FIRST NATION BUNK BED PROGRAM: REPORT FROM MISH

Reports from the community of Mishkeegogamang, ON (Mish) indicate that the first 50 beds are assembled and that by all accounts, “It's been a great experience.”

Karen Ward, FTC Canada First Nations Programs, reported that her team of young adults, most from the Mish Adventure Summer Program, have had a truly amazing time helping assemble beds and seeing the immediate impact it is having.

Parents are appreciative, perhaps overwhelmed by the generosity of the gift of bunk beds.  One young person commented, “Lots of people come up to Mish - but I've never seen anyone do anything like you are doing - giving us beds to make sure the kids have a place to sleep.” He said it's such a blessing for his people.

You can be a part of this work in the far North.  Your gift will go immediately to helping ensure children are not sleeping on a cold floor this winter. Click here to go to the Bunk Bed donation page or click the button below to make your donation immediately.

 

CHARACTER: HIGH SCHOOLS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

It used to be that the phrase, “a person of character”, inherently meant “good” character. As we look at more than a decade where our politicians, business leaders, sports stars and celebrities have drained the previous positive inference, out of the word character, a ray of hope is emerging ... from our high schools.

It is one thing to employ a tag-line or slogan that includes the idea of building character in our students of today, it is another to build and implement programs that both teach our children and put into practice the principles held forth.

Meadowvale High School and West Credit High School in Mississauga are achieving integrity in implementing such a vision, by partnering with several vendors in the city and with FTC Canada. Together we are building bunk beds to send to First Nations communities north of Sioux Lookout, where conditions for families are deficient.

According to the 2007 Child Health Summit, "Living conditions for First Nations people rank 63^rd in the world - comparable with developing countries - and one of the root causes of poor health in these communities."

A lack of proper sleep for children is detrimental to their development and health. Changes in sleeping habits can impair a child’s learning, memory and ability to concentrate. To try and address the problem of a serious shortage of adequate beds, FTC Canada has developed the First Nations Bunk Bed Program.  
 

This Christmas is the launch of a three-year program that FTC Canada has initiated with the support of major corporate partner, Vale.  The goal is to deliver at least 100 beds a year for three years to several First Nations communities.

“Our hope is to provide proper sleeping spaces for at least 600 children in these communities”, said FTC Canada’s First Nations Coordinator Karen Ward.

We have the support of many people, however, more beds need to be built, bedding and other supplies are still required and the product needs to be delivered to the Far North. We invite you to be a part of this vital project. 

Please CLICK HERE to help now!
  

NORTHERN ONTARIO: NEWS FROM MISH ADVENTURES

Up to 50 children a day arrive at the Mish Adventures home base by bus each day! And they arrive to a host of great activities; from swimming to volleyball and of course, eating food!

The weather in the North has been ideal; never too hot and never too cold!

A youth camp has been added to provide the older youth with activities that don’t include running over or into the smaller children! About 10 to 15 youth have participated and we have enjoyed afternoon canoe trips to explore the islands and games like Capture The Flag!

Swimming lessons are offered and of course we have the lifeguards to run “free swims”. This ensures not only essential skill development but a safe and fun waterfront for the children.

Because swimming is our #1 fun activity we hosted a Beach Day at the community beach half way between our home base and the main reserve. Most of the day was spent in the water of course! We added some volleyball and naturally some food! Lots of hot dogs roasted on an open fire! Of course everyone wants to have another Beach Day!

The staff get their recreation in the evening and the soccer and baseball games inevitably draw in members of the community who want to “hang out” and enjoy some fun with us.

The staff work hard and they share their care and concern for the children freely. Children here notice unconditional love maybe more so than children in other parts of Ontario and it impacts attitudes and is demonstrated in improved behaviour.

This is our last week here and already we are starting to regret the time when we have to pack up and head back to Southern Ontario.

FTC Canada would still welcome your gifts to help support this program. Please click here to go to the First Nations page.

