Northern Starfish

How to Look Good and Do Good At The Same Time.

May 5, 2013 By Wes Prankard

New T’s! 2 New designs/colours to choose from

We are extremely excited to announce a brand new way to support Northern Starfish and our mission to build a playgound in every Northern community that doesn’t have one.

For $25.00 (which includes shipping) you can help build playgrounds by purchasing one of two T-shirt designs.

Wes and his sisters sporting their new T’s at the Count Me In Conference 2013

The grey shirt has our cool new colourful logo on the front and is a geat conversation starter.
The Black shirt features “Northern Starfish” down the side in white. (Very cool)

Both styles come in small, medium, large and X-large

100% of all profits go to supporting the work of Northern Starfish.
Purchase yours today! Send a cheque or money order to:

Northern Starfish: 6283 Finlay Ave. Niagara Falls, ON L2G 4C4
Or – use the button below to purchase with PayPal:

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Filed Under: Featured, Featured Top-Left Tagged With: Attawapiskat, Northern Starfish, Playground, playgrounds, T-shirts, Wes Prankard

Why Playgrounds?!?

April 18, 2013 By Wes Prankard

I’ve had the opportunity to speak to a lot of schools and groups lately, and the one big question I seem to get asked a lot is: “Why Playgrounds?”

I guess I understand the question behind the question, but, the answer isn’t an easy one. Why build playgrounds in remote First Naions communities when there seem to be so many other “important” issues? Some of these issues include:

1) Lack of clean drinking water. 1 in 5 First Nations reserves do not have access to clean drinking water and/or are under a ‘water boil” advisory. There are organizations raising literally billions of dollars to provide clean drinking water to third world countries around the world, while First Nations here at home, suffer with illness and potential disease because of the quality of their water.

2) Education. First Nations students are underfunded between 2 and 4 thousand dollars a year (so in a class of 30, First Nations would receive aproximately $120,000 less every year than my class in Niagara Falls). It’s no wonder the education standards are 3 to 4 years behind non First Nations schools and the dropout rate is so high.

3) Housing. Overcrowding is a huge issue and one that caused Attawapiskat Ontario to declare a state of emergency last year. I visited a 3 bedroom home that had been condemend 4 years ago. The 19 family members were forced to stay in this home because there was no where else to live.

4) Healthcare. A First Nations lady in New Brunswick just won a year long court case trying to get the same level of care for her son as she would if she was off reserve and non-aboriginal. That’s insane! Thank God she won the case and her son can now be treated; but really – why in the world should she have to fight in court to get the same level of care as I would get?

These are just a few examples of some of the issues I am aware – and yes, I know – there are many, many more. So, back to the question. With so many BIG issues facing First Nations people, why are playgrounds important?

If you take a look at the four issues above, you may see a common denominator. In a city like Toronto, Vancouver or even my town of Niagara Falls, none of these issues would be acceptable. We, as Canadian citizens would demand our rights and force changes. So how is it that we continue to allow these sorts of things to continue for First Nations? I’ll leave that for you to answer, but, in that answer lies the answer to “why playgrounds”.

Where I live (Niagara Falls), there are 55 playrounds, 3 of which are in my neighborhood. I think that’s awesome! Anytime my friends and I want to do something, we head to the playground for a game of grounders. Growing up, my parents would always take us to the playground to just run around and have fun.

When obesity in Canadian children is reported at 30%, it just makes sense to encourage outdoor physical activity among children and youth. Other benefits include the development of social skills – in fact – many experts believe that the social skills learned on the playground benefits the country as a whole.

Children who play on a playground develop greater self-confidence and highe self esteem. And – playground play actually helps children’s brains develop as they “learn about the world through motor activities and sensory experiences”, according to the Shasta report.

Playgrounds are important. My city believes that – that’s why we have 55.

So – if playgrounds are important and we agree there are benefits to allowin children to play on playgrounds – how is it that so many First Nations reserves don’t have even one?

This is not about charity. With First Nations youth the fastest growing group in Canada; this is about justice.
I believe First Nations children should have access to clean drinking water.
I believe First Nations children should have access to equitable education.
I believe First Nations children should have access to equitable health care.

And – I believe that there should be at least one playround in every First Nations community

because that’s just fair.

