We are so thankful for the community of support that is Doorways!

This year has been a testament to the power of community and what we can accomplish when we come together, even and especially in the face of great crisis. Being able to depend on you means our services for families and survivors remain steady and strong. Thank you for giving the gift of safe harbor, healing, and hope to clients like Crystal and her son.

We look forward to partnering with you in our next chapter to serve even more people in meaningful ways.

We wish you and your loved ones a happy holiday season, and thank you for all you are and all you do for Doorways!

Although this week marks a time of giving thanks for many of us, we acknowledge that Thanksgiving does not have the same meaning for everyone.

"The roots of Thanksgiving are complicated and painful. Native and non-native scholars tend to agree that although there was a feast in 1621, this did not begin a tradition of Thanksgiving," Indigenous Solidarity Network reports. "The first recorded 'Thanksgiving' was a celebration of murder. Dutch and English mercenaries massacred over 700 Indigenous people during their Green Corn Dance in 1637. The next day, the Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony declared Thanksgiving Day to commemorate 'subduing the Pequots.'"

We cannot seek to end one form of violence and oppression such as domestic and sexual violence without working to end all violence and oppression. We invite you to join us in exploring the history of this holiday using the Indigenous Solidarity Network's toolkit, geared for white folks to discuss settler privilege and Thanksgiving with family, friends, and broader community.

"There are many different experiences we will have over Thanksgiving – some of us will have lots of food, some of us will struggle to have enough. Some will be surrounded by people and some will be alone or with just one other person. For many, it's an important time of coming together with family. This day also gives us a chance to look at and change stories we have about our families and ourselves. Thanksgiving is based on myths that hide and erase the genocide that the United States is founded upon. What would it mean to tell a different story; an honest story?"

"Native Land Digital creates spaces where non-Indigenous people can be invited and challenged to learn more about the lands they inhabit, the history of those lands, and how to actively be part of a better future going forward together." Visit native-land.ca to explore and learn more today.