Project Goal: $1000
#miikomomentum
**Content Warning: The information in this blog and on the IRSSS website discusses residential schools and colonial violence.
The Indian Residential School Survivor Society (IRSSS) is a provincial organization that has been providing services to Indian Residential School Survivors for more than twenty years.
The IRSSS strives to provide physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual growth, development, and healing through culturally-based values and guiding principles for Survivors, Families, and Communities.
The IRSSS delivers wellness and healing services to Indian Residential School Survivors and intergenerational Survivors throughout British Columbia. IRSSS provides essential services to Residential School Survivors, their families, and to those dealing with intergenerational traumas.
The $1000 micro-grant will be donated directly toward IRSSS, for them to continue to provide wellness and healing services. One of the organization's goals is to expand their support to partner organizations and maximize access to culturally sensitive, emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual care.
Services that the IRSSS currently offer include:
Counselling
Health Support
Cultural Support
Website → https://www.irsss.ca/
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/survivorssociety
]]>Project Goal: $500
#miikomomentum
Mamas4Mamas is a national charitable organization that supports mothers and caregivers in crisis by providing ongoing support to individuals and families facing various poverty-related struggles. They have branches currently based out of Kelowna, Vancouver, Calgary, Grande Prairie, and Kitchener/Waterloo.
Recent statistics from Citizens for Public Justice reports that a staggering 5.8 million people in Canada (or 16.8%) live in poverty (https://cpj.ca/poverty-trends-2018/). Mamas4Mamas is committed to giving a hand up, not just a hand out to those struggling by providing them with essential needs.
While their name is Mamas for Mamas, they welcome caregivers of any gender identity or expression, including men, trans, non-binary, and two-spirit clients. Mamas4Mamas envisions a future where no Mama or child is left behind.
Mamas4Mamas mission is to change the landscape of poverty through innovative approaches to financial barriers faced by struggling families. They understand that charity does not solve poverty, but community does, and because of this, they bring our community into our mission, to make sure that we are looking after each other collectively.
Mamas for Mamas was founded on the notion of re-building 'the village'. Making sure that as a care-giver you are able to not only get through this sometimes tough journey, but to thrive in it.
Making sure that all mamas, papas, and caregivers have some place in which they can go to in times of need, or in just trying to seek connection.
Mamas4Mamas nourishes their community by filling the gaps and creating programs where they see need. One example of how they do this is through the Sustainable Nourishment program, where Mamas4Mamas partners with a local farm to plant, grow, and harvest fresh food with the help of our volunteers, so that those who otherwise would be living off of non-perishables, now have access to fresh healthy food.
Mamas4Mamas has a variety of other support programs available across BC and Alberta, including for Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Mental Health & Wellness, and Comprehensive At-Risk. They have also joined forces with Telus Health MyCare to offer counseling services at no cost to caregivers in BC. If you are a caregiver in need of mental health support or counselling, you can apply to the Telus Health Counseling sessions here.
This donation will help Mamas4Mamas ensure they have funds to continue running their community programs and help ensure that no family is left behind.
Programs currently running include Indigenous Support, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Groups, Young Mama & Teen Support Groups, Sustainable Nourishment Programs, Mental Health & Wellness, and At-Risk programs across their branches throughout Canada.
Website → https://www.mamasformamas.org/
Instagram → @mamas4mamas
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/mamasformamas.org
]]>RAVEN'S vision is a country that honours the ancestral laws, rights and stewardship values of Indigenous Peoples and their equitable access to the justice system within a thriving natural environment.
]]>Project Goal: $500
#miikomomentum
RAVEN Trust is a registered charity that raises legal defense funds to assist Indigenous Peoples who enforce their rights and title to protect their traditional territories.
RAVEN'S vision is a country that honours the ancestral laws, rights and stewardship values of Indigenous Peoples and their equitable access to the justice system within a thriving natural environment.
RAVEN’s mission is to provide access to justice for Indigenous Nations. Supporting the assertion of the inherent and constitutionally-protected rights of Indigenous Peoples is a powerful pathway towards reconciliation and environmental justice. RAVEN has raised millions of dollars to back some of the most groundbreaking legal challenges of our time.
Watch this short video to learn more and RAVEN Trust and their work:
Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) has been a sacred place of spiritual renewal for countless generations of the Tŝilhqot'in. This beautiful area is integral to the health of the last major Fraser River salmon run. The territory is also rich in gold and copper — resources ruthless mining companies aim to exploit.
Taseko's New Prosperity Mine was dealt a death blow by the Supreme Court of Canada on May 14, 2020 when it upheld the federal rejection of the mine project. However, Taseko is still pursuing a major exploratory drilling program with provincial approval. The extensive drilling would severely damage Teztan Biny and the surrounding area.
The Tŝilhqot'in have launched a civil action against Taseko and B.C. for infringement of Aboriginal rights.
Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation is going to court to secure Aboriginal title to unceded traditional territory in interior B.C.
