every two years in a different part of the country; recognition of feminist scholars through a program of prizes and awards; operation of a resource center; and provision of a tri-annual Newsletter to members. CRIAW is a bilingual membership-based organization run by a volunteer Board of Directors elected from each province and territory. Members include independent researchers, students, academics, policy-makers, journalists, community activists and women's centers. CRIAW receives funding from the Women's Program and Status of Women Canada. Additional funding is derived from memberships, sale of publications, research contracts and from donations. The organization is a registered charity. In 1989, the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW) held their 13th annual conference in Yellowknife. This was their first northern conference, and the theme of the conference was "Making Connections." Speakers from across Canada participated in the conference, however many of the speakers and participants were from the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. Many of the sessions focused on northern issues including daycare in the north, traditional healing methods, Inuit midwifery and educational opportunities in the north.
The Daughters of the Midnight Sun was established on November 11, 1938 to fill the needs of a social club for women in Yellowknife. The first President was Mrs. Ivor Johnson. The organization was involved in fund-raising activities in Yellowknife and raised funds for the Red Cross, the supply of a hospital ward, playground equipment and library at the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital. It also raised funds to provide Christmas hampers to be distributed to communities outside Yellowknife each year. It raised money by sponsoring dances, Christmas parties and publishing cookbooks. The society began to wind down in 1985, and ceased to exist in 1987.
The Federated Women's Institute of Canada was founded in 1919 and was designed to discover, stimulate, and develop leadership among women. It aimed to give a voice to women in rural communities about their concerns. Gladys Vear was appointed as a field worker in the Mackenzie District for the Northern Canada Women's Institute in 1968.
The mission statement of the Native Women's Association of the NWT was as follows: To provide training and education programs for native women in the Western Arctic, so we can function more effectively in areas that affect our lives economically, socially, educationally, emotionally, culturally and politically. Management of the Association is a partnership between the Board and Headquarters staff. There are members on the Board representing six regions in the Western Arctic. Staff activities are managed through an Executive Director who reports to the President of the Association. In keeping with the practice of healthy leadership, Board members, staff and delegates of the Association are required to abide by a Sobriety Clause. The Native Women's Association was responsible for the delivery of two main programs: a Training Institute recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment of the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the Victim Services Program. The Training Institute offered a program from August to May in Yellowknife. This included adult basic education, literacy training, life skills training, leadership training and practical assistance. The community-based Yellowknife Victim Services Program used a pool of trained volunteers to offer support, assistance, information and referral service to victims. The program was managed by a full time coordinator. Volunteers would accompany victims to the hospital, explain the workings of the criminal justice system and assist victims in court. The Native Women's Association of the NWT and the Status of Women Council collaborated for several years to ensure that women had input into the development of a new constitution for the NWT. In 1994, this included a women's constitutional conference. In 1995, a report entitled A global and Western NWT Perspective on Guaranteed Representation Based on Gender Equality was produced.
On April 1, 2017, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations merged with the Department of the Executive to form the Department of the Executive and Indigenous Affairs (EIA).
The Northwest Territories Options for Women group was formed in 1976. It was a group established to offer support and address issues pertaining to women such as single parenting, childcare and health care.
In May of 1973, a Northwest Territories Status of Women Conference was held as a precursor to a Western "Opportunities for Women" conference held in Vancouver. Sixty women, forty of whom were from Yellowknife, attended the Northwest Territories Conference. Women in Yellowknife saw the need for an on-going committee to work on their concerns including: marriage property laws; education and job benefits; childcare information and opportunities for all women. In response, the Northwest Territories Status of Women Action Committee formed and affiliated itself with the National Action Committee on the Status of Women. Alison McAteer was selected to coordinate the committee. In 1975, International Women's Year, the NWT Status of Women Action Committee organized the Yellowknife Women's Festival. They were also involved in the design and sale of a poster celebrating the NWT Status of Women Action Committee entitled "Our Time Is Now."
In 1976, the Commissioner approved the formation of the Status of Women Committee. In 1978, this committee was asked by the Commissioner to develop a territorial plan of action. This was in response to similar activities occurring at both the national and provincial levels in Canada. The aim of the plan of action was to promote equality between the sexes. The Status of Women Committee formed an ad hoc committee with representatives from each department to develop the territorial plan of action. The ad hoc committee examined numerous issues including: employment opportunities; education and training; family responsibilities; health and nutrition; political participation; communications and culture. A conference entitled "Breaking New Ground" was organized for May 2, 1979 in order for the ad hoc committee to gather the opinions of all interested Government of the Northwest Territories female employees. On May 23, 1979, because of the discussions of the ad hoc committee, departmental submissions and the recommendations of the "Breaking New Ground" Conference, a Territorial Plan of Actions was submitted to the Executive.
The Status of Women Council of the Northwest Territories was established by the Status of Women Council Act in 1988. The Council fulfills an advisory role and reports to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories through the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. The Government of the Northwest Territories does not employ the members of the Council; rather the Council is funded through contribution agreements. The objectives of the Council are to: develop public awareness of issues affecting the status of women; promote a change in attitudes within the community in order that women may enjoy equality of opportunity; encourage discussion and expression of opinion by residents of the Northwest Territories on issues affecting the status of women; advise the Minister of issues that the Minister may refer to the Council for consideration; review policies and legislation affecting women and to report its findings to the relevant government departments or agencies; provide assistance to the Minister in promoting changes to ensure the attainment of equality for women; and provide the appropriate assistance to organizations and groups whose objectives promote the equality of women. The Women's Advisory, which is part of the Minister's Offices of the Department of the Executive, provides a point of contact within the Territorial Government on issues of concern to women and advice and support to the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. Women's Advisory administers a Grants and Contributions program, which supports and provides liaison with the Status of Women Council and other organizations that enhance the cultural, economic, political and social participation of women in society.