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Filed Under: Attawapiskat, Featured, Featured Top-Right, Playground Tagged With: Attawapiskat, first nations, Northern Starfish, Playground, playgrounds, Shannen's Dream, Wes Prankard

Bad News and Good News

March 10, 2013 By Wes Prankard

Tomorrow is the beginning of March Break. Every year for the past 3 years, I have spent the first 24-48 hours camping out to raise
funds and awareness for some very important issues surrounding First Nations children. (poverty, homelessness, education and the lack of access to playgrounds).

This year, I am very sad to announce that we won’t be doing the campout. We tried a few different ideas to make it a huge deal, but none of them worked out and now we are out of time. So, that’s the bad news.

The good news is pretty good though.

We are right in the middle of a huge process to re-brand Northern Starfish with a whole new look. We are getting a new website as a part of this as well as T-shirts and all kinds of cool stuff that will help us to do more to raise positive awareness to the issues surrounding First Nations Children on and off reserve. All of this is made possible by the amazing generosity of a man who heard about Northern Starfish and the work we are doing and was inspired to use his talents to #DoSomething (if you follow me on Twitter you’ll know that’s a hashtag I use alot).
I can’t wait to show you all the stuff he’s been working on!

So – we’re doing that. As well, we are taking this time to really get organized and focused on the future. I saw a tweet today that said something like “Train for success like it’s a marathon, but run sprints too”. Since I was 11 years old and found out that there were people in Canada living in third-world conditions, we have been running sprints. I still don’t understand how in my community we have 55 playgrounds while there are many remote northern communities that don’t have even one.
I don’t understand how it is fair that I can go to the tap and pour myself a glass of water when there are families (2000 people in Attawapiskat for instance) that share one community tap - and still have to boil the water before it is safe to drink.
I don’t think it’s fair that I receive 3000-5000 more than a First Nations kid every year for my public education because of where I was born or what race my parents are. There are so many things that are not fair and I have been running to try to make a difference.

(ps. if you weren’t aware, right now, the government of Canada is facing charges of racial discrimination in a human rights tribunal. You can – and should – learn more about it here: http://www.fncaringsociety.ca/i-am-witness)

Instead of sprinting ahead into another campout and a playground build this summer as we had planned, we are stepping back and preparing for the marathon that I believe will see the end of prejudice in my lifetime.

With the help of my dad and some great mentors, we are taking this time to finally apply for our charity stastus. This is huge because, not only will it allow us to give receipts for donations, but it will also allow us to go after some grants. Our goal is to have our charity number this year and line up three playground builds on the James Bay coast next summer.
I am also right now taking this time to talk to businesses and foundations about supporting the vision to build a playground in every remote northern community that doesn’t have one. That way, once we become a registered charity, we will be able to use 100% of private donations to provide a safe place for kids to play. You will know that your money wasn’t used for travel or office stuff, but that every penny you give goes to bringing hope to kids who otherwise may never see a playground.

Next week I am speaking at Ryerson University, then at a couple of Toronto schools the week after that, then to a group of children’s pastors at their conference and then to 1500 kids at the Count Me In conference in Mississauga. I’m still running sprints but – I really do appreciate your support as we kind of take a step back and re-group to train for the marathon that sees justice win. I am so proud to be a part of making history with you all.

Wes

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Filed Under: Camp Out, Featured, Featured Top-Left, Playground Tagged With: Attawapiskat, Campout, education, First Nation, first nations, Northern Starfish, Playground, Schools, Wes Prankard, Wesley Prankard

There Is Only One Race – The Human Race – And This Is Our Revolution

November 24, 2012 By Wes Prankard

The last couple of months have been pretty insane and I am sorry for not updating this site recently.

The penny campaign is still going, so don’t worry if you haven’t been able to get your collection in yet. We’re a long way from the 1.5 billion pennies we need, so we really need your help to build 10 playgrounds and 2 foster homes. For more details, please read more here.

I had the amazing privilege of addressing the General Assembly of First Nations this summer and said something that I truly believe. “What I have been doing for the past 3 years is not charity. What I have been doing for the past 3 years is justice. It’s making something right that should have been right.”

First Nations children do not need or want our pity or our charity. Of course there are times when we need to do charitable acts, like bringing humanitarian aid to communities that desperately need help. In fact, that is how my journey began 3 years ago; by helping TrueNorthAid raise money and aid for the community of Attawapiskat. But what I believe First Nations communities need more than occasional emergency relief, is an end to the inequality that creates a need for emergency relief to communities in Canada.

I haven’t met anyone yet who has been able to explain to me how it is fair that a First Nations child receives thousands of dollars less in funding than me and my friends in Niagara Falls (and everywhere else in Canada) for education.

