Let's Camp Out!

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.