How can you help?
HOW YOU CAN HELP NORTHERN RESERVES:
TAKE ACTION: If you have time, see below about how you can tell the government that indigenous issues are a priority.
DONATE: At the moment, there are not many organizations that are dedicated to Northern Ontario reserves. Most charities are either small Go Fund Me for the community or large organizations that do a broad spectrum of work across Canada or internationally on particular issues that may effect Northern ontario at different times. Below are a list of charities which you can donate to.
WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH STANDING ROCK.
See below for ways in which you can help the still ongoing protests and protestors in Standing Rock.
TAKE ACTION:
CONTACT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Tell your Member of Parliament or contact the Prime Minister's office directly to tell them that indigenous issues are important to you and your family.
It's the federal government's responsibility to fund education, and it's clearly been falling short concerning aboriginal communities.
Prime Minister Trudeau made an election promise of clean water for all indIgenous communities, remind him of his promises.
Ask why Trudeau hasn't ratified the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
CoNTACT THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT
Contact the premier's office or your representative to ask about resource sharing and development.
Each province has a say on what resources are developed and revenue sharing.
- Ask about the policy and demand it includes thoughtful partnership with indigenous peoples.
- Demand reliable and trustworthy environmental protections for resource developments, particularly those on traditional territories.
DONATIONS:
One of our favourite organizations is the Journalists for Human Rights’s Indigenous Reporters Program. They are doing amazing work in northern Ontario over the last few years. Communities having the resources to report on and tell their own stories is one of the most important steps towards change and the organization is making a different with skills building.
True North Aid exists to give hope to people in Northern Canada by providing support and practical humanitarian aid to communities and reserves that need it most.
True North Aid is supported by a Board of Directors who come from respected humanitarian organizations and the diplomatic service, as well as partners with over 35 years of experience providing aid to isolated communities.
Right to Play is an organization dedicated to providing safe spaces for youth to play nationally and across the globe. They were quite active following Attawpiskat's suicide crisis in 2015. When donating, please include a message that says northern and remote reserves having access to safe, engaging play is important to you.
A member of the Attawapiskat community, Melanie Phelps, set up this Go Fund Me page to get donations to help the youth following the suicide crisis last year.
From Habitat for Humanity's website:
"Overcrowding, dilapidated housing and general unaffordability are issues faced daily by many of Canada’s Indigenous families, especially those living on settlements and reserves, where it’s been suggested that 49 per cent of existing housing is in need of repair, and an additional 85,000 housing units are required to address the current supply shortage.
With the support of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), we launched our Indigenous Housing Program in 2007 to better understand the distinct housing challenges faced by Indigenous Canadians, while providing housing solutions for families in communities across Canada."
Habitat for Humanity: Indigenous Housing Program
Select the Indigenous Housing Program when you donate.
The First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada (the Caring Society) is behind Shannen's Dream (featured in the film), among many other initiatives to help indigenous communities and the goal of reconciliation.
It was developed at a national meeting of First Nations child and family service agencies (FNCFSA), held at the Squamish First Nation in 1998. Meeting delegates agreed that a national non-profit organization was required to provide research, policy, professional development and networking support to support FNCFSA in caring for First Nations children, youth and families. An interim board was elected and the plan was approved at a second national meeting held at Kingsclear First Nation.
KAIROS is a religious organization that unites Canadian churches and religious organizations in a faithful ecumenical response to the call to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
Currently it focuses on a variety of indigenous issues, specifically reconciliation.
Ask if your congregation or group could work with Kairos is helping making reconciliation a reality.
Standing in solidarity with Standing rock
HOW TO HELP
"The most effective means of showing support for this cause is to actively participate in protecting this sacred land. Anyone who is able to travel to the peaceful encampments is encouraged to do so. For those unable to make the journey to North Dakota, please utilize the alternate methods provided to show your support for the Standing Rock Sioux who have united over 100 tribes from across the U.S. Please join this effort to stop this pipeline, which desecrates sacred lands and has serious potential to damage or destroy the Standing Rock reservations lifeblood – its water." - Jay Syrmopoulos, Free Thought Project
North Dakota Governor
Jack Dalrymple at 701-328-2200.
Tell Gov. Dalrymple that you demand fair and peaceful treatment of protestors, and that you demand the pipeline be stopped.
Call the White House at (202) 456-1111 or (202) 456-1414. Tell President Trump that Standing Rock is important and water is life.
When leaving a message stating your thoughts about this subject please be professional.
CONTACT THE GOVERNMENT
Tell the White House to Stop DAPL: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/…/stop-construction…
SIGN THESE PETITIONS
Donate to support the Standing Rock Sioux at http://standingrock.org/…/standing-rock-sioux-tribe…/
Donate items from the Sacred Stone Camp Supply List: http://sacredstonecamp.org/supply-list/
Contribute to the Sacred Stone Camp Legal Defense Fund: https://fundrazr.com/d19fAf
Contribute to the Sacred Stone Camp gofundme account: https://www.gofundme.com/sacredstonecamp
DONATE
Call the executives of the companies that are building the pipeline
a. Lee Hanse Executive Vice President Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
800 E Sonterra Blvd #400 San Antonio, Texas 78258 Telephone: (210) 403-6455 Lee.Hanse@energytransfer.com
b. Glenn Emery Vice President Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. 800 E Sonterra Blvd #400 San Antonio, Texas 78258 Telephone: (210) 403-6762 Glenn.Emery@energytransfer.com
c. Michael (Cliff) Waters Lead Analyst Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. 1300 Main St. Houston, Texas 77002 Telephone: (713) 989-2404 Michael.Waters@energytransfer.com
SOURCE: http://thefreethoughtproject.com/10-protest-dakota-access-pipeline/#mkhkD6PeHPoWvtzM.99