Mid year update
It’s been a busy six months since we last updated you!
We have helped 16 people either gain or maintain housing by paying rental arrears, damage deposits, or first month’s rent.
In March Theresa told us, “The Nii'kinaaganaa Foundation is a amazing because they came in and saved me when I was struggling with how am I going to cover my monthly expenses plus pay my rent I couldn't be more appreciative thank you so much Nii'kinaaganaa foundation for all that you do for the first nations communities and our people”
Terri wrote to us in May and said, “Thank you so very much I greatly appreciate the help this makes me emotional when there are angels like you and your foundation that help people like me stuck between a rock and a hard place worried about not having enough for rent before the first trying to hustle debating should I pawn my tv or jewelry or going without certain foods making me sick or the hydro being turned off or our internet being shut off or phones loosing my only contact to the world it just means means so much to me I can breathe again thank the creator for people like you that help my hands are up to you”
We have provided emergency funds for dozens of people who need groceries or utilties covered. In Calgary, Saskatchewan, Oneida Township, and Montreal we work through local organizers to disburse $3,000 every month to people in their communities.
One of our organizers, Debbie Ironbow, writes that in May “We had 3 hot meal service days in our community, feeding over 150 each time. We provided clothing and shoes as well. We are hoping in June we will be holding a Care in The Community Day which will include hair care and some medical attention in partnership with our core Harm Reduction Service, Community Clinic and volunteers from the health region and other community volunteers.” She goes on to say that she is seeing an increase in the houseless and struggling each month with a dramatic increase when money was clawed back from the child benefit in March and April.
Joni Squires runs the Medsin Cup program and comments that “Gardening can be a full time job.” Yes it can! With your help she and her program were able to purchase garden tools and seeds as well as hosting this event. Costs as always are going up.
We’ve also supported a few single events. We helped Dalyn Smith with a workshop making dreamcatcher earrings in BC. Randeana was able to provide food baskets at Christmas and in June the Mawikutik Society will be hosting a celebration to honor Indigenous Residential School Survivors as well as those who did not come home. They are in Shubenacadie Nova Scotia and their event is open to the public, so if you’re out there check social media for announcements!
So it’s been a great six months, but also challenging. In March and April we had to pause accepting individual requests because we were unable to keep up with the need. Since then we have formed a relationship with Resource Movement, an organization mobilizing young people with wealth and/or class privilege, and we are hoping that this partnership will alleviate some of that strain.
But we still need you to spread the word and so we have created postcards and stickers that you can download and print at home or online to let people know about this organization. If you belong to an organization like a church or union, a book club or civic group. Tell the organization you belong to that they can put their organization’s land acknowledgement on their budget line and pay some rent. They are welcome to designate their funding to the city or province of their choosing, but if we do not have a working relationship with an organizer in that area we will have to put that money where it is most needed until we develop a relationship.
Thanks so much for being part of this! You are much appreciated. We are a volunteer driven organization and if you would like to volunteer with us, we are looking for:
Somebody who can create graphics, write copy, and promote the work of the foundation on social media.
Somebody who can monitor email and stay in touch with the organizers we support
Send an email to niikinaaganaa@gmail.com. Have a safe and happy summer!