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In This Issue...
- Innu Midwifery Support Program
- Back-to-School 2024
- Work 2 Give Announcement
- One Pallet, One Community Volunteers needed!
- ... and more!
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Hello Amanda,
Across the country, True North Aid’s humanitarian and reconciliation efforts continue to make an impressive impact. Our organization would not be where it is today without the encouragement and guidance of Elder Norman McCallum, an advisor to True North Aid since 2017, until his recent passing.
Norman opened many doors for True North Aid, particularly in Saskatchewan. He traveled many miles in that province, building relationships and encouraging communities to apply for funding.
His heart was to do everything he could to support communities in the north.
He would be thrilled to read about the immersive on-the-land programs, cultural weeks, hockey exchanges, health initiatives, and reconciliation events that you make possible.
In celebration of Norman’s dedication to furthering the work of True North Aid, we invite you to consider the impact that just one individual can make.
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Above: Norman was a guest speaker at A Taste of Indigenous Canada event at the Waterloo Museum in Waterloo, On, 2018. | Above: Norman, wife Aurelia, True North Aid Executive Director Ken Smid, and daughter Olivia Smid. | |
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Whether your support of True North Aid is monetary, time, or perhaps sharing our posts on socials, or helping to educate fellow Canadians, please know that you make an impact, and we value you.
From the True North Aid Team,
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Diabetes Support Program
With support from True North Aid the
KO Chiefs’ Home and Community Care program purchased new tools for their diabetes and foot care education program, including an A1C meter that tests blood sugars and an autoclave (sterilization device). This purchase is significant as it cleans tools on site, thereby reducing the waste from disposable medical supplies that would otherwise be travelled to and from the community. They held several diabetes and foot care education clinics in their communities and Thunder Bay.
Learn more about the K.O. Chiefs here.
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Above: A Nurse from KO Chiefs during the diabetes clinics in Thunder Bay. | |
Supporting The Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre | |
True North Aid has supported the Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre over the past few months. In working with the Youth Empowerment Support (YES) Group in Toronto, we helped with two critical initiatives. The first was funding shipments of much-needed food and supplies to the food center.
The second critical initiative we assisted with was to support the pilot community meals program, which offers individuals various services including food access and skills programs.
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Above: YES Group in Toronto organizing supplies to be sent to
the Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre.
Learn more about Youth Empowerment Support (YES) here.
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Filtration Systems for Sanirajak, Nunavut
In January, True North Aid purchased four large Berkey Water Filtration Systems for students at the Arnaqjuaq School in Sanirajak, Nunavut. Although the water was safe to drink, it tasted poorly because of the high concentration of cleaning needed. This led students to drink more juice and soda. With access now to fresh, great-tasting water via the new filtration systems, student water intake has increased! 

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Back-To-School 2024
Back-to-School applications are open for the 2024/2025 school year!
Through this program, communities can apply for one standard package per student, which includes a backpack (optional), pencils, markers, crayons, pencil crayons, erasers, glue sticks, scissors, pencil sharpener, ruler, pencil case and notebooks.
Applications are due May 17th, 2024.
Apply for school supplies here.

To donate towards this initiative click here.
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Above: A proud recipient from 2023. | |
Innu Midwifery Support
Working with the Innu Round Table Secretariat and the Innu Midwifery Program in Sheshatshiu and Natuashish, Newfoundland, True North Aid is providing baby bundles and infant care seats to families with newborn babies. This initiative hopes to increase community engagement, program visibility and development of partnerships with other communities so that families can access resources in communities and keep their babies safe while travelling.
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Above:Innu Midwifery Program received menstrual supplies from
Moon Time Connections in March 2024.
Learn more about the Innu Midwifery Program here.
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True North Aid is hoping to satisfy the requests of a few communities who are in need of linens and sports equipment.
Can you help collect a pallet of these items?
For more info contact Katie Koopman, Reconciliation Program Coordinator
by email: gap@truenorthaid.ca
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Last month, MTC launched its all-new Moon Time Facilitator (MTF) training program, made possible by the Menstrual Equity Fund pilot led by Canada Food Banks and Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE). The training program, which hopes to empower community members with the resources and skills needed to provide vital Moon Time Education from within, has already trained 36 new Moon Time Facilitators from 16 different Nations across Turtle Island.
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Work 2 Give Funded for 3 More Years! | |
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Work 2 Give (W2G) is a cherished collaboration between True North Aid and Correctional Services Canada, offering meaningful work opportunities to incarcerated Indigenous men aged 18 to 89, and has achieved remarkable success since its inception.
The program, which involves building essential items like picnic tables, garden boxes, drums, and other identified necessities for Indigenous communities, has garnered widespread acclaim for its positive impact.

In a significant development, it has been announced that Work 2 Give will receive funding from Movember, a renowned foundation dedicated to men's health issues, for the next three years.
This partnership marks a crucial milestone in the program's journey and underscores its importance in fostering empowerment and skill development among Indigenous individuals within the correctional system.
Representatives from True North Aid, Correctional Services Canada and Movember gathered last month at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto for the funding announcement. The occasion was a poignant celebration bringing together a diverse group of passionate individuals committed to making a meaningful difference in Indigenous communities.
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Above: Robert Rittwage, W2G Team Lead
| Above: A W2G participant hard at work | |
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