| | Make a Commitment to Reconciliation on the First
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day 2021 |
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| September 30, 2021 marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation across Canada. Creating such a federal holiday was one of the 94 calls to action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission back in 2015. The day honours all of the children who died and went missing while at residential schools, the Survivors, their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation comes in the wake of the discovery of the unmarked grave sites containing the remains of Indigenous children near the former sites of six residential schools in the provinces of Manitoba, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. |
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The new federal statutory holiday coincides with Orange Shirt Day, a grassroots movement which grew out of the story of Phyllis Webstad, from Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation. Phyllis had her new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at residential school. Her story, told for the first time in May 2013, has become an annual opportunity to remember and to learn about the atrocities of residential schools. For the fourth year, Anishnawbe Health Toronto (AHT) and the Foundation, along with our partner Old’s Cool General Store, are honouring this day by encouraging Torontonians to wear orange t-shirts. Chi-miigwetch to everyone who has ordered a shirt this year from Old’s Cool General Store. Five dollars from every shirt sold is donated to Anishnawbe Health Foundation (AHF). |
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| | | Gardiner Museum Donating 100% of Revenue on September 30 to Anishnawbe Health Foundation On Thursday September 30, 2021, the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Gardiner Museum will donate 100% of their admissions revenue to Anishnawbe Health Toronto. Rather than closing their doors, the Gardiner will remain active that day to make a tangible and constructive contribution to those who are already doing the work of caring for Indigenous community members. Our partnership with the Gardiner Museum is one of our longest-standing and most cherished relationships. The Gardiner has hosted clay classes for AHT’s Mental Health and Addiction groups and for more than 25 years, AHT and the Gardiner have collaborated on Empty Bowls, a yearly fundraising event with proceeds going to AHT. To date this event has raised over $200,000 in support of the Indigenous commmunity in Toronto. |
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| | Anishnawbe Health Foundation welcomes Janine Manning We are pleased to announce that Janine Manning has joined the Anishnawbe Health Foundation team as the new Manager, Annual Giving & Donor Relations. In this role, Janine will be leading our efforts to build a strong and dedicated group of donors investing in Indigenous health on an annual basis, as well as leading our efforts to steward current donors to ensure their continued support. Janine is a member of the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation. She has extensive experience in the not-for-profit and philanthropic sector, most recently working at the United Way of Greater Toronto to increase collaboration with and funding for Indigenous agencies. Prior to this, she led the establishment of the Indigenous Culture Fund at the Ontario Arts Council and held community engagement and fund development positions with Teach for Canada. In her volunteer work, Janine is the latest President of Laidlaw Foundation, where she is the first Indigenous person to lead a private philanthropic foundation in Canada. She also serves on the Indigenous Advisory Councils for the Toronto Public Library and FoodShare Toronto and until recently, volunteered with the Indigenous People’s Resilience Fund. |
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| | Donor Profile: Lisa Del Col
Reconnecting to Ancestry through Family and Charity Lisa Del Col was born in Saskatchewan and raised in Timmins, Ontario where she grew up not knowing her Algonquin ancestry. Lisa shares, “My grandmother ‘became Italian’ when she married my grandfather, and never spoke of her roots to us. I only learned of my heritage when I was an early teen. I came to know that my grandmother’s family is from the Timiskaming First Nation in Quebec.” At the time, Lisa was upset that this information was kept from her family. However, as she got older and more aware of the world, she realized that her grandmother did this as a result of racism and colonialism. “I realized that she didn’t want her family to experience any of the issues she |
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| | Artist Brandon Jacko’s Fundraiser to Raise Seed Funding for a New Traditional Knowledge Training Program is a Great Success! BIG THANKS to local Ojibwe artist Brandon Jacko for his support of the Traditional Knowledge Training Program at Anishnawbe Health Toronto. Through sales of his print "The Great Reunion," Brandon raised over $12,500 for a first-of-its-kind Foundational Training Program for Osh-ka-be-wis, future Traditional Healers, and Traditional Teachers. The painting is a tribute to the 215 children found buried at Kamloops Residential School and represents children of the residential schools being reunited with their parents in the spirit world - going home to the arms of their loving parents and creator. Immersed in divine harmony and free from terror, travelling upon the kind spirit of Turtle Island. To learn more about Brandon visit bjackoart.com or follow him on Instagram @bjackoart |
