True North Aid
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We're dedicated to providing practical humanitarian support to northern and remote Indigenous communities in Canada.
As a Canadian registered charity, our mandate is to provide practical humanitarian assistance through initiatives established on eight foundational stones of support. These include self-determination, reconciliation, water, food, health, housing, culture and education. Many Indigenous peoples who live in the most remote regions of the country experience an extreme lack of access to essential and affordable resources. In addition, Indigenous peoples experience ongoing negative impacts of forced assimilation, restrictive policies, and displacement. Examples include residential schools, intergenerational trauma and many other policies under the Indian Act 1876. Therefore, Indigenous peoples in Canada face striking inequities in health and wellness outcomes, education, food, economic sovereignty and housing security, particularly those living in northern and remote communities. True North Aid believes that Indigenous self-governance and self-determination are key to addressing these inequities and empowering Indigenous peoples to build a brighter future.
Looking for a way to honour Truth and Reconciliation Day in your community?
September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to honour Survivors, remember the children who never returned home, and recognize the ongoing impacts of the residential school system.
Across Canada, communities are coming together through gatherings, ceremonies, walks, educational programs, art, music, and opportunities to learn and reflect.
We’ve put together a list of Truth and Reconciliation Day events happening across every province and territory, along with an online event for those who are unable to attend something in person.
For event links and more information, head to: https://truenorthaid.ca/project/truth-and-reconciliation-events-2026
09/22/2026
Welcoming Dagwaagi
September 22 marks the arrival of autumn, known in Anishinaabemowin as Dagwaagi, or “It is fall.”
The arrival of this season brings a shift in the land around us.
The days become shorter, the air grows cooler, and the colours of the landscape begin to change.
For many Indigenous communities and traditions, this transition is also an opportunity to pause and recognize the balance that comes with the changing seasons.
Autumn is a time for gathering, preparing, and giving thanks... It is a season to collect what the land has provided, including foods and medicines, while remembering the responsibility that comes with receiving those gifts.
What is gathered is treated with care, gratitude, and respect, with an understanding that nothing should be taken or wasted without purpose!
Dagwaagi is also associated with the western direction on the medicine wheel, a place connected with reflection, maturity, and the knowledge gained through lived experience.
As we move into a new season, the changing landscape offers a reminder that change is part of life.
It invites us to reflect on what we have received, appreciate the abundance around us, and consider how we can care for ourselves, one another, and the land through the months ahead.
May this season be a time of gratitude, reflection, and preparation.
09/21/2026
LEGO Replay is here to stay at True North Aid!
We’re excited to continue LEGO Replay as an ongoing True North Aid program, made possible through our collaboration with LEGO.
Through LEGO Replay, used LEGO bricks are collected, cleaned, sorted, and given a second life. At True North Aid, we help bring these LEGO bricks to children and communities across northern and remote regions, creating opportunities for creativity, play, and connection.
Applications for the program will open quarterly throughout the year, making it easier for communities to access LEGO Replay on an ongoing basis.
Applications for 2027 are coming soon! Stay tuned to our website and social media for application dates and more information.
Learn more about LEGO Replay at: https://truenorthaid.ca/project/lego-replay/
09/18/2026
Across Canada, 54% of First Nations students leave their home communities to attend secondary or post-secondary school. For many young people, this can mean being separated from family, culture, language, and the support networks that help them feel connected to home.
Access to education should not come at the cost of community connection.
This Truth and Reconciliation Month, we're reflecting on the importance of equitable, community-based education and the role we all have in supporting opportunities that allow Indigenous children and youth to learn while staying connected to their communities and culture.
At True North Aid, education initiatives are shaped by the needs identified by communities themselves.
From school supplies and books to educational opportunities and literacy programs, your support can help provide resources that make learning more accessible for students in northern and remote Indigenous communities.
This month, help support education that strengthens opportunity, connection, and community. Donate to education resources today: https://truenorthaid.ca/stones-of-support/education/
This summer, True North Aid supported four students in attending Summer Music Camp in Saskatchewan, where they spent a week learning music, meeting new people, and exploring new experiences.
From daily music classes and evening performances to canoeing, swimming, and sharing meals with other youth, the week gave them the opportunity to step outside their everyday surroundings and discover what was possible through music.
We're proud to support opportunities that help Indigenous youth build confidence, discover new interests, and connect with others.
Read the full impact story on our website to learn more about their experience at Manigo Music Camp: https://truenorthaid.ca/project/manigo-music-camp/
09/10/2026
Our Community Growth Fund applications are now open!
The True North Aid Community Initiatives Program supports Indigenous-led projects in northern and remote communities across Canada that create positive, lasting, community-centred change.
From education and cultural revitalization to food sovereignty, holistic well-being, and access to essential resources, the Community Growth Fund helps support projects shaped by the priorities, knowledge, and strengths of each community.
We believe Indigenous self-determination and self-governance are essential to creating meaningful and sustainable change!
Through the Community Initiatives Program, communities can access funding and capacity-building opportunities to help bring their ideas to life.
Applications are open until October 9, 2026.
Learn more about the Community Growth Fund, eligibility, focus areas, and how to apply at: https://truenorthaid.ca/project/community-initiatives/
A big thank you to Islamic Relief Canada for extending their established backpack program to include a donation of 200 fully stocked backpacks to True North Aid's Back to School program.
This generous donation has already reached a remote community so students can be ready for back to school.
We truly appreciate their partnership and look forward to working together further.
09/07/2026
Today, we recognize the contributions of workers and communities across Canada.
Labour Day is an opportunity to reflect on the many people whose dedication, skills, and hard work help build stronger communities every day.
At True North Aid, we’re grateful for the people, partners, volunteers, and community members who continue to show up, lend a hand, and make a difference in northern and remote Indigenous communities.
Thank you for the work you do and the communities you help strengthen. ❤️
09/03/2026
What does reconciliation mean to you?
Hope. Healing. Justice. Understanding. Listening. Learning. Action.
Reconciliation can hold many different meanings, and each person may approach it from a different place. For some, it may be about learning the truth of Canada’s history.
For others, it may mean honouring Indigenous voices, rebuilding relationships, creating space for healing, or taking meaningful action toward a more respectful future.
There is no single word that can define reconciliation. But every reflection can be part of a larger conversation.
As we continue through Truth and Reconciliation Month, we invite you to pause and reflect:
What is one word you associate with reconciliation?
Share your word in the comments and, if you’d like, tell us why you chose it.
Let’s learn from one another and continue the conversation together.
09/01/2026
As we enter Truth and Reconciliation Month, we take time to reflect on the history, experiences, and ongoing realities of Indigenous Peoples across Canada.
Truth and Reconciliation calls on all of us to learn from the past, listen to Indigenous voices, and consider how we can contribute to a future built on respect, understanding, and meaningful relationships.
Throughout this month, we’ll be sharing stories, resources, and opportunities to learn more about reconciliation and the work that continues beyond September 30.
Reconciliation is not a single day. It is an ongoing commitment to learning, listening, and taking action.
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PO Box 1274 RPO Lakeshore West
Kitchener, ON
L6K0B3