There have been some exciting changes at Native Women in the Arts lately. We are delighted to announce that Melissa Johns has joined our organization as Administrative Director!
Melissa Johns (Kanien’keha:ka and French Canadian) is a new media artist, educator, and arts administrator, born and based in Tkaronto. Bringing a wealth of experience from her work with organizations such as imagineNATIVE, NIMAC, and the National Film Board of Canada, she is also a practicing artist with a passion for harnessing technology to tell powerful stories.
Melissa Johns is succeeding Ariel Smith who held the position of Artistic and Managing Director from 2018-2023, and Interim Administrative Director from 2023-2025. Ariel is stepping down from her position to focus on family and her own artistic practice in the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples in Vancouver. The organization expresses its deep gratitude to Ariel for her contributions and visionary leadership during her tenure at NWIA.
In her new role as Administrative Director, Melissa will be responsible for coordinating the daily operations of the organization, as well as grant writing, fundraising, and financial management.Please join us in welcoming Melissa to her new position!
“I’m incredibly excited for this opportunity with Native Women in the Arts. This work resonates deeply with who I am and what I am passionate about supporting. I’m looking forward to bringing new ideas and energy to an organization that plays such a vital role in supporting Indigenous women and gender-marginalized artists. In a time when our very existence is under threat, this kind of work and representation is vital. I’m deeply grateful to Ariel, Quach, and the NWIA board for their trust and confidence in me.” – Melissa Johns, Administrative Director
Native Women in the Arts looks forward to thriving under Melissa’s guidance, and continuing to empower Indigenous artists across Turtle Island and beyond.
