As a result of the Inuit print in our AW19 collection, we wanted to use some of the sales to support the work of a charity working with indigenous communities in North America. We chose the Canadian charity True North Aid and we’re really pleased to be supporting their “Hockey Cares” project.  This is an exchange programme involving young people from indigenous (or First Nation) and non-indigenous communities. In July and November each year, they travel to and stay in each other’s communities, take part in a hockey tournament (playing in mixed teams alongside each other) and experience a whole range of other social activities. The aim is to increase mutual respect and understanding between the two communities. 

As True North Aid describes it, “The Hockey Cares project is about building relationships between the youth of Attawapiskat* and Oakville ON, through a common love of hockey. This exchange [is a] life-changing encounter for many of the youth who will experience another culture first-hand and strengthen relationships with Indigenous and non-indigenous youth. This project is about learning from one another, playing together and exposing (in particular) Indigenous youth from northern Canada to post-secondary opportunities and support systems.” “Sometimes the simplest and most obvious options are the most effective.”  You can read more at www.truenorthaid.ca.  (* The Attawapiskat community are not Inuit, but as an indigenous community of North America, they face the same challenges).

The Inuit and other indigenous communities live throughout most of Northern Canada, as well as parts of Alaska and Greenland. Once self-sufficient in the harshest of climates, during the 20^th century these communities have become marginalised through government actions such as forced resettlement into areas which have made their traditional way of life impossible. As a result, they have become increasingly dependent on an economic and political system in which they have had little or no voice – it is estimated that over 60 per cent of indigenous children live below the poverty line. More recently there is a growing movement from within and outside the communities to improve the political and social representation and living standards of indigenous communities.

We are delighted to be donating 50p from every Inuit print garment sold towards this lovely project.