Help Thunder Bay youth fight racism in COVID-19
Donation protected
Thunder Bay’s tragic and recent history of the deaths of 7 First Nations high school students from remote communities has been told in Tanya Talaga’s riveting book, “Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City.” Much more has been and will be written as Thunder Bay struggles. Many people are joining the fight against systemic and individual acts of racism, and so we read, go on marches, paint amazing murals and we post words of support. But money for good grassroots programs is also necessary – please read on and give to the Regional Multicultural Youth Council (RMYC) of Thunder Bay!
The Regional Multicultural Youth Council (RMYC) in Thunder Bay, Ontario is a grassroots group of youth and staff who have, for decades, been getting indigenous and non-indigenous high-school students together to fight racism. But they are struggling during COVID-19, even moreso than before, to keep their programs running. They have gone online to talk and plan. They managed to deliver 200 meals a week in April and May to high school kids and their families and to distribute donated rice for local youth, other non-profits and northern First Nations. They’ve even been running a greenhouse during COVID to improve food security. Indigenous and non-indigenous students alike have been helped by RMYC. As Bethany Koostachin said “it tells us that we’re not alone in our struggles and our suffering”. The Globe and Mail ran a great story about RMYC on July 11 https://www-theglobeandmail-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/canada/article-thunder-bay-indigenous-and-non-indigenous-teens-adapt-mentorship/
and I was moved. So I got in touch with Moffat Makuto, who works at RYMC and has been an ally for the teens of the RMYC for decades, to see if I could help from Toronto. And the whole crew at RYMC are behind this Go Fund Me page. Every dollar will help and they need it to keep going.
The Regional Multicultural Youth Council (RMYC) in Thunder Bay, Ontario is a grassroots group of youth and staff who have, for decades, been getting indigenous and non-indigenous high-school students together to fight racism. But they are struggling during COVID-19, even moreso than before, to keep their programs running. They have gone online to talk and plan. They managed to deliver 200 meals a week in April and May to high school kids and their families and to distribute donated rice for local youth, other non-profits and northern First Nations. They’ve even been running a greenhouse during COVID to improve food security. Indigenous and non-indigenous students alike have been helped by RMYC. As Bethany Koostachin said “it tells us that we’re not alone in our struggles and our suffering”. The Globe and Mail ran a great story about RMYC on July 11 https://www-theglobeandmail-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/canada/article-thunder-bay-indigenous-and-non-indigenous-teens-adapt-mentorship/
and I was moved. So I got in touch with Moffat Makuto, who works at RYMC and has been an ally for the teens of the RMYC for decades, to see if I could help from Toronto. And the whole crew at RYMC are behind this Go Fund Me page. Every dollar will help and they need it to keep going.
Organizer and beneficiary
Nancy Kleer
Organizer
Toronto, ON
Moffat Makuto
Beneficiary