A PROUD PARTNER
Sew & Sew equips remote community schools with sewing labs, including quality sewing machines and supplies, so they can teach a valuable life skill through traditional projects in the school setting.
Your support enables us to equip classrooms and cover the high costs of shipping.
APTN SPECIAL REPORT
In June, we opened our biggest lab yet, in the Algonquin community of Kitigan Zibi. Click the image to view the report.
In 2022, the Canadian Quilter's Association published an in-depth article about the Sew & Sew program. We were also invited to their annual quilter's convention in Vancouver, as their "show" project! Click the image to read the article.
Spring fabric collection : APRIL 11-28, 2023
What's needed:
Would your store want to become a collection point? If you are located in the GTA, Ottawa, Gatineau or Montreal areas, please contact us by email at ilovefirstpeoples@gmail.com.
Collection centres:
ONTARIO
Oakville
Janome Canada Ltd.
C/O – ILFP Donation Drive
4 -1155 North Service Road West, Oakville
Alliston
Alliston Sewing Machine Services
122 Cunningham Drive
quiltedmemories@me.com
Burlington
The Quilt Store West
695 Plains Rd E # 1
www.thequiltstore.ca
Carleton Place
Information Centre and Chamber of Commerce
170 Bridge Street
M-F 9am-5pm and Sat 10am – 4pm
Kingston
HomeMade
637 Gardiners Road
www.homemade.ca
Newmarket
The Quilt Store
17817 Leslie St, Unit 40
www.thequiltstore.ca
QUEBEC
Gatineau
Paquette Textiles
110 Blvd Gréber
www.paquettetextiles.com
Recipient schools:
Many factors are involved in selecting a qualifying school for the installation of a Sew & Sew Skills Lab. Namely, we look at school infrastructure, existing sewing programs and teaching resources, prior collaboration with the school or community, as well as our ability to create longterm partnerships with transporters for the recipient community.
In 2023, recipient schools are:
Kitigan Zibi (Quebec)
Natuashish (Labrador)
Nain (Labrador)
Pond Inlet (Nunavut)
Igloolik (Nunavut)
Garden Hill FN (Manitoba)
Shamattawa FN (Manitoba)
Ahtahkakoop FN (Saskatchewan)
Black Lake FN (Saskatchewan)
Wollaston Lake FN (Saskatchewan)
Fond-du-Lac FN (Saskatchewan)
Buffalo Narrows FN (Saskatchewan)
M'Chigeeng FN (Ontario)
A school in Alberta will be announced soon.
Janome Canada Ltd. contributes 60 quality sewing machines! Read all about it here:
MEET RUTH
We are so proud to work with Ruth Dukas as official ambassador of the Sew & Sew Skills Lab program!
Ruth is a retired, award-winning Canadian fashion designer who in the 1960s was celebrated across North America for her evening wear designs with their luxurious beading and embroidery. She employed Indigenous women for some of the bead work and recalls how Indian Affairs at the time made the process extremely difficult; buried in red tape and endless paperwork, she was forced to abandon her employment strategy, but always hoped that someday she would be able to continue supporting Indigenous women and communities.
In 2017, Ruth joined I Love First People as a chapter leader for Kingston. Each year since, she mobilizes her network in support of our projects. What’s even more amazing is that Ruth has reignited her passion for knitting through ILFP, as each year she knits dozens of hats and scarfs for children in remote communities – the kids who receive her creations love them, and are always so happy to hear the story of the wonderful woman who made them! (Ruth was also a knitwear designer, working alongside other greats like Alfred Sung).
Today, at a youthful 92, Ruth is asking all Canadians, especially all businesses and groups involved in textile arts, to join her in helping young students to learn sewing through traditional projects.
Together, we can help elevate a new generation of Indigenous creators and designers who are all very eager to get started…
