
Help Janelle Travel Home
Donation protected
kiʔsuk kyukyit!
For those who may not know me, I'm Smokii Sumac, and I met Janelle over 10 years ago while we were both students at SFU. We've been close friends ever since, and as our relationship has grown, we've both continued our journeys to reconnecting to ourselves, and our communities, nations and ceremonies.
For those that know Janelle, you know that she is a beautiful and powerful Nisga'a woman who takes no shit and never lets anything break her down. Her strength is unlike anything I've ever witnessed, however, we (Janelle's kin) also know that far too often she will drop everything for everyone else, and rarely asks anything in return. While this is so much a part of her gift, it's time for Janelle to ask for some help.
I've started this gofundme to support Janelle in a healing journey home. For those of us in academia, we know how colonial institutions take and take and take from us. Janelle found herself in burnout earlier this year, and with the pandemic, some difficult experiences, and moving (multiple times in the past 2 years), she has taken stress leave from her job at McGill. While, in a perfect world, McGill would be paying for this trip home for all the work she's done for them, but as of right now, her pay cheque needs to continue to go to paying her rent and other expenses.
After the most recent events that tried to take Janelle away from herself, yet again, her kin have asked her about different ways we can help. Between us and her, a plan has come up to travel cross-country from Montreal back to her home (near Terrace, BC). The funds will cover getting her car back on the road (it has been parked for a year, and there are insurance and maintenance costs), as well as ensuring she will have everything she needs in her travels-from food and lodging, to CAA, we are going to make sure she's covered.
As Indigenous people, the most important thing we can do in this life is connect to our ancestors and homelands. Janelle is being called to her home to practice the ways that her people have for thousands of years. Let's help her on this journey, so that she can get filled up and continue the incredible and inspiring work all who know her have witnessed her do.
For those who don't know her, but perhaps have found this page through a connection, any support is appreciated, and know that your donation will go towards helping a healer in her own right. We cannot fill others up from an empty cup, and I know that this trip will empower Janelle to be able to continue to pick up and honour the tools and responsibilities she has been given.
In many cultures, wealth is illustrated by what you give away. Janelle is a very wealthy person in that regard, and by giving to her, we continue that cycle, not only helping one individual, but also continuing to reject colonial forms of capitalism, wealth, and property. In our communities, as I've been taught, we are supposed to make sure that everyone has everything we need. Any amount gifted here will help, and if you cannot donate please share and spread the word.
Let's help her get home.
-Smokii Sumac
a note: if you'd prefer to donate directly to Janelle you can etransfer to [email redacted]
For those who may not know me, I'm Smokii Sumac, and I met Janelle over 10 years ago while we were both students at SFU. We've been close friends ever since, and as our relationship has grown, we've both continued our journeys to reconnecting to ourselves, and our communities, nations and ceremonies.
For those that know Janelle, you know that she is a beautiful and powerful Nisga'a woman who takes no shit and never lets anything break her down. Her strength is unlike anything I've ever witnessed, however, we (Janelle's kin) also know that far too often she will drop everything for everyone else, and rarely asks anything in return. While this is so much a part of her gift, it's time for Janelle to ask for some help.
I've started this gofundme to support Janelle in a healing journey home. For those of us in academia, we know how colonial institutions take and take and take from us. Janelle found herself in burnout earlier this year, and with the pandemic, some difficult experiences, and moving (multiple times in the past 2 years), she has taken stress leave from her job at McGill. While, in a perfect world, McGill would be paying for this trip home for all the work she's done for them, but as of right now, her pay cheque needs to continue to go to paying her rent and other expenses.
After the most recent events that tried to take Janelle away from herself, yet again, her kin have asked her about different ways we can help. Between us and her, a plan has come up to travel cross-country from Montreal back to her home (near Terrace, BC). The funds will cover getting her car back on the road (it has been parked for a year, and there are insurance and maintenance costs), as well as ensuring she will have everything she needs in her travels-from food and lodging, to CAA, we are going to make sure she's covered.
As Indigenous people, the most important thing we can do in this life is connect to our ancestors and homelands. Janelle is being called to her home to practice the ways that her people have for thousands of years. Let's help her on this journey, so that she can get filled up and continue the incredible and inspiring work all who know her have witnessed her do.
For those who don't know her, but perhaps have found this page through a connection, any support is appreciated, and know that your donation will go towards helping a healer in her own right. We cannot fill others up from an empty cup, and I know that this trip will empower Janelle to be able to continue to pick up and honour the tools and responsibilities she has been given.
In many cultures, wealth is illustrated by what you give away. Janelle is a very wealthy person in that regard, and by giving to her, we continue that cycle, not only helping one individual, but also continuing to reject colonial forms of capitalism, wealth, and property. In our communities, as I've been taught, we are supposed to make sure that everyone has everything we need. Any amount gifted here will help, and if you cannot donate please share and spread the word.
Let's help her get home.
-Smokii Sumac
a note: if you'd prefer to donate directly to Janelle you can etransfer to [email redacted]
Organizer and beneficiary
Smokii Sumac
Organizer
Kimberley, BC
Janelle Kasperski
Beneficiary