Indigenous Land Back Camp GoFundMe page receives triple its initial goal

In just a few days of launching, the GoFundMe campaign in support of the Indigenous Land Back Camp in Victoria Park has tripled its initial goal of $8,000. At the time of writing, the fundraiser has brought in $25,000.

Organizers plan on using the money to not only support the camp, but introduce educational programming for Indigenous youth about their culture, from ceremonies to cuisine. The group has been caring for a number of youth that have chosen to join them at the camp.

Co-organizer Terre Chartrand of the Algonquin Nation says they also plan to bring in members of the Indigenous community to share their knowledge and compensate them for their time.

There are even plans to set up a traditional sweat lodge⁠—a practice that can be somewhat linked to a cleansing⁠—which requires a ceremony conductor and a fire keeper. 

“And the ability to pay an honorarium, that's really what we want to do; we want to support our community; we want to hire artists; we also want to be able to hire the youth for the work they've already done.”

Co-organizer Amy Smoke of the Mohawk Nation Turtle Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River says their volunteer night watch crew deserved compensation for all their hard work.

“They don't get paid for that⁠—we feed them; we take care of them; we help to guide them and reconnect back to their identities and stuff, but that's a job and an important job, and one that should be compensated fairly,” Smoke said.

The two are thankful to people who have brought food donations, but are asking people to donate to the GoFundMe instead. Donuts and pastries are nice, but are not what would be considered a healthy diet. Donations of fire wood and ice are always welcomed.

The camp also serves as a safe space for Indigenous members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially for two-spirit youth. Smoke notes that none of the Indigenous organizations in town offer a two-spirit circle; a practice they want to bring back. Both Smoke and Chartrand identify as two-spirit themselves.

“Two-spirit folks have existed since the beginning of time, and unfortunately church teachings and the missionary works really pushed that underground,” Smoke said. The group is also putting the call out for other Indigenous people to join them, and not to worry about whether or not they are Indigenous enough.

“Some people have been told they're not native enough; some people have been told they're whiter than they should be; it's just so many things that we've been shamed into thinking and that makes it difficult even to approach sometimes,” she said.

Chartrand emphasized that the occupation camp was an Indigenous space for Indigenous people to reclaim and reconnect with their culture. People outside the community should not be coming to them for cultural enrichment, but should go explore their own background for that.

“There's no such thing as just being white or just being Canadian. There is so much more. Everyone comes from somewhere and their family stories are phenomenal, so find that wealth and celebrate it, and learn how to celebrate that in your own ways. Our culture is for us.”

The Land Back Camp has been set up in a small portion of Victoria Park since June 20, National Indigenous Peoples Day. The camp is their way of exercising their treaty rights to occupy public land for cultural use, but also highlight the lack of Indigenous spaces within Waterloo Region. The mayors of Kitchener and Waterloo have already agreed to leave the group alone, and look into their demands.

The campaign page was launched on June 30, and the goal was met before the day's end. Organizers had upped the initial goal a few times before settling on $45,000. 

If you're interested in donating, the GoFundMe page can be found HERE. More info on the group can be found HERE.