Local Indigenous Non-profit goes National selling over 10,000 Orange Shirts during their Relighting the Fire of Hope Campaign.

For Immediate Release: September 28, 2021

Local Indigenous Non-profit goes National selling over 10,000 Orange Shirts during their Relighting the Fire of Hope Campaign.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: TODAY ONLY 3:00PM in the outdoor courtyard of Covent Garden Market. Large pop-up tent selling our remaining T-shirts & brand new Orange hoodies launching today. Our Orange Shirt (make-shift) Warehouse and distribution centre is now closed. This is our final flash sales event – ONE DAY ONLY.

WHAT

Relighting the Fire of Hope is an initiative created to inspire awareness, action and change. We are relighting the fire of hope for all generations, past, present and future. It is our mission to inspire all people to support unity by taking personal action to help create a culturally safe community where all Indigenous peoples can thrive. Through traditional knowledge, language and land-based healing, it is our vision that Indigenous communities and youth of today feel hope, love, belonging and a strong sense of cultural identity so that they may live a balanced life and go on to inspire Mino Bimaadiziwin for future generations (to live the good life). This initiative has gone national. Shirts are being shipped all across Turtle Island (Canada and USA) and beyond. Since June, we have sold over 10,000 orange shirts. We are almost sold out.

“We are all experiencing a global collective awakening that began with the 215 children unearthed in Kamloops. It has grown to over 6,000 and people are listening. The paradigm is shifting. Those children are speaking to everyone. It is time for change. It’s time to end the violence and systemic racism for all people, all races and all colour.” Says Alana Lees, Director of Development at Atlohsa Family Healing Services.

Lees goes on to say “So how can people help? We start by taking action, one person at a time. Your single action matters. Your voice matters. We MUST keep the conversations going because awareness inspires action. It inspires compassion, understanding, and allyship. We need the voices of the non-Indigenous community to stand along side us with love and grace in their hearts. With patience and understanding. The indigenous community is such a small percentage of the population but together, we are Relighting the Fire of Hope.” 

ATLOHSA’S RELIGHTING THE FIRE OF HOPE SHIRT DESIGN

We are honoured to have artist and illustrator Hawlii Pichette collaborate and create this year’s beautiful orange shirt design. Visit orangeshirts.ca to learn more about Hawlii.

WHERE DO THE FUNDS RAISED GO?
Proceeds will go to support Atlohsa Family Healing Services’ Mino Bimaadiziwin program supporting children, youth and their caregivers who have experienced violence and unhealthy relationships in the home or community. Mino Bimaadiziwin is an Anishinaabemowin phrase meaning “to live the good life”. Rooted in the Medicine Wheel and Seven Grandfather Teachings, the program supports youth in building cultural identity, life skills and safety planning. We believe that honouring the voices of our children will help strengthen the entire family unit and ultimately the community. Mino Bimaadiziwin is offered at no cost to families and is facilitated year-round.

PLUS, each month leading up to Orange Shirt Day on Sept 30, 2021, Atlohsa Family Healing Services will donate $1 from the sale of each shirt to a group or organization who honour and celebrate the preservation of Indigenous knowledge, culture and language. We will be announcing those groups in the coming weeks.

OTHER WAYS COMMUNITY CAN TAKE ACTION

• Do the work and do some research. Do not lean on your Indigenous friends to advise you how to help or to explain the Indian Act or the 94 Calls to Actions. Just start doing. While some have explained that this is intimidating, embrace that emotion and push through it. You will feel so fulfilled when you come out the other side having learned something new. That is action.
• Follow Atlohsa and other Indigenous community advocates to help build your awareness and understanding. You will be inspired! That is action.
• Volunteer your trade, time or expertise. There are many local Indigenous community groups you can support. Check out atlohsa.com/volunteer for current opportunities. That is action.
• Support Indigenous artists, authors, musicians and businesses. That is action.
• Monetary Donations can be made directly to Atlohsa Family Healing Services atlohsa.com/donate

Atlohsa Family Healing Services is a non-profit, charitable organization, dedicated to strengthening community through Indigenous-led programs and services that offer holistic healing and wellness. Atlohsa has been serving individuals and families across Southwestern Ontario since 1986 providing low-barrier wraparound services to community members with complex needs, including mental wellness, substance use, homelessness, domestic violence, and trauma. We specialize in providing strengths-based healing and wellness supports, utilizing trauma-informed and harm reduction approaches.

CONTACT:

Alana Lees, Director of Development
Atlohsa Family Healing Services
T (519) 430-7582 |www.OrangeShirts.ca