True North Aid

Attawapiskat Benefit Concert in Ottawa!!!

tnaadmin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:28:12 +0000

Tuesday, January 24th

Concert To Raise Money for Attawapiskat Winter Relief

Two-time Juno award winner Derek Miller and guest artists to perform at Ritual Nightclub on Tuesday, January 24th to raise money for winter relief in Attawapiskat, ON with proceeds going to True North Aid.
The First Nation community of Attawapiskat has declared a state of emergency amid a dire housing crisis. Musical acts Derek Miller, along with The Clearing, Janet Panic, Amanda Rheaume, Raven, Weaselhead and special guests will be performing Tuesday, January 24th from 8:00pm until 2:00am at Ritual Nightclub (137 Besserer St.) to raise money and awareness. Speaking will be Members of Parliament Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay) and Romeo Sanganash (Abitibi – Baie-James – Nunavik – Eeyou).

True North Aid (www.truenorthaid.ca) is a non-profit organization founded in 2009 providing support and humanitarian aid to underprivileged northern communities.
Tickets are $25 at the door. Advance tickets are $20 from http://everybodybuys.com/ottawa/deal/benefit-1 with proceeds going to True North Aid. Presented by Gunner Recordings, iNative Fest and Voices 97.5 FM.

ATTAWAPISKAT BENEFIT CONCERT :

2 TIME JUNO AWARD WINNER DEREK MILLER AND GUESTS
TUESDAY JANUARY 24, 2012

8PM-2AM
RITUAL NIGHTCLUB (137 BESSERER ST. , ON)
$25/DOOR $20 ADVANCE 19+

Derek Miller: www.derekmiller.ca
Event Website: http://tinyurl.com/8a6wyfc

Furniture for Attawapiskat

tnaadmin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:43:02 +0000

The residents of Attawapiskat, a needy northern Ontario First Nations community, were able to forget their troubles for awhile this Christmas, thanks to the efforts of True North Aid. The Ottawa-based, volunteer-run charity spearheaded a massive Christmas giveaway of food, winter coats, toys, diapers, blankets and even space heaters for the neediest families.

The federal government also responded to the emergency, and is shipping 22 new modular homes. They will be erected on the reserve and given to families in the most desperate need, many of whom are presently attempting to survive the sub-zero climate in tents and shacks.

True North Aid was contacted and has been asked to organize efforts to furnish these homes. A supplier has agreed to provide furniture the 3-bedroom houses for approximately $3500. per home. A portion of the funds have already been committed, but more is needed. Rachael Brown, founder and spokesperson for True North Aid, commented, “Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could raise enough money so that we could also give them dishes, bedding and other household items too!”

Charlie Angus, Member of Parliament for the Timmins – James Bay area has heard as well and sent a letter to encourage people to get involved. You can read it below:

Dear Friends,

Efforts are underway to ensure the tent families of Attawapiskat are given a new start in life. A fundraising drive is taking place to buy good quality furniture for each of the 22 new modular homes being delivered to the community.

This initiative is being coordinated by EHL Homes (builders of the modular homes), True North Aid (a northern aid organization with experience getting aid into Attawapiskat) and the office of Charlie Angus.

The first donation has already come in from the Union of Taxation Employees in Ottawa which represents 27,000 workers at Canada Revenue, has donated $5,000 to the cause.“We want the families living in tents to get a new start. The children shouldn’t be sleeping on moldy mattresses.
I was thrilled to get the call from the Taxation Employees; this will go a long way towards helping furnish the new homes.” (Charlie Angus, MP Timmins – James Bay)

Anyone wanting to donate to the furniture fund, can visit True North Aids website.

Please feel free to share this information with your church groups, schools, colleagues, friends and family. Thank you for your continued support for our friends in Attawapiskat First Nation. Together, we can make a difference for the families living there.

Sincerely,

Office of Charlie Angus,
Member of Parliament – James Bay

Tel 613-992-2919

Attawapiskat Trip – Going Home

tnaadmin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:59:56 +0000

We were so busy on our trip that it seemed no time at all before we were heading home. We had been gone more than five days … but it seemed like just a flash! What a satisfying feeling to know the difference that True North Aid had made in making sure that Christmas would indeed be merry in Attawapiskat!

Attawapiskat Trip – Highlights

tnaadmin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:58:57 +0000

The days following the distribution were highlights for us. We had prepared several boxes to distribute personally to people in their homes and at the temporary shelters where people are housed in large construction trailers.

