AAMB Clothing Drive to Benefit the Attawapiskat First Nation

The AAMB Professional Development and Employment Program and its participants are working on a community project that will benefit the impoverished Attawapiskat First Nation located in Northern Ontario. This community project involves utilizing the skills they have been learning in the course and applying it to help the Attawapiskat (or “People of the Parting Rocks”) this winter.

The nine students that are participating in the program are taught by Linda Lalonde, who is teaching them very practical professional skills. These skills encompass everything an individual must know in order to find a job and career. From resume writing, networking, and presentations, these students will leave this course with the confidence they need to locate and establish themselves in a career.

The Attawapiskat community project these students are working on is both philanthropic and a good test on the skills they have learned thus far in the program. Some of the key elements of the program that students have been using for this project include mind mapping, macro planning, and networking. Tremendous effort has been put forth in order to promote awareness of the need for donating, collecting, and organizing goods.

The project was initially supposed to be run for the span of a month, but has since been reduced to 2 weeks because of the time we are at in the winter season. The cold of winter requires that goods such as blankets, hats, gloves, jackets, and other warm clothes and linen be collected and delivered promptly. However, the location of the Attawapiskat territory is located at the mouth of the Attawapiskat River and James Bay and must be delivered by truck, train, and then plane in order for it to reach the people.

The location of the territory and its secluded characteristics will make delivery of these items difficult as it has made living conditions there so costly. People take for granted the accessibility of everyday food and hygienic products. Here in Akwesasne, we can go down the road to the store and get milk, bread and eggs and be back home in 10 minutes. For the people in Attawapiskat, they must pre-order all their necessities and pick it up at the airport at inflated prices. For example, 6 apples and 4 bottles of juice cost around $23.50.

Fortunately, the Professional Development and Employment Program participants as well as the Akwesasne, Kahnawake and Ohsweken communities are working in collaboration to help the Attawapiskat people receive warm clothes and hygienic products this winter. The 2-week deadline will occur this Friday and all goods will be shipped shortly thereafter.