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Hello Amanda,
Since 2012, True North Aid has been a lifeline for remote Indigenous communities, providing essential supplies. However, the situation has reached a critical point. The cost of food (see photos below), housing, and necessities is skyrocketing, creating unprecedented pressures in the North, where access is limited and historical injustices persist. Your immediate support is crucial and can make a significant difference.
We’re overwhelmed with urgent requests, including support for food sovereignty projects such as greenhouses, fishing trips, and hunting gear; monthly food shipments to Nunavut; and educational resources for children. These efforts provide both immediate relief and long-term resilience.
With your support, we can continue to deliver precisely what communities ask for, with transparency and minimal overhead. Your monthly donation, no matter the amount, will help us address critical needs now and build a better future. You have the power to make a tangible difference. Please, Donate Today.
With gratitude,
Kenneth Smid
Executive Director
True North Aid
P.S. If you are inspired by the work of True North Aid, please forward this email to your family, friends, colleagues and inner circles! This one gesture makes a huge impact.
| | Above: Cost of cheese and beans, in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, Quebec - in comparison, Heinz Beans is $1.97 and Cracker Barrel cheese is $7 at Walmart in the south. | | Treaty #8 Bison Players Win Most Sportsmanlike Team in Kelowna, BC | | |
Thanks to your generous contributions, the Treaty #8 Bison players came together from across the North in British Columbia, forming not just a team but a family. This past March, the Treaty 8 Bison team participated in the Junior All Native Tournament in Kelowna, British Columbia. Through weekly practices, cultural ceremonies, community service, and big wins on the court, they showed what basketball as medicine truly means.
Their accomplishments of this trip included the Most Sportsmanlike Team Award and being among the Top 15 basketball teams in BC!
"We’re growing a movement—one that blends culture, sport, and opportunity for future generations." - Cedar Wechlin, team coach and mentor.
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Supporting One Pallet, One Community | Canada-Wide
We are beyond grateful to O’Reilly Source for Sports and the Lamontagne Family in Timmins, Ontario, for their incredible generosity in collecting hockey equipment for Sanirajak, Nunavut! This collection was a family act of reconciliation, recognizing the importance of supporting Indigenous youth and communities by helping them access supplies that will bring wellness and sport to the community.
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Moon Time Connections Updates
Moon Time Connections has been busy wrapping up the final stages of our funding from Food Banks Canada and Women and Gender Equality Canada, focusing on menstrual product distribution and education programming.
We’re excited to share that we’ve completed our final Moon Time Facilitator (MTF) training course under this funding cycle! This last cohort brought together passionate facilitators nationwide, all committed to advancing menstrual equity in their communities. Seeing the network grow and the conversations deepen has been genuinely inspiring.
On the product distribution side, we sent out a large batch of period underwear—one of our most requested items. We know how important it is to offer reusable, comfortable, and sustainable options, and we’re proud to be meeting that need in communities where access can be limited.
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Iqailisarvik Project | Iqualuit, Nunavut
Sports and gym equipment are on their way to Iqaluit, Nunavut, to support health and fitness at Aqsarniit Ilinniarvik School’s fitness studio. The facility is used by the students during school hours, but also open to the community after school, and this new equipment will provide more variety in the programming offered there. Stay tuned for updates!
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Shining A Light on Indigenous Art | Green Lake, Saskatchewan
The students from St. Pascal Community School are on their way to Saskatoon and the area this May to review and celebrate various forms of Indigenous art. They will view a theatre production and explore behind the scenes of a theatre company, visit art exhibits and museums, and participate in Indigenous crafts, pow wow dancing, and workshops in Wanuskewin.
Want to ensure more remote communities have opportunities like this?
Consider a donation today!
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Sleeman Employees on
Orange Shirt Day, 2024
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Sleeman Breweries on
Why Supporting True North Aid Matters
“Reconciliation is an important topic for Sleeman Breweries and for our employees who want to show their commitment in a tangible way. Through an annual Indigenous Makers’ auction for our staff, we’ve showcased the work of First Nations, Métis, and Indigenous artists. All proceeds raised from the auction are donated to True North Aid to help support Indigenous communities. To honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we’ve made further donations on behalf of our employees that help advance True North Aid’s important work. Reconciliation matters to our employees, and they have truly embraced the opportunity to support True North Aid.”
- Jenna, Sleeman Breweries
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Come Fundraise With Us!
There are so many meaningful ways to get involved with True North Aid — including starting your own fundraiser!
Last month, three birders embarked on a journey to spot the elusive Rock Ptarmigan in northern Ontario. Inspired by the communities they visited along the Wapusk Trail, the longest seasonal road in the world, they launched a fundraiser with us and raised over $1,000 to support our work in northern communities.
Feeling inspired? Start your own fundraiser today! Contact Ally, our Donor Relations Coordinator at donate@truenorthaid.ca to get started or click HERE.
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Congratulations, Sue!
Congratulations to Sue Heddle, founder of Hockey Cares, on receiving the King Charles III Coronation Medal! Her dedication to reconciliation and connecting Indigenous & non-Indigenous youth through hockey is truly inspiring. We’re proud to work alongside Sue & her amazing team to make this exchange happen—first with Attawapiskat First Nation and now with Constance Lake First Nation.
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Consider becoming a monthly donor!
Consistent monthly donations help our ongoing operations and provide
True North Aid with predictable funding income.
Click here to set up a monthly donation. You can make changes anytime.
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