In the face of the ongoing colonial injustice of a housing crisis and traumatizing poverty, members of Mishkeegogamang and the CUPE 3903 First Nations Solidarity Working Group are organizing a drive for furniture, youth sports equipment, tools and building materials. A truck will make the 28 hour drive to bring the useful items from Toronto in May 2015. We will be fundraising in April and beginning of May 2015, and collecting donations in May 2015. This drive is a follow-up to their successful first Furniture Drive in December 2014.
Check it out on Facebook.
Please support this initiative: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/tools-and-furniture-drive-for-mishkeegogamang
Colonialism and Housing Crisis in Mishkeegogamang First Nation
Through a look at the housing situation in Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation, BASICS News explores what colonialism is like for the Ojibway people of “Mish” in these Treaty #3 territories.
Mishkeegogamang First Nation is an Ojibwa nation located 500km north of Thunder Bay. Like other northern communities struggling against colonial dispossession, Mishkeegogamang faces traumatizing poverty despite billions of dollars of resources being extracted from their territory by the gold mining industry. A Northwestern Health Unit report stated that as many as 21 people live under one roof, and it is not uncommon for people to sleep in shifts to assure everyone access to a bed.
In December 2014, CUPE 3903 First Nations Solidarity Working Group supported members of Mishkeegogamang in organizing a furniture and warm clothing drive. The initiative and working relationship was successful, but only reached a fraction of the community as the need is so significant. We are doing another drive with the same focus on furniture for sleeping. We are also responding to the feedback from the last drive in prioritizing youth sports equipment, tools and building materials.
Timeline
Throughout April and beginning of May 2015, we need to fundraise $4,500 to cover the costs of the fuel to drive the truck to Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation. $1,500 will go towards the costs of cargo van and storage unit rentals as we collect donations. To support, please check out and share widely our fundraising page: https://www.indiegogo.com/campaigns/furniture-drive-for-mishkeegogamang-ojibway-nation
Throughout May 2015, we will be collecting donations of youth sports equipment and activities, tools and building materials, beds, new mattresses (donated from businesses). Pick-ups of donations will be arranged through a form here at http://www.furnituredrivesolidarity.com
Please support!
https://www.indiegogo.com/campaigns/furniture-drive-for-mishkeegogamang-ojibway-nation
