Local Projects

HONOURING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES COMMITTEE UPDATE

April 11, 2023

Three pallets were delivered to the NW Company warehouse and have reached their destination via winter road: books and magazines for Little Grand Rapids, skates and hockey equipment for Red Sucker Lake, and early childhood supplies and books, etc. to St Theresa Point. The 2 canoes for Red Sucker Lake were also sent with this shipment.

Five of our partner communities applied for and received generous shipments of Arts and Crafts materials form Art for Aid in Ontario.

We continued the conversation with “I Love First Peoples” in Ontario, organized a very successful virtual meeting with community representatives from Shamattawa and obtained a commitment from them to provide 10 high end Janome sewing machines as well as supplies, fabric, etc. to establish a sewing program in the school. We will be responsible for transportation costs.

We have connected our friends from St. Theresa Point with an organization in Ontario which has agreed to provide a shipment of equipment, etc for land-based programs. We are in the process of attempting to make this available for a second community.

Following the fire that destroyed a block of 8 apartments in Split Lake we asked for and received a list of emergency supplies that the community needed. We purchased and shipped the requested household equipment, bedding and food supplies to the community.

We have researched organizations that provide virtual programs in support of the mental and physical health and well-being of indigenous children and youth. We have shared the information with our partner communities and requested indications of interest. We will then connect them with the appropriate organization/s for further discussions.

Youth to Youth Event March 2023

50 youth from across Canada participated in a Youth to Youth Program in Winnipeg last week. It was organized by the National Honoring Indigenous Peoples Committee Here's what they had to say

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2188714051778

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/we-all-respect-each-other-more-how-a-new-youth-program-is-fostering-reconciliation-through-indigenous-land-based-knowledge-1.6338310

What Would 2 Canoes Do??

Earlier this year (2022) one of our indigenous partner communities approached us, the Rotary Club of Winnipeg, and asked if we could provide 2 canoes. They live on a lake and want to teach the children and youth about water safety and canoeing. Was this a good choice for our Rotary Club to support?

Yes and we did not anticipate the positive impact of two canoes in this indigenous community.

The organizers targeted all generations to be involved – children and youth to learn about their water ways, life and surroundings, elders to teach the youth how to navigate and protect the area. They partnered with 3 other close by communities so all in the area had an opportunity to learn and experience this wonderful pristine area.

Youth who were reserved and shy came out and developed self confidence and friendships. Water safety and canoeing skills were taught to all. Many had never been in a canoe or paddled. All were skilled after the summer training.

Some youth went on a 7 day canoe trip with their elders to learn about the land on which they have lived for thousands of years. They rowed, camped, prepared food, shared stories, portaged and had a life changing experience. The dream of some are to become guides so others can appreciate the wonders around them. Smiles of joy, laughter and wonder were in their eyes when they returned.

Two canoes had this impact! We could not have imagined this.

“The best part of life is being on the land and the water with our children and watching our grandchildren being able to see the beauty of our world.”

SANDY TRAVERSE O-PIPON-NA-PIWIN CREE NATION

To learn more about the Seal River Watershed www.sealriverwatershed.ca

Check out the Rotary YouTube as the presentation was recorded

HIP UPDATE - Dec. ’22

Budget: Our new Treasurer is still learning the ropes so was not able to provide specific numbers but our committee is on a sound financial footing mainly because, unfortunately, our work with our partner communities was interrupted by 2 years of COVID. This has been enhanced by the generosity of fellow Rotarians and allies. Our initial funding was obtained from a 3-year grant of $15,000 per year from the Lount Family Foundation. We have a long-standing relationship with this Foundation which, in previous years, provided us with funding for summer programs for indigenous and immigrant students as well as for “Breaking Barriers Building Bridges” through we brought together indigenous and non-indigenous high school students under the tutelage of Elders in indigenous venues like Thunderbird House.

After receiving our 2021-22 report on the activities of our committee, the Foundation Board approved a new 3-year grant in the amount of $25,000 a year. In appreciation of their generosity we decided to support the Children’s Theatre’s nomination of this Foundation for the 2022 Trust-Based Philanthropy Award. They were selected as the winner of the award. Past President Nancy Cosway and I attended the Awards luncheon to celebrate with them.

One of our earliest pre-COVID initiatives was to assist the community of St Theresa Point with a wide range of activities to keep the children and youth happily engaged over the summer months. This initiative was extremely successful and we have continued to support such efforts in several of our partner communities. As an example, last summer we received a request from Tadoule Lake for 2 canoes to be used in their programs to educate the youth about their Seal River Watershed Initiative. We provided 2 canoes at a cost of $2500 each plus a further $5000 for transportation by air. Another of our partner communities has requested canoes to be used in their land-based programs next summer. Fellow Rotarian and committee member Larry Vickar has kindly offered to pay for these canoes which will be transported to the community by winter road in the new year.

Several of our partner communities are struggling with issues of youth suicide. Last year, we worked with Split Lake to help provide necessities which they believed would help to keep the youth happily engaged rather than being isolated. Currently, two of our other partner communities are encountering similar challenges. We plan to have meetings with indigenous advisors to learn about how we might be supportive.

