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Every Child Matters

9/29/2022

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​September 30 is National Day of Truth & Reconciliation. 

"The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process." 

Beyond the Beads is all about Community. It's about coming together & supporting one another.
I'd like to take this space & share with you, some highly recommended Indigenous owned businesses.

I will also share some resources & books that are appropriate for adults & children alike, on the Beyond The Pages part of this website. These are books about Residential Schools, & also books written or illustrated by Indigenous authors & artists. 

This list was shared with me from a friend that I met at SickKids who is a gorgeous human being  & Mama to two beautiful girls. I have always admired her strength & resilience. The way she advocates for her children & the Indigenous community is truly inspiring. 

Pow Wow Pitch
www.powwowpitch.org
Pow Wow Pitch is a grassroots community by and for Indigenous entrepreneurs to support our collective impact and success.

Raven Rising 
www.ravenrising.ca
At Raven Rising, Global Indigenous is our inspiration and legacy. Our chocolates focus on traditional ingredients sourced from Indigenous people and businesses in Canada and globally.
To honour family members, friends, and everyone affected, a portion of our proceeds are donated to various societies that support 60's Scoop, MMIWg2s, and Residential School organizations.

Ondarez
www.ondarez.com
Ondarez (on-the-rez) Clothing and Goods began in a small First Nation in Northern Ontario. I am Paula Naponse the creator /owner of Ondarez and I truly believe that Ondarez is really a culture like no other... I am an Anishinaabe kwe entrepreneur… I source materials that are mainly Indigenous and made in North America. I am inspired by beads, fabric, and the natural world that surrounds us. I use materials from nature, create all products by hand. Ondarez Clothing specializes in hand screen-printed apparel and accessories. I recently established a home goods collection which features candles and coffee. 

Turtle Woman Indigenous Wear

Lauren Good Day, Artist Designer
https://laurengoodday.com/
Lauren Good Day “Good Day Woman” is an Multi- award winning Arikara, Hidatsa, Blackfeet and Plains Cree artist & sought after fashion designer. She is an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation) of the Ft. Berthold Reservation in North Dakota, USA and also a registered Treaty Indian with the Sweet Grass Cree First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada. She has shown her artwork at the world’s most prestigious Native American juried art shows.

S&K Collective
https://sandkcollective.com/
My name is Sam, mother, wife and founder of S and K Collective. We are Lytton First Nations female owned small shop located in Port Coquitlam, B.C.A portion of proceeds are donated back to various charities/organizations. We believe in change for the better as a whole, and try to portray that through our clothing.

Wabimeguil Fine Art
https://wabimeguil.com/
We are a First Nations, family run business providing high quality giftware, fine art prints and originals.

Medicine Wheel Publishing 
https://medicinewheelpublishing.com/
Medicine Wheel Publishing empowers Indigenous Storytellers and Elders to publish authentic cultural stories designed for the classroom. The stories can be found in thousands of schools, bookstores and homes across turtle island. The books published all carry powerful, moral and cultural lessons easy for children to understand and learn from. By building a bridge between cultures through publishing we can achieve greater understanding and reconciliation.
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Beyond the Boxes - Mother's Day at RMHC Toronto

2/28/2021

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Our stories, our why. 

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to donate: 
https://www.rmhccanada.ca/fundraisers/beyondtheboxes ​

*scroll down to see why // where // how to donate 
​Becoming a mom is a huge transition. For moms that have had a complex pregnancy(ies) followed by a critically ill baby, Mother’s Day can sometimes bring more feelings of sadness then joy. 
​

For me (Jessica), my first Mother’s Day was the day after Theo’s last closure surgery - it was one of the darkest and saddest days during my time at The Hospital for Sick Children. Theo was completely sedated - he seemed lifeless. So many questions ran through my mind post surgery - Will his intestines work? Will he develop another infection? How long will he need to be intubated? Will he be able to eat? Will he wake up and be in pain? Will he live a “normal” life? When will all the tubes be removed? And when, when, when...can I hold him?  
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My husband, parents and closest friends did things to try to make the day special but when your baby is completely lifeless and there is literally nothing you can do to help them, you are left feeling hopeless and for me, anything but a Mother. 