GOOD NEWS ON FOOD DROP IN THUNDER BAY

Thunder Bay families that were in need of food support, received it on July 8, 2010 in the form of a Family Food Box from FTC Canada.

Details of the distribution were picked up by the local press who shone a spotlight on the good work of An Eagle's Cry Centre operated by Sky and Angie Hedricks. The Centre coordinated the event including distribution of coupons to families most desperately in need.

Please click on the following links to learn more about the local coverage:

Click here to read a report in the tbnewswatch.com

Click here to see Thunder Bay News coverage (video opens automatically)

FAMILY FOOD BOXES GO TO FAMILIES IN THUNDER BAY

An eager and terrific team of volunteers, some from An Eagle's Cry Centre (our host) and some from the FTC Canada Mish Adventure Camp Staff had the entire food box distribution ready to go a day before the actual event!

This included 350 family food boxes (approx. 22lbs each) and 350 hygiene boxes (personal essentials), food and cold drinks provided by the Centre, and games and crafts for the children. There turned out to be an added couple of bonuses for families picking up their boxes. Some families attending had no idea the Centre was open for them throughout the year. Families with small children were also able to help themselves to plenty of children's clothing.

Sky and Angie Hedricks, founders of the Centre were on hand to manage the intake process and to speak with families about the centre and its various programs. Each family had received a voucher which they exchanged for the boxes.

Families were genuinely appreciative of the support and excited to get this type of assistance when sometimes they were running short on food and supplies. Thunder Bay has an improving employment situation but many people are still living in low-income situations.

Our hope is that families in Thunder Bay will remember the generosity of An Eagles Cry Centre and turn to it whenever they find they are in need.

FAMILY FOOD BOX DISTRIBUTION: THUNDER BAY

Thursday July 8, 2010

Eagles Cry Life Centre in Thunder Bay is distributing 350 food boxes and 350 hygiene boxes to needy families in partnership with FTC Canada.

The distribution will take place at An Eagles Cry Life Centre on 100 Simpson Street in Thunder Bay, ON today (centre founder Sky Hedricks in photo). Volunteers and staff from Eagles Cry will hand out the food boxes (approx. 22 pounds) along with boxes of personal hygiene products.

FTC Canada partners with organizations and companies throughout Canada to provide food and supplies to those in need. Recipients are identified by local social service organizations and receive a food voucher which they redeem at the event. FTC Canada First Nations Camp team will run a children’s program during the event. FTC Canada runs summer camps in Mishkeegogamang and King Fisher Reserves.

MISH ADVENTURES 2010: LEADERS

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There are a high percentage of First Nations children and youth in most of the communities in Northern Ontario. In Mishkeegogamang we have had the privilege of meeting and spending time with several of them over the over the course of three years.

Lauren has been attending Mish Adventures every year since it started in 2007. He is one of the children committed to coming as often as he could. There was always a smile on his face and a desire to help out where he could. “I’m going to make different choices than the some of the youth I know” was one of the first things he said to us. Every summer, Lauren returns to camp and seems to be on a path to making some good choices.

When asked why FTC Canada to such invests in a children’s program in a community that is so far away, the answer that has most been appropriate is, “If the relationships we build with the people in the community changes the direction of even one person’s life, it is a good thing.” If that person chooses hope instead of despair, it was worth it.

Lauren has agreed to be a Junior Leader at Mish Adventures this summer. Helping him find the skills and talents he was born with and developing his leadership potential is an exciting adventure. Our goals at camp are:

• To meet the needs of the children;
• Give children a place to forget their sadness;
• Develop long-term relationships.
  

We hope to inspire young people to become leaders, in the camp program and in their community. We are excited about our forth summer in Mish. Goals are being met and the journey many of these children are on may, change transform and entire community’s outlook on the future.

Learn more about supporting a child at Mish Adventures: Click Here!