How is it fair that in Niagara Fall, we have 55 playgrounds, when so many First Nations kids have never even seen a playground?

Please explain to me why First Nations kids are not provided the same level of access or funding to decent healthcare.

And why is it, that even though there are more First Nations children in care right now than ever in the history of Canada that they receive less funding per child than non-aboriginal children?

If clean water is a right, then why is it that a majority of First Nations reserves can’t drink their water without boiling it first?

There are so many things like this that I don’t understand – or want to understand. All that matters is that we as Canadians stop this craziness.

When Claudette Colvin (a 15 year old African American) decided that she would not give up her seat on the bus because of the colour of her skin, she didn’t know she would be giving her teacher Rosa Parks the courage and inspiration to do the same. She din’t know that she would be starting a movement that would change the world. All she knew was that discrimination was wrong and she was not going to stand for it (literally).

Shannen Koostachin didn’t know that her dream of becoming a lawyer would mean she would be risking her life. But that is the reality for First Nations kids with a dream. In order to receive a level of education that was at least equivalent to the rest of Ontario’s students, she would have to leave her home and go to high school hundreds of miles away.
She didn’t know that speaking up for her right to an education and a proper school would launch the largest youth-led movement in Canada’s history. But it did.

It is time for a revolution in Canada.

I’m not sure a revolution is something you can plan for. A revolution begins with a spark. Claudette was the spark for the Civil Rights movement. Shannen is the spark for this new movement.

I see this movement being one that no longer recognizes the differences between First Nations and non-aboriginals. This is a revolution that will once and for all tear down the barriers that bring inequality and injustice. This is a movement that will not be politically based, but will keep our governments to the high standard of non-discrimination on any basis. This is not a right thing or a left thing – this is a right or wrong thing. This coming revolution will see the end of “us and them” and see only “we”.

There is only one race – the human race – and this is our revolution.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” Margaret Mead

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Filed Under: Attawapiskat, Featured, Featured Top-Right, Playground, Shannen's Dream Tagged With: Attawapiskat, education, First Nation, Leadership, Northern Starfish, Playground, Shannen's Dream, Wes Prankard

Back To The Future

June 21, 2012 By Wes Prankard

If I told you that there was a guy with no legs climbing a mountain, you’d probably say, “That’s impossible!”.

But right now, as I write this, my friend Spencer West, a man with no legs, has reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Impossible?

Ask Spencer.

What inspires me most about Spencer isn’t just that he’s got a great attitude and has helped thousands of people all over the world realize that they have the potential to change the world. As great as that is, what inspires me most about Spencer is that he has taken away every excuse I could possible think of.

I can’t ever say, “I’m too busy” or “it’s too hard” or “I’m only 13″.

Spencer West has Redifined Possible not just for himself, but for our entire generation.

Last week I went to Comic-Con for my friends’s birthday. It was a pretty awesome day, but something occurred to me when I saw the Delorean from Back to the Future.

Just imagine jumping into the Delorean and travelling back in time 100 years to visit your great-great-grandmother. What would she say if you told her that where you come from, she wouldn’t need a fire to cook dinner. In fact, she could put a plate of raw meat into a box, press a button and in 10 minutes the meat would be cooked and she could have dinner.

What would she say?

“That’s impossible!”

Let’s jump back in the Delorean and this time, let’s take it to 1950 to when my grandfather was my age. What if I told him that where I come from there’s this thing called an iPhone.

I would tell him that I can hold an iPhone in my hand and there are no wires attached to it. Instantly, I can talk to anyone in the world – and see them on my iPhone when I do. I can type a message on it to somebody in Australia and they will receive it instantly. I can also send a message that’s 140 characters and almost everyone in the world is able to read what I typed.

What would my grandfather say to that?

“That’s impossible!”

To them, microwaves and iPhones were impossible because they couldn’t even imagine them. If you think about it, how many impossible things do we take for granted every day? iPhones, Twitter, electricity, clean water, cars, skyscrapers… we are living in what used to be impossible. Like Spencer West, it is time for you and I to #redefinepossible . It is time to stop limiting ourselves and start imagining again.

I’ve been told (and others just smile and pat me on the head) that my goal of building 2 homes for foster families and 10 playgrounds on northern reserves is impossible.

I’ve been told that collecting 1.5 billion Canadian pennies is a great idea, but it’s impossible.

Do you know what I say to that? I’ll tell you.