We knew that there were people who had not been able to make it out to the arena or the hall. We wanted to visit the poorest of the poor. Menacing sewage problems and mold contamination had forced these residents out of their homes and into temporary tent-shelters and trailers. As we visited their tiny makeshift homes, disparity confronted us. Desperate to keep warm and sheltered, people were living everywhere in unsafe environments where the risk of fire was menacing and the lack of access to clean water and sanitation was deplorable.

Armed with boxes of food, clothing, blankets, and electric heaters, we were welcomed into one young mother’s tent. It was not much bigger than my ensuite bathroom and suddenly all of the things that I thought I couldn’t possibly live without began to nag at my conscience.

Lisa looked to be about 20 or 21 years old and had four young children to care for living in this tent that was being heated with an old, rusty woodstove. In Attawapiskat firewood has to be shipped onto the reservation and costs about $180 a cord. In the sub-zero temperatures a cord of wood doesn’t last long – so just keeping warm is expensive. In Lisa’s tiny space, a bathroom or even a sink would have been a luxury. But, this was one luxury she and her little family had to do without, since there was no plumbing or running water anyway. I could sense Lisa’s love and dedication to her kids as she told us a little about them. Lydia was her eldest child and looked to be about 6. Lydia’s siblings included two brothers about 5 and 3 and a sister about 2. Tristan (the five year old) had recently been diagnosed with autism. Despite her meager surroundings, and all the challenges that Lisa faced on a daily basis, she smiled and welcomed us into her home. The kids quickly rallied around us as we passed out candy, punching balloons, and toys. The best gift, however, was the food and winter clothing that Lisa was so obviously thankful for.

The scene in another home we visited was quite different. Here an elderly lady – caring for five of her grandchildren, greeted us. These little kids were being raised by their kookum because their father had committed suicide the year before and their mother was absent – battling addiction. Smiles beamed across these children’s faces as we brought them brand new snowsuits, toys, and clothing!

In the remaining time after the distribution, we visited many homes and met so many great people. Everyone was so thankful for all that we brought, and we were happy to know the difference it was making in their lives. Our last stop was to the oldest home in the community where two of the elders lived. These aged men were unable to make it out to the distribution centre and were really in need of food. We brought them heaters, flour, rice, sugar … and so much more. They were especially happy to get flour to make the bannock that is a staple of their diet. We wished we’d had more time to hear more of the amazing stories these old timers had to tell!

Attawapiskat Trip – “D-Day”

tnaadmin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:42:56 +0000

“D-Day” (distribution day) had arrived in Attawapiskat! No advertising was necessary. People knew that True North Aid was there! When the doors opened in the morning, the parking lot was full of sleds ready to be loaded up! Mothers, fathers, and children poured in – many with their moshum and kookum (grandfather and grandmother) not far behind! Children of all ages rallied around a mound of toys, books and games while, full of wide-eyed excitement, they picked out their treasures! Young moms received diapers, bottles, baby blankets, and much needed clothing for their children. The “elders” (elderly in the community) tried on hats and coats and clothing of all sorts. Sylvain and I mingled with everyone – passing out candy, blowing up ‘punching balloons’ for the kids, and chatting with young and old alike. We were so warmly welcomed and thanked too many times to count!
A second and third shipment came in separately from the first, and included more clothing as well as food and much-needed electric heaters. We had originally expected everything in one delivery and found ourselves scrambling to find a distribution centre for this next load since the arena was unavailable. It was Rosie to the rescue when she was able to rent a hall for our purposes! This distribution brought more people (and many new faces) happy to get the food and aid.

I totally understood their elation at receiving food. The day before I had visited a grocery store on the reserve and just about fainted at the prices! One bottle of liquid laundry detergent that I regularly get on sale at $5.99 was $21.99!! Margarine was $12.49 for one small tub – not to mention the high prices of milk, flour, rice, eggs, diapers, juice, etc. And those are just the necessities. I would definitely not be drinking cans of Coke at $63.69 for a case of 24!! How could these poor people ever afford clothing themselves and their families when just the basic necessities were that costly!

Attawapiskat Trip – Getting Busy

tnaadmin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:30:42 +0000

The first couple of days were busy ones as our shipments of aid landed. Rosie, our liaison in Attawapiskat, had everything organized at her end with several residents rallying around her offering help. Many hands did make light work as we bundled up to get the shipments unloaded from the plane and organized for distribution in the arena.

I could just sense the relief and gladness in the workers who were opening boxes and sorting things. I didn’t need to understand the Cree language to understand their thankfulness and awe at seeing box after box of warm coats, hats, mittens, gloves, blankets and clothing being received!

