The Womanist

thumbnail of The Womanist – Vol. 1 Issue 3 – February/March 1989

The Womanist, published from September 1988 to the fall of 1993, was started by Joan Riggs and Lynne Tyler. The Womanist’s goal was to move beyond a form of feminism which, at that time, had not facilitated an inclusive voice for women of colour and to create an integrated approach to feminism.

More about The Womanist

The Womanist, published from September 1988 to the fall of 1993, was started by Joan Riggs and Lynne Tyler who were also partners in Catalyst Research and Communications. We worked with many exceptional women in the creation of each issue, either as staff or volunteers. Although based in Ottawa, our circulation was national and reached 10,000 copies.

We provided our mission in each paper:

“The Womanist was created to empower and enable women. We want to get back to the basics, the common ground that built the women’s movement, while celebrating our differences. What can we agree upon? That we as women are important and that we have a right to be heard, to be respected, to be trusted. As a movement, we have a responsibility to enable all voices to be heard, equally. That is our commitment in this newspaper – to empower with ideas, information, and inspiration.”

We were inspired to use Alice Walker’s term ‘Womanist’ and provided her definition in each issue. We believed it offered us the opportunity to move beyond a form of feminism which, at that time, had not facilitated an inclusive voice for black women and women of colour. We were striving to have an integrated approach to feminism.

Part of our commitment to The Womanist was to offer it free. We accepted advertising and used our own personal funds through our consulting business to maintain the paper. We believed that those that could afford the paper would subscribe and we could distribute the remaining copies free. In the end, the finances did not balance out. Sadly, we closed the paper with us carrying a significant debt.

It was an honour to work with the many women who would pick up the papers at the bus station or post office and distribute them throughout their city. Our best letters were from readers who told us that they picked the paper up at the welfare office or at the laundromat. We sought to reach out to women who did not always have easy access to feminist and womanist ideas and we felt we succeeded.

For both of us, the journey of The Womanist was completely worth it. We believe we provided women with information and stories that reflected their experiences and allowed them to make choices about their lives.

Joan Riggs and Lynne Tyler

Issues of The Womanist

thumbnail of The Womanist – December 1988 – January 1989

The Womanist – December 1988/January 1989

  • Year created:

    1988

  • Author(s):

    Lynn McGuigan, Amber Cooke, Janet Wason, Cathy Beaumont, Patsy Ryan, Dorothy Goldin Rosenberg, Lois Sparling, Carol Walbo, Deborah Bourque, Gloria Shaley, Catherine Louli, Elizabeth J. Thunder, Leslie Stern, Megan Ellis, Lynne Tyler, Elaine Driver, Susan De Rosa, Michelle Albert, Susan O'Leary, Gayle K. Horri, Fran Sugar, Bonnie Diamond, Jo-Ann Mayhew, Gus Long, Reverend Sharon Moon, Ravida Din, Beth Ryan

  • Region:

    Ontario
thumbnail of The Womanist – September/October 1988

The Womanist – September/October 1988

  • Year created:

    1988

  • Author(s):

    Sandi Kirby, Ravida Din, Sylvia Sioufi, Nona Grandea, Andrea Dworkin, Deborah E. Gough, J.A.N., Kathryn Morse, Anne McCormick, Sue Clark, Dorothy Inglis, Kelly Bolville, Verona Reid, Esmeralda Thornhill, Beth Ryan, Lilia Santiago, Lynne Tyler, Juliet A. Cuenco, Michelle Albert, Susan O'Donnell, Maxine Stata, Maureen Kellerman, C. Moriarty, Brendalyn Ambrose, Maude Barlow, Barbara McDougall, Marjorie Cohen, Marion Dewar, Annette Costigan, Julie Lee, Ruth Freeman, Lorraine Greaves, Beth Brehaut, Sharon Costello, Joan Riggs, Alma Estable, Cindy Hanson, Janet Wason, Tamara Bond, Nedra Lee Prisk

  • Region:

    Ontario
thumbnail of The Womanist – Vol. 1 Issue 3 – February/March 1989

The Womanist – Vol. 1, No. 3 – February/March 1989

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Author(s):

    Reverend Sharon Moon, Noemi Garcia, Nicole Jasmin, Mona Wynn, Maude Barlow, Lorraine Michael, Linda Carty, Brendalynn Ambrose, Priscilla Settee, Dorothy Inglis, Susan Riley, Nicola Cunningham, Sandi Funk, Monique Raimbault, Rosemary Brown, Glenda Simms, Karen Paul, Josie Wallenius, Catherine Louli, Camille Fouillard, Eunadie Johnson, Beth Ryan, Cathy Beaumont, Megan Ryan-Walsh, Lynn McGuigan

  • Region:

    Ontario
thumbnail of The Womanist – Vol. 1, Issue 4 – May/June 1989

The Womanist – Vol. 1, No. 4 – May/June 1989

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Author(s):

