Meeting Medsin Cup and Susan Brown

Welcome to our newsletter! Our aim is to update regular and one-time donors on where their donations are going each month and shine a light on the invaluable and often urgent support being provided thanks to these donations. 

If you’re new to Nii’kinaaganaa, we’re a non-profit, mutual aid foundation that collects money and distributes it to Indigenous-led groups and individuals across so-called Canada to support grassroots organizing, cultural development, and material needs. Since we began operating in November 2021, we’ve disbursed over $150,000 across Indigenous communities. While this may seem like a lot, the sad reality is that we still have to turn down aid requests every month—which makes your support all the more critical and appreciated.

Now let’s get into it. 

When it comes to reconciliation, restitution, and recognizing Indigenous rights, Canada has a long way to go. If that weren’t true, Nii’kinaaganaa wouldn’t need to exist—but we do. By supporting organizers across the country, we’re able to help confront the injustices of colonialism and build a better world for Indigenous people. To give you an idea of the kind of vital work we support (thanks to your donations), let’s meet two of our wonderful organizers!

First up we have Joni Squire-Hill, who helped create Medsincup: an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to land-based learning that operates in the Six Nations and Saugeen First Nations communities.

Medsincup was formed in 2019 when Joni set out to help elders who weren’t able to pick or harvest their own medicines. It has since grown to include kids as a way to “foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of our natural resources, connect with our culture, and promote health and wellness through the use of traditional medicines.” In October, with the help of your donations, Joni was able to host a 2-day corn picking event that focused on the medicinal uses of corn, how to make corn soup, and how to plant corn in a garden. At the end of the event one of the kids, beaming with pride, said “I can’t wait to tell my grandma what we learned today and share my food with her.” While Nii’kinaaganaa funded this event, it’s Joni’s commitment to reconnecting dispossessed Indigenous peoples to their land that’s helping to build a better world.

Now over to Susan Brown, who works with Hope Community Services (HCS) as their First Nations outreach worker in Hope, BC. Before she relocated to the Fraser Valley, Susan was raised in Squamish and is of Squamish/Lilooet heritage. After a healing journey following the passing of her sister due to substance abuse, Susan discovered a passion for helping others find their path to wellness and providing housing support. Through her advocacy work, Nii’Kinaaganaa is able to help Indigenous people meet their essential needs like housing, food, clothing, and medicine.

In October, the metaphorical rent you paid for living on this land (AKA your donations) helped two Indigenous people pay their literal rent:

Katie

After a flood that left her displaced and without essential belongings, Susan was able to help Katie pay her rent, damage deposit, and transportation needs.

“I am truly grateful for the incredible support I received, from securing a cozy bed to warm meals daily, and generous financial assistance to establish my new home. Thank you to all the compassionate individuals who ensure our safety and well-being, embodying remarkable kindness and selflessness.” –Katie

Jonathan

After being hospitalized due to a work-related injury, Susan was able to help Jonathon pay his rent and outstanding bills, as well as apply for disability benefits after his WCB benefits expired.

“After my accident, I was at an all-time low, ready to give up, but the doctor and social worker encouraged me to spare a minute for Susan; I'm thrilled I did. Susan treats you like family and goes the extra mile to make life easier in times of need. I'm thankful for selfless individuals like her and those whose donations improve our lives.” –Jonathon

This kind of life-saving support is desperately needed, as generations of systematic colonial injustice and land theft has created disproportionate levels of impoverishment for Indigenous people. As Indigenous rights advocate and political leader Arthur Manuel put it starkly in The Reconciliation Manifesto, “while Canada was recently number one in the international quality of life indicator, Indigenous peoples within its borders languished at number seventy-eight.” 

Through our partnership with Susan alone, Nii’kinaaganaa donors, along with our partner organization Resource Movement, have helped more than a dozen people obtain stable housing—two of whom were able to get out of rehab facilities. Several of her clients have also gone on to participate in community outreach themselves. This is all thanks to the low barrier support our foundation is able to provide. But while it’s critical to our mission to remain low barrier, it does make us vulnerable to fraudulent requests. By working with advocates like Susan, we can protect ourselves against fraud while making sure the people we help have ongoing local support to see them through their crises.

Thanks to your donations, we’ve been able to support the invaluable work that Joni and Susan do for a couple of years now. Through their dedication and advocacy, we’re able to help build a better world for Indigenous people—a world where our rights aren’t just recognized, but respected and celebrated. 

That’s all for now! Next month, we’ll introduce you to more organizers and organizations that we support and share some stories about the positive impact they’re making in their communities.

Thanks for reading and supporting,
The Nii’kinaaganaa Team

“Elite solutions to poverty are always about managing poor people and never about redistributing wealth.”

- Dean Spade, Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis