BACKPACKS

For Deer Lake

PROJECT COMPLETE!

True North Aid is partnering with Deer Lake First Nation to send backpacks filled with school supplies to their local schools. Backpacks and school supplies are often extremely expensive in the north and many families simply cannot afford them. For $40 a backpack, you can support a child living in Deer Lake First Nation have a backpack and school supplies for the upcoming school year.

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Project Overview

Prices for goods such as backpacks and school supplies are double even triple here. We do not have access to a variety of items here as well. Deer Lake has one store on reserve and when it comes to deciding to pay for food or an item such as a backpack, almost all would pick food. Many families can not afford to pay for a backpack as the price for backpacks are very expensive here.

Backpacks are an essential tool for students in their:

learning and development
teaching responsibility for their belongings
gives them agency
allows them to take home important information such as homework, notes etc.

All of these are integral to a child’s development in education.

Our students deserve the best education possible. The backpack maybe a small gesture but it will make a huge significance in their way of learning and developing. With your help, our students will have agency towards their own education. They will have access to the same materials as a student living in the south.

Mission & Goals

Provide backpacks filled with school supplies to support children from grades K-8 living in Deer Lake First Nation and attending school there
Transport backpacks via plane and truck to Deer Lake
Have representative from Deer Lake disperse supplies to families in need.

Who, What,
Where & When

Deer Lake is Oji-Cree speaking First Nation reserve located several hundred kilometres north of Thunder Bay. It is located on Treaty #5 territory and is part of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation and the Northern Chiefs Council (Keewaytinook Okimakanak in Ojibway). Their current population on reserve is approximately 868 people, many of which are children. It is accessible only by air and winter road.

Thank You From Deer Lake

A huge thank you to you all for supporting our Deer Lake Back Pack Project. The backpacks have all been delivered and distributed.
Our community contact, Gurpreet Flora said the following;
“The kids were so happy and super excited to receive the backpacks. They loved all the materials. Overall the project was a great success and everyone was very happy!”
Thank you to all of you for making this project possible and supporting students living in Deer Lake!