December 2023 Newsletter

 
 

Embrace Solstice Magic with AHF this December

Winter is slowly making herself known to all, with frost coating our windows like a gentle winter kiss, and the sun blending into the midafternoon sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice occurs when the sun is at its lowest point across the sky, leading to the shortest day and longest night of the year. This year, we welcome Winter Solstice on December 21st. 

Indigenous peoples celebrate Solstice in many ways, some celebrations look like thoughtful prayers to the Creator, lighting a sacred fire, or settling in for a night with community, sharing meaningful Solstice stories.  

In celebrating Solstice, we as Indigenous peoples are re-affirming the purpose of ceremony, strengthening our traditions, and taking pride in our cultures. It's also an opportunity for Elders and Language Keepers to breathe life into the resurgence of our languages. 

Solstice is a time for the spirit to replenish while creating hope and light for everyone around you. 

If you're looking to celebrate the Solstice season, cook and share a healthy, hearty meal with loved ones. Food is a form of connection, nourishment, and is one of our main links to the land and natural world. 

 A popular Indigenous dish is Three Sister Soup. Click this link for the recipe to learn about the teachings that come from the dish. 

Keep reading as our newsletter is full of exciting information!  

You will be introduced to the talented Joseph Sagaj, an Anishnaabe artist who is working on some special projects at the new health centre. You can also expect an update on the health centre building progress. 

At the end of our newsletter, you will find linked resources that offer further education on Indigenous Peoples and our culture. We also announce our office closure for the holidays. 

Thank you for being part of our community! 

 

Chi Miigwich, 

The Anishnawbe Health Foundation  

 
 

Celebrate the season of giving this year!

Looking for that perfect gift for your loved one who has it all?  

Why not gift them the gift of social change!

We all have that special someone in our lives who are challenging to gift. This year why not provide a donation to AHF in their name! Choosing to give a donation can be incredibly impactful. 

You are providing an opportunity for your loved one to stand in solidarity, amplify voices that have been silenced and promote a more inclusive and equitable society. 

What's more meaningful than that?

Read on to hear how your gift can make a great impact this holiday season.

 
 
 

Meet Joseph Sagaj:

Meet the artist behind many of the creative spaces within the new Anishnawbe Health Toronto Centre.

Joseph Sagaj is from a small, remote, and isolated fly-in community in northern Ontario called Neskantaga, located 480 km north of Thunder Bay. As a proud Anishnaabe Artist, of the Sturgeon Clan, Joseph utilizes his art as a method to share his Anishnaabe ancestry and heritage.   

 
 

Photos courtesy of Rob Pyke

Construction Update: 

The talented construction team is working hard to get the new centre up and running. The AHF team couldn’t be more excited! Click the link below to see updated images of the construction site!

 

Learning Resources:

This month we are featuring the Assembly of First Nations “It’s Our Time: The AFN Education Toolkit”. Click this link and start learning!  

The toolkit provides 22 different talks on topics such as First Nations societies pre-colonial contact, a look into Treaties, and the impact the Indian Act had on First Nations peoples. 

  

 

 

AHF Solstice Closure:

Please note that the foundations office will be shut down during the Solstice season to allow our staff well deserved time to reflect and spend time with family.  

AHF will be closed from Friday December 22nd and re-open January 8th.  

 
 

If you have any requests for content in our monthly newsletter, please send an email to bharrison@aht.ca 

Share our newsletter with a friend so we can grow our community and keep making an impact! 

 

ANISHNAWBE HEALTH FOUNDATION

225 Queen Street East, Toronto, Ontario M5A 1S4     |    416-657-0379 X 232    |     foundation@aht.ca

SupportAnishnawbe.ca

 

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