A month ago, our soulmate was hospitalized after vomiting blood. The diagnosis that followed was stage 3c stomach cancer, with fluid buildup in the brain.

After talking it through together, they have chosen to focus on quality of life rather than aggressive treatment, and we’re honoring that choice completely. What we’re asking for now is help making the time we have left as calm and steady as possible.

They were working before this, now they’re on disability leave, and we’re both getting by on disability benefits, which doesn’t stretch far. Our water was recently shut off, and we’re about $2,000 in debt from that alone. Groceries and dog care are a daily stress. They need RSO (cannabis oil) every morning and night to manage nausea, and that cost adds up fast. We also need to figure out speaking to a death doula and make sure that we have care set up in that regard.

On top of the day-to-day, we’re facing real transportation costs; trips for pain management treatment, grief counseling, and the practical work of getting affairs in order. None of these things are optional right now.

If you’re able to give, it goes directly toward keeping the lights on, food on the table, and keeping them comfortable and making sure they have the space and time to spend with their siblings and friends.

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We also offer sliding-scale astrology coaching, and we run a Plex server with free movies and shows (we take requests) as a thank-you or trade for anyone who wants it.

Namaygoosisagagun First Nation/Collins has burned to the ground. The entire community is nothing but ashes after being quickly consumed by wildfires. They did not have any support from emergency services, and no one offered aid. The community saved themselves by escaping into boats because no one came.

Mishkeegogamang and Cat Lake have lost power. Families are ending up in shelters with nothing. Armstrong, Lac La Croix, Whitesand, Gull Bay, Lac des Mille Lacs are currently in the fires path and all members are being evacuated.

All this loss, all this devastation, and it was entirely preventable.

After steadily underfunding wildland firefighting and purposefully excluding Indigenous wildland firefighters and Indigenous wildfire organizations from wildfire operations, firefighter training, decisionmaking, and resource exchanges, in 2025, Doug Ford slashed the forest firefighting budget.

It's hard to ignore his decision to cut funding and leave us out of adequate fire training (even though we've lived with forest fires for thousands of years—far longer than settlers have been in Canada—and made sure fires like the ones we're all seeing today were prevented through kinisitotēn) when, despite making up less than 5% of the population, we account for 42% percent of all wildfire evacuations in Canada.

And when we are successfully evacuated, we face discrimination and racism—like Kashechewan—because it's always been easier to blame us than it is to blame the true culprit: denialism, corportate greed, and colonization.

The people of Collins and every other impacted community deserve better.

Right now, the AFN is currently accepting donations to help Collins First Nation. If you're able to, please consider donating.

ONWA (Ontario Native Women's Association) is another great place to donate to. They have outreach vans going to motels and inns and offering food, water, resources, and cultural support to those impacted by the wildfires.

Other places to consider donating to are Mikinakoos Emergency Fund, Red Cross, True North Aid, Indigenous Climate Action. You can also send donations directly to Whitesand First Nation via e-transfer ([email protected]) and they request that you add your full name in the e-transfer comment section to receive a tax receipt.

*Before sending money, verify that the appeal appears on an official First Nation, Tribal Council or registered charity channel.

If you can't offer financial support, please consider donating items of need. Moontime Connections is currently accepting drop-off donations. If you live in the Thunder Bay area, Namaygoosisagagun Health Office is also taking in donations! They can also bemailed to Superior Inn Hotel & Conference Centre at 555 West Arthur Street, Thunder Bay, ON, P7E 5P8.

items needed are: food, diapers, medical masks, men’s and women’s joggers (all sizes), children’s clothing (newborn to size 14), children’s shoes, summer clothing, men’s clothing, toiletries (lotion, Vaseline, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, etc.), strollers, adult depends-all sizes, dog & cat food