Several local First Nations set to receive donations from Ontario charity

Jan 30, 2018 | 3:16 PM

A cross-country partnership is about to help a number of people in Onion Lake and surrounding areas. A truckload of food, clothing, sports equipment, toiletries and school supplies will be arriving in the community tomorrow, and distributed to a number of Indigenous communities.

Ken Smid National Director of True North Aid, an Ontario-based humanitarian organization focussed on supporting Indigenous communities, heard about the plight of several people in the area and wanted to assist.

“There are families [in the region] struggling with the basic needs, like clothes and food,” he said. “It was lady in Onion Lake who was confronted with these needs on a daily basis, she talked about wanting to start a food bank and clothing bank where she could help her community. I just offered the suggestion we could buy a BigSteelBox and fill it with supplies and send it there, and she thought it was a fantastic idea.”

Soon after, Smid got in touch with BigSteelBox, purchased a box and placed it in a church yard in Kitchener, Ont. and appealed through social media and various channels for donations. A great deal of hockey equipment was donated thanks to a drive in Brantford, as Smid heard recreation and well-being was an important part of life in the Onion Lake region.

“Donations came from all over Ontario, even as far as Boston,” Smid said. “Schools pitched in, Rotary Canada pitched in, and so many individuals, and really this is just our way of showing the people in northern Saskatchewan that we care and that we’re there for them. It’s not us doing it for them, it’s doing it with them.”

Linda Naistus and Brenda Rediron-Chocan, two Onion Lake residents who help with a local thrift shop and food bank, said they are thrilled to be assisting with this endeavour. They have been working locally to ensure the donations will be dispersed to those in need in a number of communities, including Ministickwan, Big Island Lake, Thunderchild, and Moosomin First Nations.

“We’re coming together and supporting each other in giving to the people in need,” Rediron-Chocan said. “We can’t thank Ken enough, and reaching out for us in Ontario, and getting all these donations.

“It’s such a wonderful feeling that people that don’t know us, they send out something to us, it touches my heart,” Naistus said. “It’s like a hand that’s been stretched out 3,000 kilometres, from there to Onion Lake.

Brian Hawkins, Director of Operations with BigSteelBox, said he is grateful for the partnership. The company is donating the cost of shipping their box from Kitchener to Onion Lake, and the container will remain in Onion Lake as storage.

“We certainly feel a responsibility to give back where we can,” he said. “We have a unique product in that it’s quite flexible and able to be used specifically during times of need. I really think what True North Aid is doing is deeply needed and really powerful for Indigenous communities.”

 

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter @ReporterKath