FUNDRAISING AS SOLIDARITY
In addition to physically being on the land, support from afar is needed year-round to sustain the camp and with recent events to help with covering legal expenses. There has been an overwhelming amount of support coming towards the Wet’suwet’en recently, all is very appreciated. One way to support is hosting fundraisers! It helps if you have a goal, please check out our wishlist and choose one of the bigger ticket items to work towards!
You must follow guidelines and protocols for organizing fundraisers to benefit the Gidimt'en Access Checkpoint
Gain consent first - if you have an idea for a fundraiser, submit it for approval from leadership BEFORE you’ve begun advertising and any binding arrangements.
If you are fundraising for more than one of our Wet’suwet’en groups please make sure you make contact and get permission from everyone involved, and then make it clear on your advertisements who the money will be going to and how it will be divided. Unist’ot’en and Gidimt’en and Likht’samisyu are separate groups and have separate fundraisers.
The best places to donate the money you raised are directly through fundraiser sites:
This ensures the money gets there the quickest and most secure way. DO NOT USE YOUR PERSONAL ACCOUNT. This will result in being banned from our page and permission to hold a fundraiser.
Use the speaking points outlined on official Wet’suwet’en Press Releases and guides, like this Supporter Toolkit. Do not insert your own or your group’s narrative into the Wet’suwet’en story
Do not use funds raised for personal gain or to supplement your income (yes, even if you worked really hard on it!). Do not advertise events as Gidimt’en, Unist’ot’en or Wet’suwet’en benefits unless 100% of funds raised are donated.
When possible, source donated venues/volunteers/materials or pay upfront costs, rather than fundraising for these things if the costs are going to be high. It is often far more beneficial to the camp to simply donate the money you would have raised to spend on your event space.
When overhead costs are unavoidable and will yield greater funds raised than cost free events, ensure that upfront investment will only make up
Ideally have a contact who is familiar and trusted by the camp hosts (e.g. known ally or supporter, Wet’suwet’en member) responsible for ensuring the funds raised are in fact donated via the above fundraiser sites. Be prepared to share this person’s contact information and details of how they are connected when making the request. Also share when the donation will be made and in whose name. Unfortunately some opportunists have used our struggle and kept the funds raised. These details help us follow up and encourage accountability and integrity.
Close the loop post-event and communicate to camp hosts the amount of funds raised and when they are deposited. For large fundraisers send along a photo of the solidarity efforts, noting if they can be posted on our website or social media (make sure you have consent). We love to see our allies!
Gidimt’en Checkpoint is not a non-profit or NGO, so your donations will not be tax-deductible.
Please also read our Resources on Allyship and Solidarity
WAYS TO FUNDRAISE
Host the Gidimt’en camp spokesperson for speaking engagements at colleges and community centres, videoconferencing is preferred to minimize the carbon footprint and travel costs
Hold benefit concerts, parties, and art shows with funds going to the camp
Host community fundraiser dinners and film screenings of documentaries made at the camp
Provide your home communities with presentations about the camp after visiting
Connect the camp hosts with major news outlets to broadcast their campaigns
Set up fundraising challenges with prizes to promote the campaigns - such as free tattoos, handmade jewelry, gift cards, and other gifts
Subscribe and share posts from the Gidimt’en Facebook, Youtube, and other social media.
Table at events with fundraiser forms pulled up on a tablet for visitors to easily sign up
Can you do something from this list? Or do you have a creative idea of your own that will support the Gidimt’en? Get in touch with the camp hosts to get their consent and input on your solidarity event! (Due to the heavy volume of requests and messages the hosts receive, response may be delayed please allow for at minimum a week’s time for a response. Events should be planned with more than a week of lead time).
WAYS TO DONATE
Ways to donate to the Wet’suwet’en Access point on Gidimt’en Territory:
1. (Preferred) Send an e-transfer to yintahaccess@gmail.com
2. Mail a cheque. Write yintahaccess@gmail.com for name and mailing address.
3. Paypal - yintahaccess@gmail.com