Help Build a Tiny Home for Indigenous Elder!
Donation protected
Hello, my name Aaron and I am raising funds to build a small, simple home on family land for my Mom, Vivian- an Indigenous elder (enrolled Séliš/Ktunaxa/Qlispé), fine artist, grandmother, sister, and the glue that keeps our family connected!
As a single parent, my Mom always situated herself in the background, while placing first her community, me and my brother, and later her grandchildren. Now, at 76, she's in her Golden Years and deserves to have a place to call her own, a little space to focus on oil painting, gardening- a permanent home where she can live in safety, and security next to family.
Vivian retired just last year after working for the past 55+ years- many of which were in graphic design, working for a multi-billion dollar company based in Los Angeles. A company who, ultimately, didn't value her, and subjected her to ongoing racism, ableism, misogyny, and classism. She has no retirement, pension, 401k, etc., has student debt, and is living only on social security- which, alone, are poverty wages.
Due to the exacerbating effects of covid, coupled with a pre-existing lack of willingness on the part of the banks to loan for reasons they won't explain or be clear about, it has become an impossibility to secure financing via 'traditional' routes. Despite having excellent credit, long credit histories, and all the other things in place that are recommended, it is not an option. This is why we're here asking for help from any and all who will toss some love and support in the form of money into the pot...so my hard working Mom can finally take an honest break, pick up her paintbrush, and lose herself in the delight of all the things she loves most.
Currently building materials are at a much higher price than they were pre-pandemic. The prices have been fluctuating quite a bit over the past year and a half and it is with that in mind that we decided to make our goal a big one- $90,000. We are fairly confident that the cost of construction (permits, materials, labor) won't exceed that, and any funds that are not used for construction will be allocated to reducing, if not eliminating my Mom's student debt. So that's it. That's where it'll all go towards.
The land where we plan to build a small home for her is the same land that I and my family will be living on. It is land that is a part of our greater ancestral territories and is, as a matter of historical fact, our land as Salishan people. This is a homecoming. Many thanks for reading and supporting. Anything helps and please feel encouraged to boost this signal and spread the word. Lemlmtš!
As a single parent, my Mom always situated herself in the background, while placing first her community, me and my brother, and later her grandchildren. Now, at 76, she's in her Golden Years and deserves to have a place to call her own, a little space to focus on oil painting, gardening- a permanent home where she can live in safety, and security next to family.
Vivian retired just last year after working for the past 55+ years- many of which were in graphic design, working for a multi-billion dollar company based in Los Angeles. A company who, ultimately, didn't value her, and subjected her to ongoing racism, ableism, misogyny, and classism. She has no retirement, pension, 401k, etc., has student debt, and is living only on social security- which, alone, are poverty wages.
Due to the exacerbating effects of covid, coupled with a pre-existing lack of willingness on the part of the banks to loan for reasons they won't explain or be clear about, it has become an impossibility to secure financing via 'traditional' routes. Despite having excellent credit, long credit histories, and all the other things in place that are recommended, it is not an option. This is why we're here asking for help from any and all who will toss some love and support in the form of money into the pot...so my hard working Mom can finally take an honest break, pick up her paintbrush, and lose herself in the delight of all the things she loves most.
Currently building materials are at a much higher price than they were pre-pandemic. The prices have been fluctuating quite a bit over the past year and a half and it is with that in mind that we decided to make our goal a big one- $90,000. We are fairly confident that the cost of construction (permits, materials, labor) won't exceed that, and any funds that are not used for construction will be allocated to reducing, if not eliminating my Mom's student debt. So that's it. That's where it'll all go towards.
The land where we plan to build a small home for her is the same land that I and my family will be living on. It is land that is a part of our greater ancestral territories and is, as a matter of historical fact, our land as Salishan people. This is a homecoming. Many thanks for reading and supporting. Anything helps and please feel encouraged to boost this signal and spread the word. Lemlmtš!
Fundraising team: Ruby & Aaron (2)
Aaron Hall
Organiser
Port Hadlock, WA
Jessica Ellis
Beneficiary
Ruby Ellis
Team member
