National Day for Truth & Reconciliation 2023
September 30th marks the third National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, a day intended to honour residential school survivors and recognize those who did not return to their families. On this day, as allies, we hope to take actionable steps toward reconciliation with our thoughts and actions.
This day is about more than wearing orange. It’s about recognizing the legacy of Residential Schools and other injustices still going on today, impacting the communities of survivors and their families. It’s about getting comfortable with the discomfort of truth, collective healing and finding a good way forward as allies and survivors.
We are committed to doing more than acknowledging and observing this day and are making a commitment to support the communities impacted by residential schools. It’s not often that our work aligns with an opportunity to support in such a meaningful way. We hope this brings your attention to an organization directly impacting survivors’ communities, improving their families’ day-to-day safety.
The Canadian Animal Task Force is an organization we choose to support in recognizing Truth and Reconciliation. Many of us have adopted pets from local animal rescues, many of them coming from First Nations Communities. We’re filled with a sense of charity and goodwill, rescuing and adopting these otherwise ill-fated animals. But what of the communities they came from? The CATF partners with communities who request guidance, support, and resources to humanely manage their companion animal population to improve the safety of their community and the animals’ well-being. This organization does large-scale spay, neuter and vaccination clinics to reduce unwanted overpopulation of companion animals and keep communities safe for their members.
Formed in 2008 as a proactive solution to pet overpopulation, the Task Force held their first on-site clinic for the Blood Tribe (Kainai) Nation in September 2010. Since then, their team has completed 95 on-site clinics, examining, spaying and neutering, tattooing, vaccinating, and deworming almost 22,583 companion animals! The organization has placed an additional 9,000 surrendered animals with partner rescue groups for re-homing in cities across Canada.
In addition to their Spay Neuter Programs, the Task Force has a Dog Management Program. Free-roaming dogs in some First Nations communities cause serious injury to both adults and children as they move about their community. Where there are unattended groups of dogs, without population control and a management plan, public safety is a concern and the risk of dog bites, mauling and even death increases. In recognition of Truth and Reconciliation, we are committing $5,000 to The CATF to support their work in First Nations communities across our Province. We believe every child deserves to move safely within their community because every single one of them matters.
Over the past year, the CATF has had the opportunity to make a real difference – let’s take a look at the incredible work they accomplished this Summer:
- 1300+ animals spayed & neutered
- 730+ animals re-homed through partner rescues
- 100+ animals treated for minor injuries or placed in short-term care
- 2000+ animals assisted in total at spay & neuter clinics
- 5 on-site spay & neuter clinics in First Nation communities hosted:
- Siksika Nation
- Maskwacis
- Woodland Cree First Nation (with support from Canadian Wings of Rescue, who flew in medical volunteers)
- Saddle Lake Cree Nation
- Frog Lake
- 2 community cat clinics hosted:
- Cypress County
- Edmonton area, in collaboration with the Edmonton Humane Society
Alongside their work on-site in First Nation communities, the Canadian Animal Task Force was able to aid those affected by the wildfires that threatened many communities across Alberta and BC. They assisted Sturgeon Lake in May 2023 by taking in animals that had been evacuated and couldn’t stay with their families, and they coordinated the removal of animals in Fox Lake later that same month during active fires, with the few remaining animals being returned this week! Both of these efforts were done by the Alberta Animal Disaster Response Team, a partnership between The Alberta Animal Rescue Crew (AARCS) and the Canadian Animal Task Force where they are able to combine their resources to better assist animals and their owners during large and small scale disasters. Through this partnership, they were able to care for over 275 animals – not including puppies born in their care!
We are committed to doing more than acknowledging and observing this day and seek to support the communities impacted by residential schools. Each year, we commit a $5,000 donation to the CATF to contribute to their ongoing efforts to make a difference in the lives of those impacted by residential schools. By working to improve the safety of survivor communities, this organization is making a difference in the daily lives of those most impacted by residential schools.
Our hope is that we’re able to share with you the invaluable work this organization is doing in the communities of survivors. If you or your organization can support a hands-on organization that works directly with First Nation communities, please consider the Canadian Animal Task Force. You can learn more about their work, events, and programs at cataskforce.org. The Task Force welcomes monthly donors, new supporters at their fundraising events, and charitable donations whenever possible. Every penny you are able to contribute directly supports the communities they serve.