Just like Spencer West, I’m about to #redefinpossible

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Filed Under: Featured, Featured Top-Left Tagged With: first nations, Foster Homes, Free The Children, impossible, Northern Starfish, playgrounds, Spencer West, Wes Prankard

Got Penny?

April 1, 2012 By Wes Prankard

As part of the new budget the government just announced, the Canadian penny will no longer be produced and will soon disappear from circulation. Before that happens, I would like to offer the penny one last heroic act of awesomeness.

The CBC reported that nobody knows how many pennies are out there, but in 2011 alone, there were 1,100,000,000 pennies produced. That is $1.1 billion dollars in pennies!!

Do you have any idea how much good can be done with that many pennies?

50,000,000 pennies will build 2 homes for foster families in Attawapiskat.

100,000,000 pennies will supply 10 remote communities with playgrounds.

That sounds like a lot of pennies, but think of it this way: all of the pennies are going back to be melted down and taken out of circulation. Way more than 150,000,000. More like billions of pennies that you and I will never see again. The last penny you spend on gum or whatever you spend pennies on, will be the last time that penny will ever be used. That’s sad.

UNLESS

Every time you and I find a penny in our pockets, on the ground or as change back from the store, we give that penny one last chance to be a hero. If enough of us commit to this Great Canadian Penny Drive, I believe that we can make a HUGE difference for First Nations kids this year; 2012 the penny’s last year.

10 playgrounds in 2012? Yes!

2 new homes in Attwapiskat? Yes!

Together, we can do this! Together, we can make a difference! Help me help the penny go out a hero.

Bring your pennies in to any TD Canada Trust
TD Canada Trust for Northern Starfish Acct: 151 5213225

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Filed Under: Attawapiskat, Featured, Featured Bottom, News Tagged With: Attawapiskat, Canadian Penny, First Nation, foster care, Northern Starfish, Payukotano, Playground, Wes Prankard

#Campout2012

March 27, 2012 By Wes Prankard

In a lot of ways, #Campout2012 was a great success. Our idea was to have 100 kids from across Canada campout for 50 hours raising awareness and funds to meet the housing needs in Attawapiskat, James Bay and eventually all reserves who are suffering through a housing crisis.

A huge thank you goes to the brave campers who joined me in Niagara Falls at Campark Resorts.
Sterling, Avery, Kai, Angel, and Juan. You guys are all heroes. Thank you for making a difference!

Our goal for this campout was to raise $500,000, enough to build 2 homes for foster families in Attawapiskat and around James Bay. You see, when children are place in care, because of the housing crisis, even if there are good, qualified care-givers, they don’t have the room to take kids in. Foster children are then sent away from their homes, away from their communities and away from everything they know. Usually it is hundreds of miles away.

I don’t think that’s fair. That’s why we camped out.

Right now we are about $494,000 short of our goal. So – we are extending the #campout2012 campaign to last the rest of the year. I’m very confident that we will meet our goal by the end of this year. When I promised to build a playground in Attawapiskat and won the $25,000 Pepsi Refresh grant, we were about $75,000 short of our goal. But I made a promise, and that was my biggest motivator. With the help of CRCS Recreation in Sudbury and people from all across Canada, I was able to keep that promise.

With your help and support, I have no doubt that I will be able to keep my promise of funding two homes in Attawapiskat this year.

Enjoy this slide show of our #camput2012 after party from Barnes Management Group.

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Filed Under: Attawapiskat, Camp Out, Featured, Featured Top-Left Tagged With: Attawapiskat, Attawapiskat. state of emergency, Campout, First Nation, Northern Starfish, Pepsi Refresh Project, Wes Prankard

Let’s Camp Out!

January 18, 2012 By Wes Prankard

Ok, so I know a lot of people have been waiting for this post. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting but we have a ton of details to pull together to make this happen.

This past October, the First Nations community of Attawapiskat declared a state of emergency. People were living in tents and shacks and winter was coming. Many of you donated non-perishable food, clothing, blankets and much needed winter survival items. Thank you! You made a difference.

Right now the government is sending 22 new homes to Attawapiskat. I am so happy that people all over the world have seen and heard about the conditions in Attawapiskat and many First Nations Reserves. I am happy that people care and want to make a difference.

When Chief Spence declared the state of emergency, I knew I had to do something. My friends were in trouble.
You can read all about my first ideas in the post: A State Of Emergency in Attawapiskat
I said in that post that we would raise $500,000 in this year’s Campout to help, but we really didn’t know how to begin helping. Do we build houses? Do we repair houses? Who’s house gets built or repaired? And what about all the other people that need homes?