    Lynn McGuigan, Cathy Beaumont, Louise Shaughnessy, Michelle Albert, Joan McFarland, Natasha Nandlall, Helen E. Cates, Audrey McLaughlin, Rosemary Sullivan, Maureen Kellerman, Joan Riggs, Catherine Louli, Lynne Tyler, Christine McKay, Teddy Gunson, Lisa Jensen, Carmen Henry, Rosella Melanson, Sally Glendenning, Theresa Healy, Valerie Langer, Pat Danforth, Jen Langford, E. J. Auerbach, Nancy Riche, Jean Swanson, Kay Nandlall, Jeri Wine, Janice Freeman, Carol Ann Wright

  • Region:

    Ontario
thumbnail of The Womanist – Vol. 2, Issue 1 – Fall 1989

The Womanist – Vol. 2, No. 1 – Fall 1989

  • Year created:

    1989

  • Author(s):

    Cathy Beaumont, Marlan Duensing, Genny Dawson, Bernadette Jagunos, Anne Vespry, Juliet A. Cuenco, Glenda P. Simms, Priscilla Settee, K. Linda Kivi, Deborah Bourque, Shelly Potter, Hilary Homes, Armani Wassef, "Cheryl", Ann Baker, Nicole Jasmin, Beth Ryan, Dawn Black, Mary Clancy, Cindy Moriarty, Judith Allen, Luanne Armstrong, Tracy McIntosh, Lorraine, Gail Paquin, Joan Riggs, Lynne Tyler

  • Region:

    Ontario
thumbnail of The Womanist – Vol. 2 Issue 2 – Fall 1990

The Womanist – Vol. 2, No. 2 – Fall 1990

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Author(s):

    Mary Mouammar, Michelle Albert, Elizabeth Jacobs-Reis, Lyse Blanchard, Lynn McDonald, Mona Forrest, Peggy Steacy, Carla Rice, Rosella Melanson, Anne Dolina, Heather Snyder, Julie Rouse-Kyle, Lynn Brooke, Joan Baril, Judy Hughes, Laura McFarlane, Bobbie Boland, Patty Buckle, Janice Parsons, Linda Hyde, Jennifer Richards, Joanne Williams Bennett, Mary Clancy, Joan McFarland, Maude Barlow, Beth Ryan, Kike Roach, Chief Cece McCauly, Andrea Smith, Lee Maracle, Lana Fox, Fran Sugar, Lynn Smyth

  • Region:

    Ontario

The Womanist – Vol. 2, No. 3 – Winter 1991

  • Year created:

    1991

  • Author(s):

    Lynne Tyler, Luanne Armstrong, Ellen Gabriel , Jyl Lynn Felman, Joan Grant-Cummings, Simone Hammond, Vuyiswa Keyi, Carolann Wright, Donna Truesdale, Marj Brown, Donna Cameron, Audrey McLaughlin, Mary Collins, Mary Clancy, Joan MacNeil, Jean Swanson, Gus Long, Peggy Hope-Simpson, Patricia Keays, Robyn Allan, Lisa Chemerika, Jennifer Richards, Carol Kushner, Anne Swarbrick, Lorraine Greaves, Liz Stimpson, Bonnie Johnson, Martha Friendly, Aida Graff, Lorrilee Wright, Josie Wallenius, Joy Langan, Nancy Pocock, Elissar Sarrouh, Harriet Freidmann, Nancy Gordon, Wynne Millar, Brenda Barnes, Julie C. Black, Nancy Fillmore, Catherine Loull, Pamela Wolfe, Rennie Keates, Alice de Wolff

  • Region:

thumbnail of The Womanist – Vol. 2, Issue 4 – Summer 1991

The Womanist – Vol. 2, No. 4 – Summer 1991

  • Year created:

    1991

  • Author(s):

    Maria Barile, Joan Riggs, Marion Haas-Miller, Andrea Prazmowski, Barbara Saunders, Anna McGrath, Barbara Cameron, Micheline Piché, Dorothy Todd Hénaut, Nonita T. Yap, Ann Darbyshire, Mary Frankoff, Emily Burton, Marie Lovrod, Fairlie Ritchie, Roberta Hill, Sara Fisher, Marla Stewart, Shirley Minquan Bear, Susan Dwyer, Lucy Chapman, Joanne Steven, Elaine Auerbach, Carolann Wright, Kathryn Barnes, Jane Robinson, Ruth McKlusky, Cindy Wiggins, Nettie Wiebe, Cathering Morrison, Vicki Dutton, Luci Bobbish-Salt, France Lafond, Luanne Armstrong, Glenda Winter, Salli Abbott, Catherine Malone, Lisa Jensen, Carolyn Ford, Ngaire Genge, Linda J. Archibald

  • Region:

    Ontario
thumbnail of The Womanist – Vol. 3, Issue 1 – Spring 1992

The Womanist – Vol. 3, No. 1 – Spring 1992

  • Year created:

    1992

  • Author(s):

