Hello!

How is it that the end of January nears?!

Only four weeks into 2023 and True North Aid staff are busy laying a foundation for what will be another year of growth and opportunity.

True North Aid observes a notable uptick of people entering into this new year reflecting upon the individual and collective responsibility that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission invites us all into.

This observation affirms our commitment to developing creative and meaningful ways that engage Canadians across the country in reconciliatory events and programs, virtually or in-person.

It is our hope, that True North Aid supporters will continue to learn about the good work we commit to by supporting and participating in these events, and will extend this invitation to family, friends and colleagues.

Help us further reconciliation through education and action.

Katie Koopman

Reconciliation Program Coordinator

gap@truenorthaid.ca

www.truenorthaid.ca

Becoming Kin Retreat Is Open For Registration!

Ontario March 31 - April 2 | B.C. September 27-29 | Nova Scotia October 13-15

Becoming Kin Retreat follows Patty Krawec's newly released Becoming Kin: An Indigenous call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our Future.

This retreat was hosted by True North Aid in October 2022 and was so impactful,

we're taking it across Canada.

This intimate gathering, intentionally held in a natural setting, will

"...braid together historical, scientific, and cultural analysis, Indigenous ways of knowing, and the vivid threads of communal memory, to 'unforget' our history."

Order Becoming Kin book here.

To learn more about Becoming Kin and to register, visit

Becoming Kin Retreat 2023

Retreats are limited to 25 - 30 participants. Patty Krawec will be present each weekend with co-facilitator Sharmeen Khan (Upping the Anti) joining Patty in Mono, Ontario and at Loon Lake Lodge in B.C. Alexis Shotwell (Against Purity, Knowing Otherwise) will co-facilitate in Tatamagouche, N.S.

This past October, people joined us from schoolboards, churches, universities, and other community groups to investigate history and talk about building a better world.

And it's not just for non-Indigenous people. Patty will host a breakout session with just racially marginalized participants who get something different from the material. Because our kin and our responsibilities are different from each other.

"I gained a deeper understanding of Indigenous Peoples, their complex histories and entrenched struggles related to colonialization. This weekend helped me to examine key interconnected concerns for Indigenous Peoples in Canada including prejudice, health issues, inadequate housing, and higher rates of suicide and addictions. Providing a safe place to learn under the direction of an Indigenous educator within nature provided an enriched opportunity to learn and discuss these systemic issues.”

P. Shea, Participant October 2022 Retreat

Next Settler Discussion Series Begins Sunday, March

Please register your participation as soon as possible here:

Settler Discussion Series Registration Form

The Settler Discussion Series encourages non-Indigenous Canadians to learn the truth about Canada’s historical and current relationship between non-Indigenous and Indigenous people.

We address the topics of Settler/White Privilege, Land, Residential Schools, and Allyship in a factual way in once a week for four weeks.

Each session is approx. 1–1.5 hrs long.

A newsletter-style email is sent to participants with curated content regarding the following week’s topic.

The content of this discussion series has been vetted by Indigenous advisors who speak into the reconciliatory work of True North Aid.

We've achieved 25% of our Giftcard and Shipping Goals

(Four Weeks To Go!)

If you would like to host a book drive or fundraiser to benefit literacy programs in northern, remote Indigenous communities please email Katie at gap@truenorthaid.ca

Northern Reads encourages Canadians to support our charitable objective of advancing Indigenous literacy across the country. 

We are honoured to partner with GoodMinds this year, a First Nations family-owned business located on the Six Nations of the Grand River in Brantford, Ontario.

Our first goal is to raise $6,000 in GoodMinds gift cards to purchase new, Indigenous authored and illustrated books for literacy programs in three communities.

Our second goal is to raise $2000 to help off-set the shipping costs of the new books purchased.

To learn more, visit: Northern Reads

Join Our 2023 Author's Series Virtually!

(Tuesday Evenings at 7p EST in February)

Learn more about our

2023 Northern Reads Authors Series Here