| | The Sugar Moon (Zisbaakdoke-Giizis)Teachings In Anishinaabe teachings, the Grandmother Moon guides us, offering seasonal teachings rooted in care, balance, and relationships. These teachings will guide us throughout the year. March’s Sugar Moon (Zisbaakdoke-Giizis) marks the time when the sap begins to flow and the maple trees wake up. This moon teaches us about the sweetness of balance and the hard work required to harvest the land. Just as the maple water is gathered with patience and respect, the work at Anishnawbe Health Toronto (AHT) is sustained by the steady, nourishing support of our community. This month, we celebrate the resilience of our community and the "sweetness" of reconnection. Whether it is through the smell of cedar in healing spaces or the sound of the drum returning to the city streets, your contributions ensure that these cultural lifelines remain strong. Because of your dedication, we are able to bridge the gap between traditional wisdom and modern healthcare, ensuring every spirit is seen and every heart is tended to. We invite you to read on to see how your gifts are flowing into vital programs and helping our community bloom this spring. Chi Miigwech! Brooke Harrison Senior Marketing, Communications and Donor Relations Manager |
| | Did You Know... 425 Clients were supported by the Traditional Healers and Helpers in 2025 through 755 separate visits. |
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| Impact at a Glance The Traditional Palliative Care program, Giiwe Win (Showing the Way Home), has become a vital pillar of our community. Today, the program has expanded beyond community gatherings to provide consistent, culturally grounded support in hospitals, hospices, and private homes 365 days a year. By centering Traditional Teachings on the entire life cycle, AHT continues to help clients find comfort in death as a sacred journey home. During the first week of March this program hosted a Round Dance for clients; a powerful session focused on how the Round Dance connects us to our ancestors and supports the collective healing journey. This teaching is part of the ongoing monthly Traditional grief support group offering a safe space for community members to reflect and heal. Made Possible by You: Because of our dedicated donors, we can continue to offer these sacred ceremonies and teachings at no cost to our community. |
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| Did you know that.... In 2025, 502 Youth found connection and culture through our seasonal camps, ceremonies, and workshops. |
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| How Your Support Is Being Directed A priority focus for current fundraising is expanding the Mobile Health Unit’s reach. As the weather warms, AHT’s ability to meet community members where they are, bringing care directly to neighbourhoods across the city becomes even more critical. Your support helps AHT provide street-side medicine, harm reduction, and mental health crisis support to those who need it most. |
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| | The specialized palliative care team provided 466 care appointments for 92 people and their families in 2025 as they prepared for the journey home. |
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| Upcoming Dates Mark these special times in your calendar as we honour Indigenous voices and the changing season. March 19: Two-Spirit Awareness Day Today, we honor the Two-Spirit members of our communities, a day to celebrate their diverse identities, the unique roles they hold in Indigenous cultures, and the importance of respect and inclusivity. March 21: Spring Equinox Spring is finally here! This is a time of balance and new beginnings. Many Indigenous cultures look to the Equinox as a moment to reflect, grow, and say "thank you" to the Earth as it wakes back up. It’s a perfect excuse to reconnect with nature and your loved ones. March 22: World Water Day Water is more than just a resource—it’s sacred and life-sustaining. Today, we’re reminded of our deep connection to the water and our responsibility to protect it for the generations coming after us. March 31: National Indigenous Language Day Our languages carry our history, our stories, and our way of seeing the world. We’re sending a huge shout-out to the people working so hard to keep our traditional languages alive and thriving. |
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| Indigenous health is rooted in culture, connection, and belonging. At the Foundation, we raise the funds that allow Anishnawbe Health Toronto to deliver care that honors spirit, mind, emotion, and body. Your support is a powerful statement of solidarity, helping to strengthen the urban Indigenous community today and for the future. Please consider a gift today. Together, we are fueling a movement of healing and hope. |
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| | | Donor Learning Corner: Honouring Indigenous knowledge, voices and experiences. Book of the month: A Bow Forged From Ash by Melissa Powless Day A Bow Forged from Ash is a journey of Indigenous reclamation. In poems that explore identity, belonging, responsibility and wholeness, Melissa Powless Day navigates her ties to the landscapes of Southwestern Ontario and the nations to which she belongs. Podcast Pick: Indigenous Medicine Stories (AMS Healthcare) This podcast features powerful conversations with Elders, Healers, and leaders. It explores the intersection of Traditional wisdom and modern healthcare, sharing stories of resilience and the vital role of cultural reclamation in the healing journey. Watch This: North of North Set in a small Arctic town, this heartfelt comedy-drama follows a young Inuk woman as she navigates the "messy and beautiful" realities of reinventing herself. The series celebrates Inuit joy and community resilience while thoughtfully addressing themes of intergenerational trauma and the strength found in cultural identity. Found on CBC Gem. |
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| Ready to make an impact? Your support allows us to continue offering life-changing programs like Giiwe Win and our monthly Traditional grief support. |
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