So, we started talking, and asking and learning.

Here’s what I learned: The housing crisis in Attawapiskat, on James Bay, and in hundreds of other First Nations reserves affects everyone in the community – and especially the kids.

Sometimes, just like where I live, kids have to be moved from their family and into a foster home. The problem on many First Nation reserves is that there is no homes for these kids to go to, and so they are sent hundreds of miles away. Hundreds of miles away from their families and the support of their community.

On March 14th, I am camping out for 50 hours. I am looking for 100 people who will sponsor me for $1.00 for every hour I camp out.
I am also looking for 100 other kids (or adults) who will camp out with me or in their own community, each of them asking 100 people to sponsor them for $1.00 for every hour.

We need to build safe homes in Aboriginal communities, including homes for foster children.

Let’s help build safe houses, so foster children can stay close to home, where they need to be [or, where they belong]

Let’s help build homes so families can work together and heal

Whether you are a camper or a sponsor, together, we can build safe homes, and bring foster children back to their communities, where they belong. Families can then work together, to rehabilitate and heal.

Help us build safe and loving homes.

ATTENTION CAMPERS: if you are interested in joining me in the campout, sign up for information here:

Click Here To Be A Camper

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State of Emergency in Attawapiskat

November 26, 2011 By Wes Prankard

I just read a Tweet “Attawapiskat being compared to Haiti except it’s 40 degrees colder”

Below, I’ve pasted an article by my friend MP Charlie Angus.
Attawapiskat, is home to my friends (I even have a a few families that call me their southern son) and right now they need our help.

So there’s a couple of things I am thinking about.
My annual campout: For the past two years, I have camped out the first few days of March break to raise awareness and funds for Attawapiskat and other First Nation reserves. When there are families spending the entire winter in tents, the least I can do is spend a couple of days to help.
This year I want to do it BIG. I’m thinking maybe I can get kids camping out right accross Canada. See, I can raise maybe $5,000 on my own, but if I can get even 100 kids doing the same thing; thats half a million dollars to help Attawapiskat. The same amount the government has just promised to help fix some of the homes.
How awesome would it be if a bunch of kids were able to do more than the government?

Right now, there are a lot of people hearing about Attawapiskat for the first time. A lot of them (maybe you) are asking what they can do. Or – even better – they are starting to collect food, clothing and blankets and things to help the people. Right now, my parents and I are looking and talking to a bunch of organizations and will be posting a list and information about where to drop stuff off or where you can send money.
My dad was talking to Rosie (my friend Rob’s mom) Koosyachin. They live in Attawapiskat and do a lot to help the homeless and elders who don’t have much. She said that the most needed items are:
Warm blankets
Parkas
boots
heaters
flour
rice
non perishable food items

We are going to be updating pretty regularly. The best thing to do is watch our Facebook page http://facebook.com/northernstarfish or my Twitter http://twitter.com/northrnstarfish

Remember what I like to say: Think of an idea to change your world then put it into acton. Do something!
Now’s your chance.

Here’s the link to the Huffington Post Article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/11/24/attawapiskat-reserve-housing-funding_n_1112145.html?ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#undefined

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Hey Simcoe St. Stingers!

November 4, 2011 By Wes Prankard

I had an awesome time meeting you all today at your assembly!. I hope you had a great time too.
Thank you for caring so much about others to give. The money you collected in your classes came to almost $100! It will be used to help build the very next playground. Thank you!

I wanted to remind you that you can make a difference. Just like Collette Colvin, Craig Keilburber and Shannen Koostachin.

Maybe today because it’s Random Acts Of Kindness Day, it’s easier to think that you can “be the change”, but really, if you think about it and make every day Random Acts of Kindness Day, we could all change our world together.
Don’t you think?

Please remember to tak a minute and visit the website for Shannen’s Dream Learn about her and her dream of safe and comfy schools for all First Nations children. And please sign your name to support her dream as well.

Please come back often. I hope to see you all again soon.
Wes

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How to Look Good and Do Good At The Same Time.

Why Playgrounds?!?

Bad News and Good News

There Is Only One Race – The Human Race – And This Is Our Revolution

Back To The Future

Got Penny?

#Campout2012

Let’s Camp Out!

State of Emergency in Attawapiskat

Hey Simcoe St. Stingers!

Follow Me On The Web!

You Are Never Too Young To Make a Difference

Attawapiskat Playground Build August 2011

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