In the fall, three of our partner communities requested winter clothing. We engaged with a large number of schools as well as the wider community. Between them and our club members we were able to collect enough clothing for all three communities. The items in greatest demand and the most difficult to obtain were winter coats and boots. We purchased a large quantity of these items to fill this need. Thanks to committee member John Melnick for his tremendous assistance in in getting this task done. Thanks, also, to committee member Jean Oliver and RC Selkirk as well as Lord Selkirk School Division. Jean also got us a very large collection of books which will eventually end up in one of our partner communities.

We have just been asked for skates by our friends in Shamattawa so that they can keep the children and youth happily occupied over the long winter months. We are in the process of responding to this request. The skates will be cleaned, relaced where necessary, and sharpened before being shipped. As these items are in great demand we will continue to collect as much as we can. Jeff Newman has very kindly offered to help us make connections with community organizations who could be potential donors. (Note: At the time of writing the shipment is on its way to Shamattawa and we are collecting for another of our partner communities who are facing challenges with depression among their youth.)

We continue to reach out to others who may be interested in joining us in our reconciliation efforts. The cost of shipping winter clothing to three communities was in excess of $3000. I reached out to one of our partner organizations in Ontario and they happily covered this cost! We are currently working with one of our friends in the business community to see how they might become involved in becoming a partner in our efforts. His company is on board and we are connecting them with one of our partner communities who have requested toys for Christmas for the pre-school children.

(Note : Prior to Christmas, 3 employees of the company accompanied folks from the community on a shopping expedition at Toys R Us. They purchased and paid for a large collection of toys which will be distributed to the children prior to Christmas.)

- Strini Reddy

Skates for our Indigenous Partner Communities

Wow! People stepped up to donate skates that will be sent to Northern Manitoba to one of our indigenous partner communities. Youth can hardly wait to skate. Thanks to all who donated. They will receive them in early December

We are still collecting for other communities and will send the skates to them in late January. Contact Rotarian Strini Reddy for more information sereddy@shaw.ca

9,000 children's books headed to northern communities on ice roads

By Sylvia St Cyr

A few organizations have come together to give thousands of books to kids in remote northern communities in Manitoba.

Strini Reddy is a former educator who is now helping children in northern communities get books. He is a member of the Honouring Indigenous People's (HIP) committee with the Rotary Club of Winnipeg.

"Our committee and our club have been interested in working with the remote first nations communities up north in northern Manitoba to support education and other initiatives in whatever way we can. One of the most common requests we get is for books," says Reddy.

The communities that they send books to are only accessible by ice roads or planes. Shipping costs for books travelling by air is very expensive, so the best time to get books to these communities is by the ice roads in the winter.

"We work with an organization here in Winnipeg called Share the Magic book program which is run by one very committed person, Christine Melnik, who used to be a member of provincial government before she retired. She's a librarian by trade. She's very meticulous to make sure every book is examined for condition and content."

Books are being distributed to children to take home, as well as to fill school libraries. This winter kids can take up to five books for themselves.

"Having Share the Magic here in Winnipeg has been such a blessing to us. Otherwise, it'd be very difficult for us to be able to ship as many books as we possibly can."

Reddy's organization, Share the Magic, and The Northwest Company trucks work together to get these books to children in remote communities.

"This time around books are on the way to Red Sucker Lake, Wasagaming, Lac Brochet, and God's River."

Why Books Are Important

"I'm a retired educator and have a lot of experience up in northern communities in Manitoba. I've seen the discrepancies in services and goods between communities in the southern part of the province and the isolated communities," says Reddy. "Books shouldn't be something that is out of people's reach."

HIP has partnered with Rotary clubs across Canada and encouraged them to become part of a reconciliation movement with Indigenous communities.

"We were one of the first clubs to form an HIP committee. We have the advantage of the fact that I personally, and others, have been working with people up north for many years. Education is one of the biggest things. Books have become a central part of it."

Reddy understands the importance of books not only as a former educator but also from his childhood experience.

"Today we talk about the internet and easy access to reading materials, but the fact remains many of the communities we are talking about don't even have the internet. I grew up in a family that had very limited resources so every time we had a book, it was a great treasure for us."

Reddy has seen the impact books can have on young minds as an educator, but also from reading every night to his children, and then grandchildren.

"There's a magic about having a book in your hands and being able to see the printed world and create this whole wonderful world of imagination."

The program has donated more than 640,000 books worth more than $4.2 million.

ext here

ROTARACT

The Rotaract program is designed for young people between

the ages of 18 - 30 yrs.

It brings young people together to share ideas and have fun through service.

At the present time there is a Rotaract Club at the University of Manitoba. https://umrotaract.org/

Contact s.rotaractclub@gmail.com./.

For Halloween,
The Rotaract club of the University of Manitoba created a fundraiser called "Sugar Distancing" to support Oak Table. A nonprofit organization dedicated to the homeless communities in Winnipeg, offering participants programs, COVID support, healthcare and basic needs. The students made goodie bags which included candy, hot chocolate, cookies, handmade halloween themed face masks and earrings. The fundraiser made a total of $922.25 with the help of friends and family and kind rotarians, in which all of the proceeds will go to Oak table. We are thankful for everyone who was able to support us and hope they've found some joy in receiving the goodie bags."

Thank you Rotaractors !!