Participants:
Series Code: IIWC
Program Code: IIWC202025S
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00:00 >> Hello and welcome and
00:01 thank you for joining us on 00:03 It Is Written Canada. 00:05 Today we are visiting an 00:06 amazing community, a community 00:08 that is so close-knit that the 00:11 crisis of a world-wide 00:12 pandemic, instead of 00:13 traumatizing them, became a 00:15 catalyst, a wonderful 00:17 opportunity for growth. 00:19 Instead of shutting them down 00:20 it opened this community up 00:22 and it drew their hearts even 00:24 closer together and closer to 00:26 their land and to the heart of 00:29 their Creator. 00:30 >> In a moment we will explore 00:32 how the people of Wiikwemkoong 00:34 First Nations on Manitoulin 00:37 Island in northern Ontario has 00:39 been affected by the 00:40 challenges of the pandemic. 00:44 ♪♪ 01:21 >> Here we are with 01:22 Scott Flamand at the 01:24 Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory 01:26 and, Scott, you are dealing 01:28 with food distribution... 01:30 >> Yes, I do. 01:30 >> During this time, right at 01:31 the beginning? 01:32 >> Yeah, right at 01:33 the beginning. 01:33 >> They shut down this ter-- 01:35 >> The border, yeah, yeah. 01:36 >> And what was that like? 01:38 >> So what happened was the 01:40 Chief in Council for the 01:42 protection of the population 01:43 because we have a lot of 01:44 people with existing health 01:46 conditions that would probably 01:47 not do well with COVID so what 01:49 they did was they shut down 01:51 the border here so no one was 01:52 allowed to leave or enter 01:54 unless it was for an emergency 01:55 or they had a-- they got 01:56 special permission so we just 01:58 had one grocery store. 01:59 So even people that were 02:00 working could not stock their 02:01 fridges because we only had 02:03 one local grocery store that 02:04 could not keep up with the 02:05 demand so we started-- the 02:06 Chief in Council started a 02:08 food security program where 02:10 they purchased food and we 02:11 gave out care packages. 02:13 Initially it started out with 02:14 just about a hundred people 02:15 and then it quickly exploded 02:16 to about 750 people. 02:18 So we were doing 1500 02:20 deliveries per month so not 02:22 only did we have to order the 02:23 food, but we had to store it 02:24 as well so we moved to the 02:25 gymnasium and then we started 02:27 building an even bigger 02:28 inventory because the grocery 02:29 store could not keep up. 02:31 >> Yeah and you didn't have 02:32 people coming in... 02:33 >> No. 02:33 >> The island was shut down... 02:35 >> Yes, and then we even had 02:36 trouble getting food supplies 02:38 from our suppliers because the 02:40 shortages, like toilet paper, 02:42 toothpaste, all of that was in 02:43 short supply so we were 02:45 actually stocking up. 02:46 The other thing is our local 02:48 grocery stores were supplying 02:49 us, but we didn't wanna take 02:50 stuff off their shelf so one 02:52 of the other strategies we 02:53 adopted was we actually 02:55 piggy-backed on their orders 02:56 from their wholesaler so we 02:58 wouldn't take anything off 02:59 their shelves. 02:59 Logistically, we always had to 03:01 make sure that we always had 03:02 food in stock and that we 03:03 always had emergency cases and 03:05 then we also supplied meat, 03:07 protein, so meat packs were a 03:09 big hit because a lot of-- 03:10 Again, our grocery store 03:11 couldn't keep up with the food 03:13 supplies so... 03:14 Like any other community, you 03:15 heard about the shortages with 03:16 toilet paper, which really I 03:18 didn't understand. [laughs] 03:20 >> I don't think any 03:21 of us did. 03:22 >> No, no, exactly. 03:23 So it was a good opportunity 03:25 to learn and help the 03:25 community. 03:26 >> And you had everyone kind 03:27 of pulling in the resources to 03:30 help you out, to bag all 03:31 of these... 03:32 [Scott] We had baggers, we had 03:33 people unloading the trucks, 03:35 we had drivers, so it was 03:36 all coordinated. 03:38 We had spreadsheets so we had 03:39 routes all planned out so... 03:41 When we first started, we were 03:42 delivering 'til 8:00 at night. 