During this time, I lived at Ronald McDonald House in Toronto. It was a weekend and they had a nice breakfast for the moms. Despite their efforts, all I wanted was to be HOME with my baby.

For me (Kayla), my first Mother’s Day went from something that I had always looked forward to, to something I was somewhat dreading. Waking in a completely different building, a block away from my baby and rushing over to the hospital to spend some time with him. The last thing I was expecting was a gift to celebrate this moment, I didn’t even want to think about it.
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When I opened the door at RMHC that morning, I was greeted with a box, full of donations from wonderful people, just for me, for my very first Mother’s Day. Every Mama had a box. Every Mama was thought of at that moment. The fact that someone was thinking of US when we couldn’t even think for ourselves, was a special moment and feeling that I will never forget. I knew in that moment that when I was in the position to give back, to let others have this feeling I was so blessed with, I would do whatever I could to pass it on and make it happen for many more. 
​

 As soon as the pandemic started, all we could talk about and all we can still talk about is the mamas/caregivers out there, RIGHT NOW, living in the hospital with their child(ren). We can’t imagine the hardship of your experience - not being allowed to have spouses or family/friends visit to offer their love and support is unimaginable. 

For this reason, THIS Mother’s Day we want all mamas to know that we are thinking of them, especially those living at the Ronald McDonald House in Toronto.

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What Beyond the Beads is doing:

We have collaborated with loveloladaisy and some of the most amazing small businesses, local makers, and community members to put together a box for each mother living at the Ronald McDonald House in Toronto!

​Each box ties in with our ultimate goal of Mamas supporting other Mamas. Contents of the box include indulgences like bath bombs, speciality tea, custom mugs, custom keychains, treats, and products that we would have loved to have when we were staying at RMHC. 


In addition to the Beyond the Boxes, we are hosting and sponsoring the Mother’s Day Dinner at the Ronald McDonald House on May 9! Chef’s are coming in to prepare a special meal for families, to celebrate and recognize the Mamas who are doing it all, and holding it all together - especially in these trying times.
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The last thing we want Mothers of critically ill and/ or hospitalized children to worry about, is having to come back ‘Home’ and have nothing to eat, especially after a mentally exhausting day. We say this because we lived it - Mother’s Day for a Mama living at the hospital sucks, it’s one of the worst times to be there. This is one more thing that we can do to make Mother’s Day extra special for these Super Mamas.

How you can help: 
We are currently accepting monetary donations through [email protected] to continue to fill the Beyond the Boxes with goodies for Mamas. 
We also have partnered directly with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Toronto, for an official fundraiser/ donor page - that is also tax deductible, and can be linked here:
https://www.rmhccanada.ca/fundraisers/beyondtheboxes

Either way you choose to donate, the money will be going to support families directly living at RMHC Toronto, this Mother’s Day on May 9, 2021. Both accounts will be linked together, and donations will show on the RMHC Beyond the Boxes fundraising page. 

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Beyond the Beads x loveloladaisy are partnering with Brand With Purpose to give families the opportunity to purchase a full box to donate to a Mama at RMHC Toronto!

​These boxes are purchased and then physically donated on behalf of the Donor to a Mother living inside the House. The Buyer/ Donor can choose to have a card sent to their recipient of choice, representing the Beyond the Box given in honour of their own Mother/ Sister/ Grandma/ Aunt/ Caregiver for Mother’s Day. 


Covid is affecting everyone right now, not just mentally or emotionally. If you would like to participate without donating, you can share our posts and our links to your social media, and help to spread the word. Anyone, anywhere can donate. Families who have experienced the NICU from anywhere in the world, or who have stayed at any of the Ronald McDonald House Charities Houses are able to donate and come together to show their love and support to the families going through it right now.

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