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FWIC â€" Into the North ‘.The Federated Women's institutes of Canada [FWlCl has launched a new project to assist children and women and focus on improving the lives of families in Northern Canada Hopedale and Sheshatshui in Labrador are the first two communities selected Hopedale is located on the northern Labrador coast, among the large bays that open up to the Labrador Sea The Moravian Missionaries first established this community The first missmn building was erected in 1782 and was declared a National Historic Site in l990. Hopedale is the second largest lnnu community in Northern Labrador Currently, about 250 of its 610 residents are aged 18 and under The residents still rely on wild food and travel far distances forfirewood. Sheshatshui is an innu community in central Labrador, The area was a traditional summer gathering place for the innu who resided inland most of the year. living off the land by hunting, fishing and trapping. They came to the area to fish and to meet with their priest, camping close to the Hudson's Bay Post where they would trade furs for supplies When the Roman Catholic Church was built in the late 19503. some of the innu started to settle Today, the community oiSheshatshui has a population ofabout |,300 and is in the process of becoming a First Nations Reserve Hopedale and Sheshatshui are isolated communities with very real needs. especially for the children issues in these communities include teen pregnancy, maternal. infant and early childhood care. access to medical care. family violence, substance abuse and unemployment. Recommended community leaders prowded a list of their needs, which included ~ funding to purchase nutritional food, water and supplies for new moms and children [for safety reasons. bottled water is required fordrinkingi - funding for breakfast programs - supplies for women's shelters I books for children and women - educational resources 0 baby items Schoolhouse Comes to Life Having not been open to the public in almost twenty years, the old Rombough oneâ€"room schoolhouse looked about what one might expect â€" a iittle dusty, a little dark and a little run down. Although there haven‘t been students in the desks since 1945, they were occupied again one Friday evening last October. This time by members of the Reidville Women’s Institute. Member Helen Brown arranged to have the Branch's regular monthlymeeting in the old building. Helen gave a presentation about the history of the Rombou‘éh schoolhouse and about the history of education in the area. A trustee for the local school board, a formerteacherand the fact that she lives across the road from the school, Helen was an obvious choice tomake the presentation. FWlCisaskingallmembers and Branches across Canada to help improve the lives of the women and children that live in these two northern communities. Wi members are always so generous when they see a need, and there is a real need right here in Canada! For those members and Branches sending cheques. please make them payable to FWIC, wrth Northern Canada Proiect on the memo line All cheques should be sent to FWIC, PO Box 209. St George ON NOE lNO FWIC is also collecting baby items, such as blankets, sleepers. sweaters, etc Please send these items directly to Margaret Yetman, i0 Barbour Dr, Mount Pearl NL AiN 2H8 Note that the first target date is luly i, 2005, but items will continue to be accepted throughout the summer FWIC plans to continue this project by working with and assisting communities in other regions of Northern Canada Extracted from information distributed by FWIC Extracted in part from an article by Seth DuChene in The Napanee Beaver, October 13, 2004. Photo counzsy of Seth DuChene.