03:44 That's how-- 'cause we were 03:45 just so disorganized. 03:47 By the end of June-- April, we 03:50 were-- we could deliver 400 03:52 packages by 11:30 in 03:54 the morning. 03:54 We would start at 9:00 and we 03:56 would have them delivered by 03:57 11:30 with... 03:57 >> So you got really 03:58 good at it. 03:59 >> Yes, we had the routes all 04:00 planned out, we had drivers 04:01 assigned so they knew their 04:02 routes and we told people what 04:03 time we were gonna be there. 04:05 So social media was actually a 04:06 good thing, too, because they 04:07 would-- we would tell them we 04:08 were starting delivery at 04:09 9:00, make sure you're home so 04:11 that was one of the 04:12 things we had. 04:12 >> Was it good for you? 04:13 I mean you're a business 04:14 person, you have your own 04:15 business, but now you're 04:16 helping your community. 04:17 >> Yes. 04:18 >> Was that a good thing 04:19 for you? 04:20 >> Yes, yes, it was a good 04:21 thing because like I said to 04:22 you earlier, it was good to, 04:22 you know, wake up in the 04:24 morning and have some purpose. 04:25 Like any other company, my 04:26 company had to shut down 04:27 during the pandemic so this 04:30 was a great opportunity for me 04:31 to work for my community. 04:35 >> The COVID-19 pandemic has 04:36 disrupted our lives in 04:38 many ways. 04:39 As economies around the world 04:41 began to shut down, food 04:43 security became and issue for 04:45 many around the world. 04:47 The World Food Program has 04:49 identified that approximately 04:52 130 million people around this 04:54 world will be food-insecure 04:56 due to the economic 04:57 constraints brought on 04:59 by COVID-19. 05:02 Here in Canada, we're going 05:04 from one in eight people 05:07 before COVID being 05:09 food-insecure now to one out 05:11 of every seven Canadians being 05:13 food-insecure. 05:15 >> So 126 Andrew's Place Road. 05:20 We get a list like this and 05:24 go from house to house. 05:58 [knocking] 06:03 >> [speaking Ojibwe] 06:04 Here's your care package. 06:06 >> Uh-huh, chi-miigwetch! 06:07 >> Alright, have a good day. 06:08 >> Uh-huh, you, too. 06:11 [Stephen] ADRA Canada is 06:12 supporting food banks and food 06:13 service groups around this 06:15 country and around the world 06:17 to be able to meet the needs 06:19 of those who are suffering 06:20 during this pandemic. 06:24 [Mike] When everything was shut 06:25 down, now you had an outlet. 06:28 You were working, I mean, 06:29 you're a hard worker and so 06:31 you couldn't sit at home. 06:33 >> No, no, I can't sit, I'm 06:34 not that type of person, I 06:35 have to do something and it's 06:37 OK watching Netflix once in a 06:38 while, but I couldn't watch-- 06:39 sit there for days and watch 06:41 Netflix, I would go crazy so 06:43 it was great that I enjoyed 06:45 doing this. 06:46 My wife also got hired. 06:48 She's a master gardener so she 06:49 actually ran the gardening 06:50 program so we both 06:51 work here. 06:52 She ran a gardening program, 06:54 250 gardens she supplied the 06:56 soil, flower beds, showed 06:59 people how to plant, gave them 07:00 seeds, water tanks, so she 07:03 did-- and showed them how to 07:04 can goods so she did all of 07:05 that so she's a master 07:07 gardener so she will-- so both 07:09 of us were working in the food 07:10 sector so... 07:12 >> So you're not just 07:13 teaching, I mean you are 07:14 teaching, you're not just 07:15 giving away, right? 07:17 You're actually teaching them 07:18 how to take care of themselves 07:19 and that is something that 07:21 goes way beyond COVID, right? 07:23 It's going to build up your 07:25 community. 07:25 >> Yeah, one of the things we 07:26 want, our long-term goal is to 07:27 start actually a food security 07:28 department so that people can 07:30 garden, harvest local food and 07:32 then use the food bank to 07:34 supplement their food. 07:35 What we were finding was the 07:38 food care package was meant to 07:39 supplement people's diet. 07:41 In some cases it was their 07:42 only food supply, we didn't 07:44 know that until people would 07:45 call us on Monday that they're 07:47 out of food, "we just gave it" 07:47 "to you Wednesday." 