Summer 2021

HIGHLIGHTS

tsiighetchic mattress

A Good Night’s Sleep – Tsiighetchic, NWT

True North Aid is proud to provide a total of 48 mattresses with accompanying platforms, mattress protectors, sheets, duvets with covers, and pillows to the community of Tsiighetchic, Northwest Territories.  A huge thank you to Silk and Snow for supplying these mattresses and to donors like YOU who made this possible. Fulfilling this request will mean that every child, parent, elder, and individual living in Tsiigehtchic will have a good night’s sleep 


PUKATAWAGAN

HELPING CULTURAL PROGRAMMING IN PUKATAWAGAN, MB

True North Aid was happy to provide Mathias Colomb First Nation (Pukatawagan) in northern Manitoba with craft and art supplies as well as sewing machines to support cultural programming for youth in the community. Thank you to Father Dhana Armalapudi for being a huge help in supporting the youth and to Halford’s in Edmonton for helping with the order. 


SUPPORTING NORTHERN ONTARIO FIRE EVACUEES

 

True North Aid would like to give a shoutout to all the staff and health care workers at the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Chiefs Council who worked tirelessly in the past month supporting fire evacuees from 3 remote communities. True North Aid was able to provide $20,000 to help purchase medical equipment and supplies to ensure all the evacuees’ needs were met. 

 

SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO GREEN LAKE, CANOE LAKE NARROWS

Thanks to your donations and the work of Danny and his team at Start Right Supplies in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, 450 backpacks and school supplies were donated to St. Pascal School in Green Lake, SK and to the Miksiw School in Canoe Lake Narrows. From Cindy McKay, “On behalf of Green Lake and St. Pascal School, I would once again thank True North Aid and their generous donors for their generous donation. Every child received a backpack full of supplies and parents were so grateful.”


CHICKEN HUSBANDRY IN SIKSIKA FIRST NATION, ALBERTA

True North Aid was proud to sponsor the Backyard Niitawaakiiks Program with Siksika First Nation in Alberta. For the past several weeks, five families learned about egg management, meat processing, and chicken behaviours, and have built coops to house their chickens.


LIGHTNING DAWN WRAPS UP SUMMER 2021 PROGRAM

Lightning Dawn wrapped up their summer program in August in Enoch First Nation, Alberta which included Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples learning hockey and growing their confidence, self-worth and leadership, and team working skills. Not only have they experienced training in an inclusive and diverse environment, they have developed friendships across community lines that we believe will become fruitful not only in their on-ice endeavours, but their off-ice ones as well. 


NAKODA-IYOP

INDIGENOUS YOUTH OPPORTUNIES PROJECT MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Three members of the Nakoda Youth Council, a local grassroots youth group from Stoney Nakoda Nation in Morley Alberta, stand proudly as they receive sea cans to support a local project in partnership with #truenortaidIYOP and @truenorthaid. We look forward to sharing updates from the Nakoda Youth Council on their local initiatives!

Applications are open! Indigenous youth are welcomed and encouraged to apply for seed grants to help amplify their talents and projects within their communities. Mentorship and skills training is also available to the winners!


rudy-efn

PROVIDING SEEDS AND TOOLS FOR FORT HOPE FARM

True North Aid is proud to assist Eabametoong First Nation with a pallet and a half of potato and various seeds to plant in the community’s five-acre garden. We are extremely grateful to Geeries Farm Market in Elora, ON for helping source and ship the seeds to EFN. We are also grateful to Rick Smith, a friend of True North Aid and owner of Canadian Tire in Dawson Creek, B.C. for helping us purchase and ship garden tools, a rototiller, and other various equipment to Rudy and his volunteers. Pictured here is Rudy Waboose, Eabametoong First Nation member and farmer extraordinaire, who has been working the soil for 5 years providing residents with fresh produce at harvest


LIFEJACKETS FOR FORT CHIPEYWAN, ALBERTA

 

Working in partnership with The Ballantyne Project, True North Aid was happy to help provide life jackets to the community of Mikisew Cree First Nation in northern Alberta. The smiles on the children’s faces say it all as they can now safely take part in activities both cultural and fun!