Heiltsuk Nation is taking an oil shipping company, Canada and British Columbia to court over a catastrophic diesel spill in their territory from the Nathan E. Stewart, a tug-barge that had carried oil through Heiltsuk waters despite Heiltsuk prohibition of oil transport through their marine harvesting areas.
The Wet’suwet’en are defending their unceded territory (Yintah) from Coastal GasLink’s (CGL) liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline. The Dinï ze’ and Ts’akë ze’ (Chiefs) wholeheartedly oppose the CGL project, which would turn pristine forests and salmon streams into a fossil fuel corridor.
The Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs have launched two separate legal actions to defend their rights and title from unwanted industrial activity, and to hold the governments of Canada and British Columbia accountable to climate commitments for future generations.
West Moberly First Nations is pursuing a legal challenge against British Columbia, BC Hydro and Canada for infringement of constitutionally protected rights under Treaty No. 8. West Moberly is asking the court to stop construction of Site C dam and order BC Hydro to restore the Peace River to its natural state.
Homalco and Tla’amin Nations are headed to federal court to secure the removal of salmon farms from their territories. They will be facing four salmon farm companies that are challenging Canada’s recent decision to phase out all open-net salmon farms in the Discovery Islands by June 2022.
Neskantaga First Nation are headed to court to challenge the government for failing to fulfil its duty to consult on the main north-south mining road being built to the “Ring of Fire”. This major industrial access road will fragment intact boreal ecosystems and bisect Neskantaga territory: this will have massive repercussions on the Nation's rights to hunt, fish and carry out their traditional culture on the land and waters.
Beaver Lake Cree Nation is taking on the oil sands – one of the world’s largest and most carbon-intensive energy developments. Oil sands extraction has poisoned water, eliminated whole forests, and decimated traditional food sources for the Beaver Lake Cree people.
The $500 micro-grant will be donated directly toward RAVEN Trust, which is currently the only registered charity in Canada working with Indigenous Nations to defend their rights with access to the courts by raising legal defence funds.
Having the financial and moral support of the RAVEN community allows Nations to take on —and sustain — groundbreaking challenges through to victory.
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/raventrustorg
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/raven_trust/
Website → https://raventrust.com/
Twitter → https://twitter.com/RAVENtrust
]]>Project Goal: $500
#miikomomentum
The Hogan’s Alley Society is a non-profit organization composed of civil rights activists, business professionals, community organizations, artists, writers and academics committed to daylighting the presence of Black History in Vancouver and throughout BC.
Their current initiatives include mapping out the diverse experiences of people of African descent in Metro Vancouver, partnering with the city of Vancouver to deliver a 52-unit temporary modular housing unit on Hogan’s Alley Block, and establishing a Black Cultural Centre on the 898 Main St block.
Watch this short movie to learn more about the history of Hogan’s Alley:
The MVRD Black Experience Project: aims to begin mapping out the diverse experiences of people of African descent (Black) in Metro Vancouver. This project will begin to examine the experiences of people African descent in the MVRD with the objective to develop a better understanding of their historical contributions, challenges with integration, and their aspirations for the future as they attempt to make Vancouver their home.
The Nora Hendrix Place: The Hogan’s Alley Society is partnering with the Portland Hotel Society(PHS), the city of Vancouver and BC Housing to deliver a 52-unit temporary modular housing development on the Hogan’s Alley Block
The Black Cultural Centre: Under the approved North East False Creek plan Section 4.4 and 10.4, the City of Vancouver has indicated the intent to establish a Cultural Centre on the 898 Main Street block. The Cultural Centre is to be a focal point for the Black Community, with the programming to support community building through food, gathering and celebration, education and empowerment, art, music, dance and research and knowledge of Black Canadian history.
The $500 micro-grant will be donated directly toward the Hogan’s Alley Society, funding their current initiatives and ongoing projects within the Hogan’s Alley area of Vancouver, BC.
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/hogansalleysociety
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/hogans.alley/
Website → https://www.hogansalleysociety.org/
Twitter → https://twitter.com/hogans_alley
The Community Food Support is passionate about ensuring everyone has access to healthy food throughout the pandemic.
]]>Project Goal: $500
#miikomomentum
Hannah West represents the Community Food Support group, a local organization working to provide food to those affected by COVID-19. We were excited to learn more about this local group’s story and invite them to join the Momentum Project!
The Community Food Support is passionate about ensuring everyone has access to healthy food throughout the pandemic.
Community Food Support was formed several months ago in response to the challenges and financial strain COVID-19 created for many families and individuals. We decided to create the organization to remove the barriers that prevent access to food in our community.
I have personally seen the positive response citizens have to this program, with many recipients expressing how helpful this program has been during the current upheaval and uncertainty caused by COVID-19. I believe that the work the organization is performing is vital, due to the widespread food insecurity COVID-19 highlighted in our community.
Community Food Support is a local group of community members currently working to help nourish the citizens of Victoria by providing access to food for those in our community who are in need. In April, we created partnerships with the Food Distribution Warehouse, local grocery stores, gardens and farms to provide free food hampers to families, students and individuals who were facing barriers in securing adequate access to food.