07:48 "But we don't have any money." 07:50 And one of the things of-- a 07:51 lot of our clients were on 07:52 welfare and, you know, the 07:53 government said, 07:54 "You've gotta stock up." 07:55 Well, you can't do that when 07:56 you're on welfare. 07:57 Where are you gonna 07:58 get the money? 07:59 So they're living not paycheck 08:00 to paycheck, they're living 08:01 daily, they're trying to meet 08:03 the daily needs so... 08:04 >> So when people were shut 08:06 down in their homes, did you 08:08 find that just having that 08:10 contact, someone coming and 08:11 bringing groceries was 08:13 good for them? 08:14 >> Oh, yes, because some of 08:15 our drivers, they would return 08:18 like half an hour late and I'd 08:19 say, "Where were you?" 08:20 And I said, "This guy just" 08:21 "kept talking to me and" 08:23 "visiting me, they were" 08:24 "telling me to come in and" 08:25 "we couldn't, we had to talk." 08:26 But they would talk to people 08:27 because sometimes that's their 08:28 only cont-- especially elders. 08:30 Even the elders are on social 08:32 media now so that kind of 08:33 helps, too, because everybody 08:34 stays informed on 08:35 social media. 08:36 So I think social media is 08:37 probably a good thing in this 08:39 case because it kept people 08:41 informed, kept people up to 08:43 date, and people were able to 08:44 provide comments and 08:45 feedback as well. 08:47 >> So I'm thinking about the 08:49 mental health issues of 08:51 staying locked down. 08:53 Did you-- you know, you're a 08:55 very communal people so you 08:59 like to connect with each 09:00 other, to get together, 09:02 and now this has stopped. 09:04 >> Yeah, so one of the 09:06 benefits, I guess, is a lot of 09:08 people started going out to-- 09:09 we have a lot of trails so 09:10 we're a large territory so 09:12 people can go walk in the bush 09:13 so I was telling some of your 09:14 colleagues that a lot of people 09:16 were going out in the bush. 09:17 We had a lot of quad trails so 09:18 a lot of people have 09:19 side-by-sides so we would 09:21 drive out to South Bay and we 09:22 would meet about 16 cars just 09:24 out for a drive in the country 09:26 because there was nothing else 09:26 to do and we're all locked 09:28 down so a lot of people were 09:29 boating, a lot of people were 09:30 outside so it actually in a 09:32 way, it probably promoted 09:33 outdoor recreation and getting 09:36 people more in tune 09:37 with nature. 09:38 And look here, we can go out 09:40 for a walk and you're not in a 09:41 confined area so... 09:43 So 50 years ago if COVID 09:45 happened, nobody would have 09:46 been hungry here 'cause 09:48 everybody had gardens, 09:49 everybody had pigs, everybody 09:51 had cows, they were growing 09:52 their own food, everybody had 09:53 a root cellar. 09:54 Yeah, so there was no 09:55 welfare, everybody took care 09:56 of themselves, everybody had 09:57 farms so if COVID happened 50 09:59 years ago we would have been, 10:00 "So what?" 10:01 >> Yeah! Right. 10:02 >> The wouldn't-- maybe they 10:03 wouldn't have gotten the 10:04 flour, that stuff, but they 10:06 would have had-- they would 10:06 have been able to feed 10:08 themselves. 10:09 So that's why we've seen the 10:10 gardening program. 10:11 Last year they only had 30 10:12 gardeners in the program, this 10:13 year they had over 250 gardens 10:15 so we were run off our feet. 10:17 My wife supplying soil, seeds, 10:19 workshops on how to grow their 10:21 own food and we're hoping this 10:23 continues past COVID because I 10:24 think with the price of food 10:27 and other stuff I think it's 10:28 gonna increase in the future 10:29 so I think there's a way 10:31 to make people more 10:32 self-sufficient and not rely 10:33 on the grocery store for their 10:35 only source of food. 10:35 >> Absolutely. Good. 10:37 So, Scott, I wanna say 10:38 miigwetch to you which means... 10:40 >> OK, thank you. 10:41 >> Yeah, thank you. 10:42 >> Means "thank you." 10:43 >> Yeah and thank you very 10:44 much for being with us and for 10:45 sharing with us what you do 10:47 here and how you've been 10:48 helping your community. 