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| | Anishnawbe Health Foundation Partners with Will Power Anishnawbe Health Foundation, thanks to sponsorship from the Toronto Foundation, has partnered with Will Power, a national movement to educate Canadians on the power they have to make a difference through their Will. Can you really make a difference with your Will? In short, yes. Even a small percentage of your estate left to AHF can have a big impact on healthcare and healing for Indigenous people in Toronto, while still leaving the majority for loved ones. Choosing to support AHF can also reduce and, in some cases even eliminate, the taxes to be paid on your estate. Learn about YOUR Will Power today: www.willpower.ca/charities/anishnawbe-health-foundation/ |
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| | Anishnawbe Health Participates in Toronto Waterfront Marathon Scotiabank Charity Challenge for Second Year Anishnawbe Health Foundation has once again been selected as an official charity of the Scotiabank Charity Challenge! In 2020, we had a modest goal of $5,000 however, thanks to Anishnawbe Health staff and volunteers (35 of us!) we were able to raise $12,000 that went towards the capital campaign for the new health centre. Participating again this year is Stephen Scott, AHF Treasurer and proud member of the Métis Nation of Ontario. Stephen is a lifelong avid runner who has been running since the age of 10. Stephen says, “I've always been passionate about running because of what it does for my mental and physical health. I see it as the best form of self-therapy and a preventative medicine that helps me to avoid becoming part of a statistic.” Go the distance with Stephen and Join Our Team or Donate & Share the charity challenge with family and friends. |
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| | Cherie Brant Appointed to TD Bank Group Board of Directors Congratulations to Cherie Brant, Anishnawbe Health Foundation Vice-Chair. Cherie has been appointed to the Board of Directors of TD Bank Group. Cherie is a partner and national leader for the Indigenous law group at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) and is a member of the firm’s Environmental, Social, and Governance initiative. Her commercial practice extends across a wide variety of sectors, including energy and transmission, land development and financing on First Nations lands, Indigenous infrastructure, and economic development for Indigenous-owned businesses and Indigenous governments. She also provides strategic policy and governance counsel to Indigenous groups seeking to exercise their jurisdiction and authority. Cherie is both Mohawk from Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte and Ojibway from Wikwemikong First Nation on Manitoulin Island. To read more about Cherie’s TD Board appointment visit bit.ly/3BgAMUc and to read more about Cherie’s personal story and involvement with Anishnawbe Health Toronto visit bit.ly/3ynEsBw |
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| | Anishnawbe Health Offers Support to Cat Lake First Nation Forest Fire Evacuees In July, nearly 300 members of Cat Lake First Nation were forced to evacuate their homes due to the raging forest fires in Northwestern Ontario. The group was placed into temporary accommodations at a hotel in Peel Region. Anishnawbe Health Toronto answered the call from Indigenous Affairs Ontario to assist and support the evacuees, and a team assembled to offer a range of services via the mobile healing unit. At the same time, Anishnawbe Health Foundation Board Member Dr. Chandrakant Shah looked to his East Indian community of Toronto to raise money to provide gift cards for the families so that they could purchase any necessities while away from Cat Lake. “We wanted the Cat Lake community to know that their settler friends, from India, are wishing them good health and spirit during this challenging time,” says Dr. Shah. With support from his many friends, including Cijay Shah, an amazing $5,000 was raised in under 72 hours. Chi-Miigwetch for this wonderful outpouring of support in this time of need. |
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| | Left Field Brewery Holds Fundraiser in Support of Anishnawbe Health Foundation Thank you to Left Field Brewery for supporting AHF as their Beer For Everybody beneficiary through the end of October. 100% of profits from all Beer For Everybody apparel will be donated to AHF, along with $2 donations from the sale of every B4E 6 Pack until October 31st. Beer For Everybody’s intention is to showcase and support local organizations that work to dismantle systemic inequities. This initiative is not a single campaign, but rather a statement of Left Field’s beliefs and a name under which they will continue to take action to uphold their commitments to equity and inclusion. Recently AHF Executive Director, Julie Cookson, participated in an Instagram Live with Sav Pushparajah, from Left Field Brewery and Eric Saulis from the Indigenous Brew Crew to discuss the first ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and the urban Indigenous community. Click here to watch. To date, Left Field has raised over $3,033. Chi-Miigwech! |
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| | Construction of the new AHT is Underway! On June 21, 2021, National Indigenous Peoples Day, Anishnawbe Health Toronto held the official groundbreaking for the new health centre located in the Corktown neighborhood at Front and Cherry Streets. Final construction permits to commence construction were granted in early September, and foundational work has already begun on-site by General Contractor, Harbridge & Cross who won the bid in a tendered process that began in summer 2020. From start to finish, construction will take approximately two years, with completion expected in 2023. Stay tuned for further updates, and keep an eye out for the launch of our time-lapse webcam which will allow everyone to follow along as the building progresses to completion! |
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| | ANISHNAWBE HEALTH FOUNDATION HAS A NEW PHONE NUMBER.
WE CAN BE REACHED AT 416-657-0379 X 232 |
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