From April onwards, we delivered up to 50-60 hampers per week, and over the last months, our volunteer organization has delivered almost 1000 hampers. This is a community response premised on mutual aid rather than charity.
Your donation to community food support would allow us to expand our capacity and provide more citizens with healthy food during the coming months. We would use your donation to buy non-perishable goods that grocery stores do not usually provide in their donations of food that is not fit for sale but safe for consumption as we understand that people rely on having access to these food staples.
To me and the other volunteers with community food support, momentum looks like the ability to fulfil all the requests for food we get every week rather than having to turn people away because we do not have capacity to meet the need for food in our community.
Facebook → Community Food Support
Instagram @communityfoodsupportvic
Website → Community Food Support
]]>Seagirl Abuson Lwanga is a 22 year-old refugee who arrived in Victoria, BC last year. Before moving to Canada, Seagirl was living for one year in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. Seagirl is passionate about raising awareness about the intense struggles of the LGBTQI+ refugee communities living in Kenya.
]]>Project Goal: $250
Start date: September 1, 2020
We spent time interviewing Seagirl and have put together this blog to help share her story.
Seagirl Abuson Lwanga is a 21 year-old refugee who arrived in Victoria, BC last year. Before moving to Canada, Seagirl was living for one year in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. She was forced to leave her home in Uganda at the age of 13, and has spent her life on the run from violent homophobia and fear for her life as a transgender person.
Seagirl is passionate about raising awareness about the intense struggles of the LGBTQI+ refugee communities living in Kenya. Since moving to Canada, she continues to support her community at the camp and send money for basic resources such as shelter, medication, and safety.
Kenya is the only country in the region to provide asylum to those fleeing persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. There are nearly 300 LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers living in Kakuma and some 1000 across Kenya. (See Resources below) Seagirl is concerned that the UNHCR has not been active in reaching out to the LGBTQI+ refugees, to make sure they are registered and that their needs are being assessed and addressed.
She believes that the NGOs are not doing a good job at distributing the money because the people who need the most help (non-binary, trans, and LGBTQI+ people) don’t know enough English to access the help (i.e. fill out forms) that is offered by the NGOs.
I helped organize the first-ever pride festival in Kenya and I lead the march as the only transgender person in the parade! News of this festival gained a lot of media presence - but it also was a major insecurity exposing the LGBTQI+ communities at the camp. The festival resulted in violent attacks toward the LGBTQI+ communities. (See Resources below)
I was able to come to Canada with the help of 7 friends who sponsored my case and the help of another friend named Robin. I am worried about the safety of my community and getting them the resources they need.
It is me, and my life story. There are moments in my life when I wished to have someone tell me, “Abuson everything will be OK”.
l am passionate to give our young LGBTQI+ community or younger generation a message that you can find love and support and meet people who have experienced what they are going though. l seek to show love and equality to those people who need it and try to reduce suicide in our young generation and help them to stay strong.
If you are a refugee from Uganda living in Kenya, it is automatically known you are gay because Kenya is the only country in the region to provide asylum to those fleeing persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. (See Resources below)
Currently, people seeking asylum are not allowed to work. They live on less than $10 a month and some have no recourse to public funds.
To become a refugee you must go to the UN agency and seek asylum, they have to confirm your case and help you find a settlement country. The UN is mandated to protect you but a lot of people die, commit suicide, or are murdered due to homophobic violence. The resettlement process for refugees living in Kenya is very long. This very long waiting process, sometimes 5+ years, results in very high suicide rates or death from homophobic violence in the community.
Structural inequality, systemic racism and the phobia against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, (LGBTQI+) individuals is deeply embedded within our society and public infrastructure. This can be seen in the exclusion faced by Black African LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum and resettlement because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. This is causing a tremendous toll on the mental health and quality of living of our LGBTQI+ community.
Your donation will help pay for food, more housing, medication, and hospital bills for our LGBTQI+ communities living in Kakuma refugee camp.
Soon we are looking forward to raise more money to help a lot of the LGBTQI+ community in Uganda and Kenya to access hormones. Having access to hormones costs $50/month and can make a huge difference for mental well-being and reduce homophobic violence.
I would like to build or create more safe houses in Kenya and Uganda. This would help a lot of LGBTQI+ members who have been rejected from their families or facing similar problems on the streets. Also, l am thinking I would like to help create workshops, for example in fashion, art and craft, English, and computer skills.
l am trying my best to look for support and connections to the people who are most concerned. I would love if l could do it alone but l am in a new country and l need to study and find a job. l was donating most my income but it will never be enough to support all the needs of LGBTQI+ community in Africa.
I am still experiencing homophobia in Canada, which is making it hard. I am now experiencing racism too, which is additionally painful. It is not only hard for me to find a job in Victoria but for my Black people too. I want to raise awareness for all Black lives.
Facebook → Lwanga Abuson
Instagram @seagirlabuson
→ Support Seagirl Supporting LGBTQI In Kenya, organized by Kori Doty