10:49 >> Yeah and we appreciate your 10:50 organization for helping us 10:52 out with food security and the 10:54 OAL program. 10:56 We really appreciate any 10:57 contribution or any help we 10:59 can have as a community. 11:00 So thank you. 11:01 >> You're welcome. 11:04 >> I'm here with Annette, 11:05 Scott's wife, who is an avid 11:07 gardener and she's been in 11:09 charge of the gardening 11:11 project here at Wiikwemkoong. 11:13 So, Annette, how long have you 11:15 been doing this? 11:16 >> I've been the gardening 11:18 program coordinator for the 11:19 community since April 11:21 of this year. 11:22 >> OK. How many requests did 11:24 you get for this gardening 11:25 program this year? 11:27 >> OK, so this year they had 11:29 274 requests for gardening 11:33 assistance which is up from 30 11:35 requests last year. 11:37 >> That's fantastic! 11:38 And what kind of requests? 11:41 >> Basically they ranged from 11:43 everything garden-related so 11:46 seeds, plowing, disking, 11:50 furrowing, watering 11:53 containers, water delivery, 11:56 pest diagnosis, canning 11:58 supplies, like, everything 11:59 associated with the 12:01 gardening cycle. 12:02 >> So you would get farmers to 12:04 come in and to do the disking. 12:07 And so how were these requests 12:08 fulfilled, like you had 12:10 farmers and what about the 12:10 other things? 12:12 >> So we hired a farmer to do 12:15 all the disking and plowing 12:16 and furrowing and he was the 12:18 only one that did it and so he 12:22 was working day, night, 12:23 weekends for about a month and 12:25 a half to get it all done in 12:26 time for people to plant. 12:28 >> That's amazing. 12:29 >> So yeah, he worked 12:30 really hard. 12:33 >> So, Annette, how did you 12:34 learn how to garden? 12:36 >> I grew up-- my family 12:39 gardened all the time, like, 12:40 that's how we lived. 12:42 So we had cows, pigs, 12:44 chickens, and we had three 12:45 gardens and that's what we 12:47 relied upon for sustenance 12:49 throughout the year. 12:51 I think over the years the 12:54 convenience of the grocery 12:56 stores and people, I guess 12:59 they're just kind of naturally 13:00 lazy anyways and they'll go 13:02 for the easiest solution which 13:04 I think is why gardening 13:07 hasn't been as popular as it 13:10 used to be because they don't 13:10 need-- they don't rely 13:12 on it anymore. 13:13 >> So it's kind of lost, that 13:15 part of your culture has been 13:16 lost, but now you said you've 13:18 got 270 requests, that almost 13:21 seems like it's been 13:22 revived again. 13:23 >> The pandemic really got 13:25 people thinking about their 13:28 food security and this is the 13:31 first time since I was kid 13:33 that I've been able to drive 13:34 through this community and 13:36 see, like, gardens at every 13:38 second and third house. 13:39 Like, it's just, it's amazing 13:41 the interest that 13:42 happened here. 13:43 >> That's wonderful. 13:45 And when you say, "gardens at" 13:47 "the house," tell me a little 13:48 bit about how the family is 13:50 involved in that gardening. 13:53 >> So it definitely has become 13:55 a family event. 13:57 We just did a survey for the 13:58 program last month and people 14:00 were saying that it gave them 14:02 something to keep their minds 14:04 busy and it gave them 14:05 something to talk about. 14:06 So there's definitely a 14:09 disconnect right now between 14:11 people, like, not knowing 14:13 where their food comes from 14:14 and we did have a couple of 14:15 participants who, it was their 14:17 first time gardening this 14:18 year, who said that their 14:19 children were just amazed that 14:21 that is where food actually 14:22 comes from because they didn't 14:24 even know, they just thought 14:25 it comes from the grocery 14:27 store, they've never seen a 14:27 tomato plant, you know? 14:29 So yeah, it's been an 14:31 educational experience, yeah. 14:32 >> That's wonderful. 14:33 And really brought-- so this 14:35 project has really built the 14:37 community and community is 14:40 such a big part of your 14:41 culture and it's just 14:43 uplifted that. 14:44 That's so wonderful and so 14:46 exciting so... 14:47 Annette, thank you so much for 14:49 being with us today and for 14:50 sharing what you have done in 14:51 this community with your 14:53 gardening project. 