Attawapiskat Trip – First Impressions

tnaadmin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:57:31 +0000

On Friday, December 15^th my husband, Sylvain, and I boarded our flight for Attawapiskat, leaving a balmy 9 degrees behind us in Ottawa and wondering if we would have a green Christmas after all. Ten days till Christmas – and where was winter?

We soon found that out – as we flew over the remote First Nation community of Attawapiskat in northern Ontario, looking down at nothing but a stark scene of ice and snow! Biting winds and temperatures that were in the minus 30’s (F) greeted us. What a timely privilege we had to be on the forefront of the food, winter clothing and supplies being sent from True North Aid!

We didn’t have to look far to understand the worrisome and, indeed, life threatening conditions that many of the residents were facing as temperatures threatened their ominous drop to extreme levels.

As we drove from the small airport to the room we were staying in, we were flagged on both sides by shacks and trailers where many of the 1,800 residents lived. If this scene was not heartbreaking enough, dotted between were small tents with no plumbing or running water. Poking through the plastic coverings of the tents were stovepipes belching out black smoke.

Our first exposure, only touching the surface of this community, made it blatantly clear why they had declared a state of emergency in October. We were compelled by the need … and thankful that True North Aid was able to be an avenue of the help provided by so many faithful supporters.

Attawapiskat Benefit Concert!!!

tnaadmin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:21:30 +0000

Thursday, January 19th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Stephan LaCasse
Attawapiskat Benefit Concert
416.312.6955 E:stephenanlacasse@live.com

Concert To Raise Money for Attawapiskat Winter Relief

Two-time Juno award winner Derek Miller and guest artists to perform at Revival Bar on Thursday, January 19th to raise money for winter relief in Attawapiskat, ON with proceeds going to True North Aid.
The First Nation community of Attawapiskat has declared a state of emergency amid a dire housing crisis. Musical acts Derek Miller, along with Jace Martin, The Clearing, Phantom Black, Pappy Johns Band, Jasper, Plex, Arthur Renwick, Janet Panic and special guests will be performing Thursday, January 19th from 8:00pm until 2:00am at Revival Bar (783 College St) to raise money and awareness.
True North Aid (www.truenorthaid.ca) is a non-profit organization founded in 2009 providing support and humanitarian aid to underprivileged northern communities.
Tickets are $25 at the door. Advance tickets are $20 from http://everybodybuys.com/toronto/deal/benefit with proceeds going to True North Aid. Presented by Gunner Records, Iguana Recording and The Voices 106.5 FM

ATTAWAPISKAT BENEFIT CONCERT :

2 TIME JUNO AWARD WINNER DEREK MILLER AND GUESTS
THURSDAY JANUARY 19, 2012

8PM-2AM
REVIVAL BAR (783 COLLEGE STREET, TORONTO, ON)
$25/DOOR $20 ADVANCE 19+

There will also be a benefit show in Ottawa on January 24th at Ritual Nightclub with details to follow after the Christmas Holidays.

Derek Miller: www.derekmiller.ca
Event Website: http://tinyurl.com/benefitconcertTO

We did it!

tnaadmin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:51:48 +0000

Hey everyone, sorry we did not get in touch sooner – but we were extremely busy here! And that was a good thing because so many people received much needed help! The goods were received in three separate shipments – so that meant three trips to the airport unloading the plane and loading up the big white truck. We took the first two to the arena and the last one to the parish hall since the arena was not available. People came in two waves to those two locations. As well, we put a portion of things aside to hand deliver to those who really needed it and who were unable to come to the distribution locations. It was so awesome to actually go to homes and hand-deliver things! We really got a feel for the community and got to know some very nice people and hear some really unbelievable and sad stories. People here in Attawapiskat really do appreciate True North Aid! We will be home and settled in soon and we promise to post lots of picture and more details of our time with the amazing people of Attawapiskat.

We are so thankful to all of you who gave and partnered with us to make this all possible. THANK YOU!

The Truck is on the road!

tnaadmin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:31:38 +0000

Michael Clark, a True North volunteer is well on his way towards Timmins with a lot of supplies. We are so happy and thankful that we could collect what we were able over the past couple weeks. A lot of hands went into this and for those involved, thank you.

Here are a couple photos of the 3rd & 4th grade classes with Helen Nowell and 5th & 6th grade classes with Bill Morton at the John Young Elementary School in Kanata, ON. Along with the staff there they collected food and gifts.