 
 

LEGO event

LEGO REPLAY DONATES TO NISICHAWAYSIHK CREE NATION, MB

In August, the Jordan’s Principle Team held a LEGO family building event for youth ages 4 and up. All LEGO boxes were provided by LEGO and the LEGO Replay program, where families donate their old bricks to be refurbished and donated to organizations supporting youth. Thank you to Malcolm Hunter and Jordan’s Principle team for getting the boxes into the hands of the youth, and to Emilie Nosovic from LEGO for setting everything up!


MOON TIME SISTERS

MOON TIME SISTERS LAUNCH OCTOBER 2021 COLLECTION DRIVE

Moon Time Sisters Saskatchewan and Ontario are holding their annual collection drives in October. To find out how to help and for more information, follow Moon Time Sisters on their social media pages or email mts-on@truenorthaid.ca or mts-sk@truenorthaid.ca


LEGO event

$10,000 NORTHERN STORE GIFT CARDS GO TO HELP FAMILIES AND SENIORS

Organized by the Friends of the North Misiway

Last month, True North Aid donated $10,000 worth of Northern Store Gift Cards to support families and seniors struggling through lockdowns and outbreaks in Moosonee and Moose Factory. Thank you goes to Pat Caldwell from the Friends of the North Misiway for helping to arrange this!


A BOAT TO SUPPORT ON THE LAND PROGRAMMING IN NELSON HOUSE

True North Aid was proud to support the Nisichawayasihk Neyo Ohtinwak Collegiate in Nelson House, MB with their purchase of this boat to support their land-based education programs! A big thank you to Nic Campbell for being a great advocate and supporting the community.


RECONCILIATION WALK – KINGSTON 2021

 

Join Us in Kingston, Ontario for our Reconciliation Walk, taking place Sunday, September 26th. 

Follow the trails and learn more about Canada’s past and present relationship with Indigenous peoples, and join us for a blanket exercise at 1pm. Registration is Required – Click HERE for more details.

 
 

FYM-FOUDNATION

$25K goes to support COVID-19 Crisis in James Bay Communities

In June, True North Aid provided $25,000 to Mennonite Central Committee in Timmins to help support the James Bay communities that were affected by a massive outbreak of Covid-19. Working alongside MP Charlie Angus and Lyndsay Mollins from MCC’s Indigenous Neighbours Program, True North Aid, as part of the James Bay Response was active in this collective that transported more than 60,000 pounds of food to those in need.


karine-nancy

CYCLISTS TRAVEL ACROSS CANADA TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND HEALTH

 
A huge thank you to Karine Mathieu and Nancy Morin for raising funds and awareness for True North Aid’s health and education funds. Their journey raised over $5000 for TNA and we are so so proud of their journey! Congratulations, ladies!
 
 
 

JOIN THE BALLANTYNE PROJECT FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION DAY

EVENT TAKS PLACE SEPTEMBER 30TH
 
Join Dwight Ballantyne and a host of speakers and knowledge workshops on September 30th, 2021 at the Riversdie Community Church in Port Coquitlam. Details are in the poster attached! 
 
 
 

THANK YOU TO AMAZON FOR YOUR DONATION OF $500,000

 
Thank you to the team at Amazon Canada who have chosen True North Aid as one of the recipients of fundraisers on their Prime Day this year. Your contributions will help us launch our Good Night’s Sleep Campaign
 
 

FYM-FOUDNATION

FYM FOUNDATION DONATES $20k PLUS SUPPLIES

 

In July, National Director Kim Smid and Board Member Kim Sigurdson attended the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation’s event and accepted donations and a $20,000 cheque towards True North Aid’s efforts in northern and remote communities.  Thank you FYM Foundation for your incredible efforts and support. We look forward to working with you on more events in the future!