14:54 Miigwetch. 14:55 >> Miigwetch. 14:59 >> I'm Chief Duke Peltier, or 15:01 Ogimaa in our language and 15:03 I'm the elected representative 15:06 here Wiikwemkoong Unceded 15:08 Territory and the role I 15:10 perform is leading the 15:13 community and providing some 15:15 direction and being the 15:17 official spokesperson of the 15:20 decisions of our 15:21 elected council. 15:23 I've always grew up with the 15:26 knowledge of this-- our 15:28 community, Wiikwemkoong 15:30 Unceded Territory being a very 15:31 special and unique place in 15:34 this country. 15:36 So our community has always 15:39 been aware that food security 15:41 is one of the main issues that 15:44 we're at risk for. 15:48 Primarily for a couple 15:50 reasons, that we're at the end 15:51 of a road and we're also on an 15:53 island and the main food 15:55 distribution centres are 15:57 far, far away. 16:00 We were-- we immediately began 16:02 having discussions here 16:05 amongst our own pandemic team 16:07 and emergency control group 16:08 members on how to create a 16:14 food security system so that 16:17 we can provide for the-- 16:19 nurture the needs of our own 16:21 community and one of those 16:23 programs that we wanted to 16:26 bring back into our 16:29 people's minds was that they 16:31 do have the ability to grow 16:33 their own food. 16:35 Our community throughout 16:37 history have always been 16:39 agricultural people here on 16:41 Manitoulin and planted a 16:44 number of different crops to 16:47 subsidize their main source of 16:51 food, the fish in the waters 16:52 here and part of-- one of the 16:55 programs that we wanted to 16:56 develop was a gardening 16:58 program and mainly raised-bed 17:02 gardens so everyone can 17:03 participate, they're not too 17:05 large of a plantations. 17:08 So that's one of the successes 17:10 that we've seen come from 17:11 COVID-19 is our own people 17:13 returning back to land-based 17:15 type activities and growing 17:18 their own food. 17:19 So if we're gonna look at some 17:21 of the positives of a pandemic 17:23 is that the-- we reintroduced 17:28 the idea that you can grow 17:31 your own food and it's 17:32 probably a great idea to do it 17:35 even if there is no pandemic 17:37 because it does reduce your 17:38 own costs and you're getting a 17:41 much tastier product and 17:43 you're gonna enjoy it a lot 17:44 more because you're the one 17:46 that did the work with 17:47 maintaining the garden 17:49 throughout the summer. 17:50 The secondary program that we 17:52 put in place for COVID-19 as 17:55 part of our food security 17:56 approach was having a 17:58 food-distribution system, 18:01 terminal, if you will. 18:03 We hired-- gave the 18:05 responsibility to some staff 18:07 to begin coordinating the 18:08 ordering of transport loads of 18:11 different goods and to begin 18:14 assembling food-care packages. 18:17 So they were able to bring in 18:19 volunteers, they volunteered 18:22 to support the Food Care 18:23 Program and they began 18:26 packaging everything up in our 18:27 high school gymnasium and 18:30 where they were creating on a 18:32 daily basis packages that were 18:35 going to be delivered on a 18:37 bi-weekly basis to each of the 18:39 800 households that were 18:41 requesting support from the 18:44 Food Care Program. 18:45 So we're very fortunate that 18:47 from these systems that we put 18:50 in place here in Wiikwemkoong 18:52 that we're able to limit the 18:54 spread of COVID-19 in-- and 18:56 having an impact here in our 18:59 home and against our 19:01 loved ones. 19:04 >> I was really impressed with 19:05 the Chief in Council 19:07 responding to the pandemic, 19:09 like, it showed that they 19:11 really cared because I was a 19:12 recipient of the food boxes. 19:15 I didn't expect to be treated 19:19 like that, it was like, 19:20 "Wow, somebody really is" 19:21 "thinking about us," you know? 19:23 So getting the food boxes, 19:26 to me, was a big thing. 