FirstU News

$35,400 OTF grant from Ontario Government for Ajashki Program
provides new options for Indigenous youtH

On Tuesday, September 17, local MPP Joel Harden met with the team at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa (FirstU) to hear more about the $35,400 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) that was used to establish a new Maker Space and an Indigenous Advisory Circle for the Ajashki Program at FirstU. With this funding, the project aims to provide sustainability options and future strategies for participants in the program’s Food Security and Climate Change Learning Centre.

“The First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa is an incredible community partner that does critical and necessary work to make our world a better place. I’m excited to see that, with the generous support of OTF, the Congregation will be able to expand and grow their work in exciting new ways,” said Joel Harden, MPP for Ottawa Centre.

MPP Joel Harden congratulates the Ajashki Program at First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa on receiving an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant. Front row: Leland MacLeod, Brenda McGregor, Stephanie Babij, Maijor Mark-Hall Back row: Joel Harden, Kayoki Whiteduck, Chuck Shields, Rev. Eric Meter, Billy Akavak

​The OTF grant funded the hiring of a part-time Makerspace Program Developer, Maijor Mark, to revamp the room with help of the Future Food Warriors. As a part of their work, the developer also designed a mural with the input from the youths, to reflect all the Indigenous cultures celebrated at Ajashki and will be organizing Indigenous led workshops for the Future Food Warriors to learn new skills, traditions and history. Thanks to their efforts, the Makerspace will be a place for youth to learn, create and grow.

The Ajashki Program was first established at FirstU in 2020 as an Indigenous-led project to provide part-time employment to marginalized Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth struggling with mental and physical wellness. Kayoki Whiteduck was first hired as Food and Climate Educator to teach youth – called Future Food Warriors or FFWs – about gardening to develop skills for future employment and build resilience against food insecurity and climate change. In 2024, there are 16 FFWs participating in the Ajashki Program through part-time employment. The employment model is largely funded by donations and grants, which is difficult to sustain. Recent program reviews have revealed that while FFWs are gaining knowledge and confidence, they also wanted to explore activities that have potential for personal income generation. This led to the idea of creating a Makerspace at FirstU, an idea that required physical space, supplies and creative talent.
The grant also enabled the creation of an Advisory Circle of four Indigenous advisors who will meet with Ajashki and FirstU leadership bi-monthly. This council will promote Indigenous perspectives and provide input and overall direction for the Ajashki program, ensuring that Ajashki youth continue to design and lead similar to an arts collective.

“The Ajashki Program is an important part of FirstU’s social justice actions on several fronts, including combatting poverty, building resilience to climate-change, and forging new paths toward Indigenous reconciliation,” stated Reverend Eric Meter, Lead Pastor of FirstU. “FirstU is proud to support the Ajashki Program with financial and in-kind resources, and congratulates them on the funding for a new Indigenous Makerspace and Indigenous Advisory Council.”