    Jane E. Foy, Cathy Beaumont, Joanne Steven, Lorna Drew, Gillian Burnett, Margaret Sumadh, Iveta Jusova, Alison Gale, Eunice Lavell, Jill Uhrich, Darlene McBain, Lisa Corbeil, Lynn Brooks, Tracey Eisenberg, Hana Hruska, Andrée Côté, Allison Nyiri, Hazelle Palmer, Alison Kerr, Tracy Adiys, Kimberly Harkness, Sara Ballingall, Barbara Findlay, Abby Pollonetsky, Ngaire Genge, Lynne Tyler, Sharon Weltzel, Rita Penell, Lynda Yanz, Kathleen Ruff, Nycole Turmel, Marion Boyd, Eunadie Johnson, Liz Rowley, Judy Rebick, Lorraine Greaves, Rosemary Brown, Iona Campagnolo, Alexa McDonough, Trish Keays

  • Region:

    Ontario
thumbnail of The Womanist – Vol. 3, Issue 2 – Fall 1992

The Womanist – Vol. 3, No. 2 – Fall 1992

  • Year created:

    1992

  • Author(s):

    Sharon F. Jensen, Lorna Drew, Eutonnah Olsen-Dunn, Roberta Hill, Joanne Steven, Beverly Jean Brunet, Margaret Gallagher, Maija Kagis, Hisako Mori, Judy Poulin, Lucie Laliberté, Josie Wallenius, Georgia Stormes, Deborah Palmer, Luanne Armstrong, Melody Sylvestre, Anne-Louise Brookes, Joya Chauhan, Karonhiahente (Dale Dione), Teressa Nahanee, Céline Signori, Deborah Coyne, Audrey McLaughlin, Joyce Green, Lorraine Munro, Marcena Stewart Levine, Anne Burnet, Ann Montgomery, Susan Pollonetsky, Margrit Eichler, Nettie Wiebe, Mary Smirle Bruce, Shirley Broekstra, Jane Tapsell, Jo Dunaway, Patricia Herdman, Beth Phinney, Crisanta M. Sampang, Chris Morrisey, Linda Marcotte, Maude Barlow, Shirley Masuda, Lynne Toupin

  • Region:

    Ontario
thumbnail of The Womanist – Vol. 4, Issue 1 – Spring 1993

The Womanist – Vol. 4, No. 1 – Spring 1993

  • Year created:

    1993

  • Author(s):

    Patricia Seeley, Catherine Frazee, Shanti Thakur, Alexander Keir, Yolande Bélanger Mennie, Diane Rae Wazny, Catherine McNair, Jan Derby, Regan E. Ralph, Dorothy Q. Thomas, Lepa Maldjenovic, Juliet O'Neill, Charlotte Bunch, Elisabeth Sterken, Jon D'Argo, Wendy Lal, Barbara Christian, Evelyn E. Drescher, Bonnie Burstow, Carolann Wright, Caitlin McMorran Frost, Melynda Jaratt, Nancy J. Miller, Helen Durie, barbara findlay, Susan Vaughn, Stephanie Coontz, Donna Cameron, Deena Ladd, Laureen Narfason, Brenda Mackenzie, Lorraine Michael, Joan Kuyek

  • Region:

    Ontario
thumbnail of The Womanist – Vol. 4, Issue 2 – Fall 1993

The Womanist – Vol. 4, No. 2 – Fall 1993

  • Year created:

    1993

  • Author(s):

    Chandra Budhu, Dale Godsoe, Kim Pate, Anne Marie Wicksted, Caitlin McMorran Frost, Janine O'Leary Cobb, Hazel Henderson, Morgan Van Wyck, Diane Ablonczy, Pierrette Venne, Daphne Kelgard, Catherine Swift, Donna Hicks, Marlene Catterall, Audrey McLaughlin, Alice deWolff, Ruth Rose, Dianne Marleau, Mary Ann Higgs, Dorothy Dobbie, Jane Fulton, Dawn Black, Mary Collins, Hedy Fry, Lyse Blanchard, Suzanne Duplessis, Emily Carasco, Christine Stewart, Elizabeth May, Lynn Hunter, Denise Falardeau, Margo Brousseau, Maude Barlow, Joy Langan, Sheila Copps, Bobbie Sparrow, Mary Clancy, Gayle Broad, Tamra Mann, Rhonda Johnston, Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Reina Sinclair, Colleen Glenn, Sheryl Mcinnes, Sandra Lawn, Catherine McCreary, Lucie Blais, Martha Friendly, Karen Gainer, Donna Shire, Alice Kim, Sheila Finestone, Judy Wasylycia-Leis, Monique Landry, Patricia Seeley, Leena Evic-Twerdin, Margaret Mitchell, Barbara Neis, Jean Payne, Bonnie Hickey, Margaret-Ann O'Rourke, Pauline MacKenzie, Sally Rutherford, Lois Ross, Jane Stewart, Sue Irvine, Kit Holmwood, Cindy Moriarty, Jean Chrétien, Denise Cole, Betty Baxter, Francie Sommers, Winnie Ng, Bernadette Leblanc, Maria Minna, Safia Shire, Roberta Clarke, Amy Zierler, Karlyn Koh, Judith Wiley, Melanie Porter

  • Region:

    Ontario