Support Elder Wanda Whitebird
Donation protected
Beloved Elder, community activist and leader Wanda Whitebird needs the support of the people that she has served for over 30 years with her traditional knowledge, compassion and love. Wanda is currently recovering from a major operation and requires rehabilitation over the coming months.
Wanda has been in Hospital since mid-January and has had to have surgery to relieve a serious issue impacting her mobility. Wanda is strong and healing well, but her stay in hospital and subsequent recovery will be lengthy. She needs rest and time to heal without stress and worry. Wanda's work involves community support and her income comes from that work. She had several events, meetings and projects booked to work on since mid January and has missed all of her work in February.
Wanda began her working career as a penitentiary liaison worker at Dorchester, Spring Hill, and West Moorland correctional facilities on the East Coast of Canada. In 1986 she moved to Ontario to continue her work in the prison system, working with Indigenous inmates. Wanda worked for Nishnawbe Health in Toronto for 13 years and was instrumental in starting the Traditional Healing Program, which has become a staple of the Toronto community. Wanda worked as an outreach worker for the Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy (OAHAS) for a number of years. In this role, Wanda spent her time outreaching, and bringing information to community members on the streets of Toronto, while embracing the philosophy of harm reduction (the ethic of non-interference). Traditionally, Wanda has been conducting the annual valentine’s day strawberry ceremony in honour of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Toronto Ontario for 14 years. She supports communities in discussions related to sexual violence, exploitation and human trafficking, bringing awareness and understanding to this important issue impacting Indigenous communities. Wanda is a ceremonial elder, a pipe carrier and sweat conductor; currently conducting sweats for women and youth at Niijkiwendidaa Anishnabekwewag Services Circle in the Peterborough area, and youth correctional facilities in Toronto.
We are asking the community across Ontario that Wanda has served tirelessly to come together to support her,. We need her strong and healthy so that she can continue to work with our community, provide traditional support and compassion to some of the most vulnerable people in the city.
March 1st is coming fast and it is our hope that we will come together to support this beautiful elder as we are intended to do as Indigenous peoples.
We are asking for costs for the following: RENT, BILLS and DAILY LIVING.
Let us show this wonderful, important and BEAUTIFUL Elder our love and compassion as a community that values her.
Update- Migwetch to everyone who is donating to Wanda! At this point we have raised enough funds for one month of rent and bills to be covered The goal of $6,000 is to support three months of rent and bills for Wanda while she recovers. Money will sent directly to Wanda beginning this week by email money transfer and continue to flow to her until the goal amount is reached. Wanda is thankful for the support of the community.
It is also our plan to do a few fundraising events in Toronto over the next weeks so please stay tuned!
UPDATE - We have passed our original goal of $6,000 for our Elder Wanda Whitebird! We have provided her with three months of Rent and Bills to keep her stress free while she heals and recovers. Wanda is so thankful and in awe of the support she has received from the community.
We have added one additional month of rent and bills to the fundraiser, to ensure that Wanda is able to heal and be absolutely 100% for us, stress free from the worry of money.
We will be posting about an additional fundraiser on April 20th that will be happening to end off the campaign to support Wanda.
Chi Migwetch
Wanda has been in Hospital since mid-January and has had to have surgery to relieve a serious issue impacting her mobility. Wanda is strong and healing well, but her stay in hospital and subsequent recovery will be lengthy. She needs rest and time to heal without stress and worry. Wanda's work involves community support and her income comes from that work. She had several events, meetings and projects booked to work on since mid January and has missed all of her work in February.
Wanda began her working career as a penitentiary liaison worker at Dorchester, Spring Hill, and West Moorland correctional facilities on the East Coast of Canada. In 1986 she moved to Ontario to continue her work in the prison system, working with Indigenous inmates. Wanda worked for Nishnawbe Health in Toronto for 13 years and was instrumental in starting the Traditional Healing Program, which has become a staple of the Toronto community. Wanda worked as an outreach worker for the Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy (OAHAS) for a number of years. In this role, Wanda spent her time outreaching, and bringing information to community members on the streets of Toronto, while embracing the philosophy of harm reduction (the ethic of non-interference). Traditionally, Wanda has been conducting the annual valentine’s day strawberry ceremony in honour of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Toronto Ontario for 14 years. She supports communities in discussions related to sexual violence, exploitation and human trafficking, bringing awareness and understanding to this important issue impacting Indigenous communities. Wanda is a ceremonial elder, a pipe carrier and sweat conductor; currently conducting sweats for women and youth at Niijkiwendidaa Anishnabekwewag Services Circle in the Peterborough area, and youth correctional facilities in Toronto.
We are asking the community across Ontario that Wanda has served tirelessly to come together to support her,. We need her strong and healthy so that she can continue to work with our community, provide traditional support and compassion to some of the most vulnerable people in the city.
March 1st is coming fast and it is our hope that we will come together to support this beautiful elder as we are intended to do as Indigenous peoples.
We are asking for costs for the following: RENT, BILLS and DAILY LIVING.
Let us show this wonderful, important and BEAUTIFUL Elder our love and compassion as a community that values her.
Update- Migwetch to everyone who is donating to Wanda! At this point we have raised enough funds for one month of rent and bills to be covered The goal of $6,000 is to support three months of rent and bills for Wanda while she recovers. Money will sent directly to Wanda beginning this week by email money transfer and continue to flow to her until the goal amount is reached. Wanda is thankful for the support of the community.
It is also our plan to do a few fundraising events in Toronto over the next weeks so please stay tuned!
UPDATE - We have passed our original goal of $6,000 for our Elder Wanda Whitebird! We have provided her with three months of Rent and Bills to keep her stress free while she heals and recovers. Wanda is so thankful and in awe of the support she has received from the community.
We have added one additional month of rent and bills to the fundraiser, to ensure that Wanda is able to heal and be absolutely 100% for us, stress free from the worry of money.
We will be posting about an additional fundraiser on April 20th that will be happening to end off the campaign to support Wanda.
Chi Migwetch
Organizer
Laurie Hermiston
Organizer
Toronto, ON