Help Garnet Angeconeb purchase Accessible Van

I am setting up a fundraiser for my friend Garnet Angeconeb, who has been living with Kennedy’s disease for the past thirty years. Kennedy’s is a rare degenerative neurological disease that slowly takes away a person’s ability to walk, move, speak clearly, swallow, and even breathe. Garnet’s older brother, who died several years ago, also had Kennedy’s disease. It is genetic. Recently, the complications from Kennedy’s became such that Garnet had to be admitted to the Sioux Lookout hospital. To go out, including to enjoy visits with his family, see the outside world, and get essential medical treatment in town and other cities (like Thunder Bay and Winnipeg – 4 and 6 hours away), he needs to have his wheelchair-accessible van replaced. His family has located a second-hand adapted van that would cost approximately $40,000 (picture below). Despite lengthy searches, there appears to be no financial support for someone in Garnet’s situation.

Let me tell you about Garnet. A member of the Lac Seul First Nation in northern Ontario, he is a born leader who has influenced and helped shape public policy in Canada in his unique and determined way. As one of the first survivors of Indian Residential School to speak publicly about the abuse suffered by so many, Garnet channeled his pain and anger into a strong voice. For decades he has been an active spokesperson denouncing racism and calling for social justice, often when it was risky to do so. He has always spoken truth to power, even when others criticized him for “going public.”

Garnet has used his personal experience, comprehensive knowledge and exceptional communication skills to influence policy-makers. After residential school, he finished high school, studied and worked in journalism, became the first Indigenous municipal councillor in Sioux Lookout, was Executive Director of Wawatay Native Communications Society, and served on the board of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, among many other roles. Garnet is involved with the Survivors’ Circle at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

In 2012, I had the great privilege of collaborating with Garnet on an oral history project that resulted in a website with videos recounting parts of his life story. The website aims to educate and inform Canadians about the history and the effects of the Indian Residential School system: you can see it at garnetsjourney . The site is now managed by the Carleton University Center for Public History.

During all of the above, Garnet was either warding off or living with Kennedy’s disease, often not telling people about his health challenges. He has used a wheelchair for over 15 years. For the past two decades, his involvement in the public domain has been almost entirely volunteer – with little or no income. He has no workplace pension and his savings are limited. Despite that and his failing health - losing most muscular ability - Garnet has never stopped publicly fighting for others and for what he believes is right. An example of his courage and advocacy is reflected in this recent news article published on June 6, 2022. Garnet has always said that education brings understanding, and understanding brings peace – his vision for a shared future by all in Canada.

Garnet has received many awards for his work (including Member of the Order of Canada), but now he needs a different kind of support. And this is our request today – that people who value his many contributions over the years will support this cause, so Garnet can continue to live a good quality of life. All funds raised will go towards the purchase of a used accessible van for Garnet. His wife Margaret and I appreciate and are grateful for any donations you can make.

Thank you.