The idea of the #WeSeeYou Trip came from the life experience of Dwight Ballantyne, the founder of The Ballantyne Project. Dwight grew up in a northern First Nation, Montreal Lake Cree Nation, in Saskatchewan for 21 years until moving to BC in 2019. Upon reflection, he believes that hockey played a key role in building the belief that he could and wanted to pursue a life that was bigger than the possibilities that existed in his small community.
On May 24th, 2022, 9 youth from Fort Chipewyan in remote Alberta arrived in Vancouver to partake in the #WeSeeYouTrip. The youth were able to explore the many sites around Vancouver including to universities, Aquarium rock-climbing, lazer tag, boat and bus rides and so much more.
The goal of this trip was to offer a life experience for youth from a remote and/or northern Indigenous community by inviting them to Vancouver, BC. It was the hope that this adventure would allow them to try new things, see different cultures, and possibly instill the belief that they too could pursue goals that they did not even know existed.

Another project supported by True North Aid through the Reconcili-Action Grant Fund is Endaayaan Awejaa, an Indigenous non-profit organization working with youth within the Nipissing First Nation and surrounding areas. This organization offers programming through arts and culture, reconciliation, education, and harm reduction.

From weekly traditional teachings including hide and medicine teachings, to ribbon skirt making, crafting art journals, and drumming, this is a very busy program that often has a waitlist for youth to participate. 

True North Aid is honoured to support the good work of Endaayaan Awejaa in North Bay.