19:28 Like, I really appreciated it 19:30 every time that it came in. 19:33 I really give two thumbs up to 19:36 the Chief in Council and the 19:39 rest of the community workers 19:40 who worked hard, like, I knew 19:42 they were at the arena putting 19:44 these boxes together and 19:46 opening the door, you know, to 19:48 a knock and then getting this 19:49 box, it was like, right on, 19:52 like, you know, I was happy. 19:54 It put a lot of ease on my 19:56 mind, I didn't have to go to 19:57 the grocery store and deal 19:58 with that. 20:01 >> I try to live positive 20:03 all the time. 20:04 That's just the way I was 20:05 brought up, like, don't let 20:07 negativity get you, it just 20:08 brings you down and us native 20:12 people are connected with 20:14 nature so we have this 20:16 connection, but I'm glad it 20:18 continues in this COVID, you 20:21 know, how our community gets 20:23 together and keep that vibe 20:26 alive of giving and caring 20:29 and respecting. 20:32 Before COVID we were already 20:34 close, but now that we're in 20:38 this situation it comes 20:39 out more. 20:41 We really respect our elders. 20:43 Like me, I don't feel like 20:45 wearing a mask, you know, 20:47 it bothers me, it bothers me, 20:48 I don't want-- but I don't 20:50 wanna get an elder sick. 20:52 Nobody wants to do that. 20:54 So don't take any chances. 20:57 Like, I don't really go out, 21:02 I just stay home to make sure 21:03 everybody's safe. 21:04 And once-- if everybody could 21:07 do that for a while and get 21:09 rid of this COVID, we could 21:10 get back to normal as soon as 21:11 possible 'cause things are 21:12 gonna get worse. 21:13 Not for us, I mean like, 21:15 we're a community, like, it 21:18 will get bad, but luckily we 21:20 have our community keep 21:22 us strong. 21:23 That's the way, that's how 21:25 we're gonna overcome 21:27 this COVID. 21:28 If you see somebody in need, 21:30 we would help, and that's the 21:33 kind of people we are. 21:36 I would like our people to 21:37 realize that there's more to 21:41 you than that because our 21:43 ancestors developed a 21:46 communication and the 21:48 existence with nature that we 21:50 all had and we have to gain 21:51 back and if we have all that, 21:55 all that in play with our 21:57 communic-- spirituality and 21:59 all this, you wouldn't even see 22:02 anybody hating anybody, you 22:03 wouldn't even see anybody 22:04 arguing, you won't even see-- 22:05 you just, "I will respect you" 22:08 "as a being." 22:10 As First Nations people are 22:12 like that and it shows in 22:15 Wiikwemkoong that we're like 22:16 that and all of us should be 22:18 like that, not just First 22:19 Nations, all of us. 22:23 >> My name is Kevin 22:25 Wassegijig, I'm Director of 22:26 Operations for Wiikwemkoong. 22:28 The pandemic in our community 22:31 has been challenging. 22:33 It's been a lot of work, 22:35 but fortunately we've had 22:36 tremendous support from the 22:38 overall community which has 22:40 been perhaps the main reason 22:43 that we've continued to remain 22:46 safe and healthy. 22:48 From a personal perspective, 22:50 again, some change needed, 22:53 you know, individual habits 22:54 that you have to change and, 22:57 you know, even today, you walk 22:58 into the grocery store, walk 23:00 into the gas station and 23:01 remember to grab your mask, 23:02 you know? 23:03 You get right to the door and 23:04 you have to turn around, run 23:05 back to the car and 23:06 grab your mask. 23:07 So definitely it's been an 23:08 adjustment, but again, in the 23:10 community and the community as 23:11 a whole, I think everybody's 23:12 done a great job. 23:14 I see a lot more people in our 23:16 community out for a walk, out 23:18 for a bike ride, you see 23:19 families out doing things 23:20 together where prior when we 23:22 were busy being busy perhaps, 23:26 it forced us, you know, you 23:27 gotta close in a bit. 23:29 And so I see a lot more things 23:32 like that that are beneficial. 23:34 I think it's been a good 23:36 reflection of our community. 23:40 You know, for generations, for 23:42 centuries, Anishinaabe 23:44 Indigenous people have had 23:46 to innovate. 