Western Living Magazine
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Make this a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation tradition.
Canadas first official National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is September 30, 2021. The day is meant to honour the lost children and survivors of Canada's residential schools, as well as their families and communities. For non-Indigenous folks, It's a designated day to reflect and take action, and donating money to Indigenous charities and organizations that support Indigenous people is a good start.
The following is a list Ive put together of local groups who are doing great work, plus some details about their programs and how they support Indigenous community members in BC and Alberta. Many of these organizations have robust programming that includes youth mentorship, accessible housing, elder support, health care, recreationthe list goes on!thats impossible to reduce to a single post, so I encourage you to click on the links for each one to get a better idea of the scope of their work.
What they do: A sewing club and community garden for elders, sports programs like a basketball league for youth and recreational soccer for adults, pre-employment assistance, support groups for Indigenous parents, a mat and blanket shelter, and moreWebsite: vafcs.orgDonate here
What they do: Drop-in centre and 24-hour emergency shelter, a kitchen that provides 500 meals each day, and Indigenous womens projects that include Indigenous plant walks, outings for Indigenous women, counselling, cultural and community art projects and workshops.Website: dewc.caDonate here
What they do: Weekly Zoom drum circles, an elder support program, mentorship programs for youth, Indigenous language classes, home care services, counselling for Indigenous people with missing or murdered family members, an Urban Butterflies program for girls and the PAFNW Awards Fund, which provides postsecondary scholarships for Indigenous womenWebsite: pafnw.wordpress.comDonate here
What they do: Two streams of programsone is youth camps that empower Indigenous kids and teens, the other is a two-day workshop for anyone who works with Indigenous communities (nurses, employers, youth leaders, et cetera) that teaches ways to engage with membersWebsite: indigeneyez.comDonate here
What they do: A transformational housing program that offers 16 suites for mothers and children who are at risk of homelessness or child welfare intervention, plus childcare and other programs including parenting workshops, housing and resources workshops, life skills workshops and self-care workshopsWebsite: aboriginalmothercentre.caDonate here
What they do: Provide employment training (life skills coaching, work experience and team-building activities) and leadership training for work in the recreation, child care, cultural and food security fields, offer recreational activities at schools, community centres and parks throughout the city, and organize Indigenous cultural programs in collaboration with community partnersWebsite: redfoxsociety.orgDonate here
What they do: Partner Indigenous elders living in the Downtown Eastside with health-care professionals to provide physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual careWebsite: kilalalelum.caDonate here
What they do: UNYA has four major program areaseducation and training (including an alternative education program for Indigenous youth), health and wellness (including a mediation program, Aboriginal outreach team and clinical counselling), housing and transition (including an Aboriginal youth safe house), and Community and Connection (including mentorship, sports and recreation and a Two-Spirit collective)Website: unya.bc.caDonate here
What they do: WISH provides a drop-in centre and shelter, mobile outreach services, a health clinic, music therapy and transition services for street-based sex workers in the Downtown Eastside (50 percent of its participants are Indigenous)Website: wish-vancouver.netDonate here
What they do: Workshops and theatre development year-round, plus the production of the Talking Stick Festival, an annual celebration and showcase of Indigenous performance artWebsite: fullcircle.ca Donate here
What they do: Help Indigenous communities develop culturally grounded community child-care services through providing workshops, curriculum kits and academic resourcesWebsite: acc-society.bc.caDonate here
What they do: Family, elder and youth services for Indigenous people, including a youth justice program that uses restorative justice practices, homelessness and housing support, and employment servicesWebsite: kfs.bc.caDonate here
What they do: Provide holistic services to foster the health and wellbeing of the Métis community, including an Aboriginal infant development program, trauma therapy, mental health counselling, substance use counselling, an Aboriginal fathers program and moreWebsite: mcsbc.orgDonate here
What they do: Raise legal funds for Indigenous access to justice. Their work covers environmental justice, stopping fossil fuel expansion and open-pit mining, and standing up against environmental racismWebsite: raventrust.comDonate here
What they do: Provide two housing locations in Victoria for Indigenous people who are experiencing homelessness. SpeqÆÈ éutxw (SPAKEN) House offers culturally supportive housing and services to 22 Indigenous women, and the Culturally Supportive House offers culturally supportive housing and Indigenous alcohol harm reduction services to 10 members of the Indigenous Street Community (ISC) in Victoria's downtown core.Website: acehsociety.comDonate here
What they do: Support the spiritual health of Indigenous people suffering from the multigenerational impacts of colonization (addictions, mental health, homelessness) through daylong nature retreats, weekly hot meals, and connecting people with their families and communityWebsite: oasisvic.orgDonate here
What they do: Provide a drop-in centre with access to internet, laundry and showers, overdose prevention services, a community food hub, help with filing income taxes and essential servicesWebsite: squamishhelpinghands.caDonate here
What they do: Provide programs for Indigenous youth between 12 and 29 living in the Calgary. Programs include technology workshops, spiritual tours, the New Tribe magazine, a language learning app, and a virtual escape room that teaches about the sixties scoopWebsite: usay.caDonate here
What they do: The lodge helps community members recover from alcohol, drug and gambling addictions through Indigenous-based programs, like cultural activities (sweat, pipe ceremonies, Tipi building) family counselling and a flexible outpatient optionWebsite: nass.caDonate here
What they do: Community programs include a youth lodge with organized recreation, an Indigenous youth employment program, home-based parenting support, and supporting Indigenous families with Child Services involvementWebsite: miskanawah.caDonate here
What they do: Red Road is an accredited early intervention program with Aboriginal designationprograms include cooking, sewing, addiction services, career development, Cree language classes, legal services, regalia making, summer camps and moreWebsite: redroadjourney.caDonate here
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