Project Overview
True North Aid has had more communities reach out to us recently after we were able to fulfill to requests from Clearwater River Dene Nation, LaLoche, and Canoe Lake Cree First Nation, all in northern and remote Saskatchewan, as well as Pauingassi and Little Grand Rapids First Nations in Manitoba.
Like many First Nations communities, families within them often live in poverty and have difficulty affording and accessing school supplies in their northern stores.
With your help, we can help to ensure First Nations children are provided the basic and essential tools for learning, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In May 2020 of this year, we were able to support Canoe Lake Cree First Nation in Saskatchewan with 195 backpacks for the entire community as well as in August supporting the communities of Pauingassi and Little Grand Rapids in Manitoba and La Loche and Clearwater River Dene Nation in Saskatchewan.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES
CLEARWATER RIVER DENE NATION
Clearwater River Dene Nation is located 620kms away from Saskatoon, its largest urban centre. It currently borders La Lachoe. Due to several cases of COVID-19 existing in the community, a lockdown has been put in place. They have approximately 1000 in its community. TNA is supporting Clearwater River Dene school with 400 backpacks
LA LOCHE
La Loche, Sasksatchewan currently services a large indigenous population and shares many of the resources as Clearwater River Dene Nation. Recently they have confirmed 12 cases of COVID-19 in the community. The community has almost 3000 members, in which 89% of them speak Denesuline.
Pauingassi First Nation
Pauingassi First Nation is located 280kms northeast of Winnipeg and has an on-reserve population of about 630 people and are Woodland Cree. They are only accessible via float plane or the winter road. Approximately 150 students attend the Omiishosh Memorial School there and are looking forward to having backpacks to prepare for the new school year!
Little Grand Rapids First Nation, MB
Little Grand Rapids First Nation is located 268 kms northeast of Winnipeg and is near the Manitoba and Ontario border and is only reachable by winter road or by plane. Their school is the Abbalak Thunderswift Memorial School which has approximately 450. The community’s population is 1400.