23:46 That's why we're still here. 23:48 And so this has just been 23:49 another challenge for us 23:50 to innovate. 23:52 I wanted to say chi-miigwetch, 23:53 thank you very much to ADRA as 23:57 a collective, to the 23:59 individuals that help make 24:01 ADRA a reality. 24:02 We very much value the support 24:05 and contributions from ADRA 24:08 and, you know, continue to 24:10 look forward to a very 24:11 mutually beneficial 24:12 relationship. 24:13 Miigwetch. 24:16 >> We at ADRA Canada were very 24:18 honoured to privileged to 24:20 participate and partner with 24:22 the Wiikwemkoong First Nations 24:25 community here on Manitoulin 24:27 Island, the world's largest 24:28 fresh-water island. 24:30 Given the outbreak and 24:31 pandemic of COVID-19 we were 24:33 able to respond and work 24:35 together with them to provide 24:37 emergency response assistance 24:38 funds that helped them to meet 24:40 the dire food needs in 24:41 their community. 24:42 This was so helpful that it 24:44 was reported that over 800 24:45 families were assisted with 24:47 food bags and supplies that 24:50 were most needed where food 24:52 access was very limited and 24:54 very expensive. 24:56 We were just so excited to see 24:58 the amount of people that were 24:59 being helped. 25:01 If you would like to find out 25:02 more about what we do or even 25:03 support us, visit us 25:05 at ADRA.ca. 25:06 Thank you for your 25:08 continued prayers. 25:11 >> To see beyond the apparent 25:13 negative consequences of a 25:15 crisis such as a pandemic 25:17 takes a very exceptional 25:19 community. 25:20 >> And the people of the 25:21 Wiikwemkoong First Nation on 25:24 Manitoulin Island here in 25:25 beautiful northern Ontario is 25:29 such an exceptional community. 25:32 Their outlook reflects the 25:33 truth that we find throughout 25:35 the Bible that God can enable 25:36 us to bring the best out of 25:39 any bad situation. 25:41 >> The Bible also encourages 25:43 you to... 25:53 [Mike] So let's take a moment 25:54 right now to ask our Creator, 25:58 our Great Creator, our God, 26:01 to provide for us this kind of 26:03 optimistic outlook. 26:04 Let's pray. 26:07 Oh Lord, You are the creator 26:09 of heaven and earth and we 26:10 wanna thank You for the 26:12 positive example of the people 26:14 of the Wiikwemkoong First 26:16 Nation here on Manitoulin 26:18 Island here in beautiful 26:20 northern Ontario who work 26:22 together to create innovative 26:24 solutions to face this 26:26 major challenge. 26:28 [René] We rejoice because 26:29 their example has taught us 26:31 that even when we face 26:32 challenges, we can grow, 26:34 we can develop resiliency, 26:36 endurance, community, 26:37 and character. 26:39 And, Lord, we ask You to pour 26:41 Your love into our heart 26:43 through the Holy Spirit who 26:45 You have given to us in the 26:46 name of Jesus, our Creator and 26:49 Redeemer, we pray, amen. 26:53 Friends, when you are in a 26:56 crisis you want to be able to 26:57 face it with confidence and 27:00 today we would like to offer 27:01 you a free special edition of 27:04 Signs of the Times, entitled, 27:06 Facing the Crisis 27:08 with Confidence. 27:10 [Mike] So get out a pen, piece 27:11 of paper or take a picture 27:13 with your smartphone of the 27:14 information that you will need 27:16 to receive today's free offer, 27:17 Facing the Crisis 27:19 with Confidence. 27:27 >> Friends, we would also like 27:28 to invite you to follow us on 27:30 Instagram and Facebook and 27:33 subscribe to our YouTube 27:35 channel and also listen to our 27:37 Podcasts and if you go to our 27:40 webpage, you can see our 27:42 latest programs including our 27:44 exercise workouts called, 27:46 Experiencing Life and our 27:48 short spiritual messages 27:50 entitled, Daily Living. 27:53 [Mike] They are all there for 27:54 you to watch free of charge 27:56 whenever you choose because we 27:58 want you to experience the 28:00 life-transforming truth found 28:02 in the words of Jesus when He 28:04 said, "It is written," 28:06 "man shall not live by" 28:07 "bread alone, but by every" 28:09 "word that proceeds out of" 28:11 "the mouth of God." 28:12 [chanting and drumming] |
Revised 2021-03-17