“The HBC point blanket is a powerful representation of the company's history, and it factors into many different stories and connections to our past,” says Iain Nairn, President and CEO of The Bay. Acknowledging the many layers of symbolism the blanket embodies in history, art, pop culture, and commerce is an integral part of The Bay’s Truth & Reconciliation journey. The HBC Point Blanket has been called many things throughout its history: an essential trade item, an enduring emblem of Canada, a carrier of disease, and a symbol of colonialism. This work helps to acknowledge and share more about the defining role HBC played in colonization and is a meaningful step forward on the path toward truth and reconciliation.” “This Fund will support Indigenous-led initiatives and will create opportunities throughout Canada for Indigenous people, communities and organizations to build capacity, tell their own stories, and elevate the strength of their communities. “Our partnership with Hudson’s Bay Foundation in the creation of Oshki Wupoowane | The Blanket Fund is a meaningful action that ultimately increases awareness and understanding of the true history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and is an important ReconciliACTION,” stated Sarah Midanik, President & CEO, The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund. With this announcement, Hudson’s Bay Foundation is pleased to announce a $1 million contribution to kick off the official launch of Oshki Wupoowane | The Blanket Fund. Funding recipients will be identified through a community process, whereby applicants participate in the prioritization of initiatives. This new partnership will enable Hudson’s Bay Foundation to direct proceeds from the blanket sales to DWF, who will administer the funding. For organization grants, the focus will be on capacity building, and funding to support individual initiatives will ensure continued local impacts in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities across the country. Offered through two different grant streams, The Blanket Fund can be accessed by both grassroots Indigenous communities and organizations, and by Indigenous individuals undertaking related initiatives. Oshki Wupoowane | The Blanket Fund will provide support for Indigenous cultural, artistic and educational activities. The Ojibwe “Oshki Wupoowane”, “a new blanket” in English, was chosen as the name of The Blanket Fund in collaboration with Chanie Wenjack’s family. Moving forward, 100 per cent of net proceeds from the sale of all HBC point blankets will go to Indigenous Peoples.
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