I WAS THIRSTY recognizes the complexities of reconciliation.
We are committed to acting respectfully within a community where Indigenous people are disproportionately represented among those experiencing homelessness.
Our work is guided by dignity, equity, respectful relationships, and practical action. We are also guided by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s encouragement for individuals and organizations to learn, understand, take action on present-day inequities, and help others learn.
At its core, I WAS THIRSTY provides bottled drinking water to people experiencing homelessness and vulnerability in Thunder Bay. We recognize that a disproportionate number of the people we serve are Indigenous and that this reflects broader and long-standing systemic inequities.
We do not suggest that delivering water, by itself, is reconciliation. We believe, however, that showing up consistently, listening, treating people with dignity, and helping address unequal access to a basic necessity can make a small but practical contribution to the broader work of reconciliation.
In this way, our mission seeks to support the spirit and intent of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, particularly their emphasis on equity, health, respectful relationships, and community well-being.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls attention to health inequities affecting Indigenous peoples and the need for meaningful action to close those gaps.
Access to safe drinking water is a basic human need. By delivering bottled water directly to people living outdoors, I WAS THIRSTY provides practical support to individuals who may face barriers accessing this essential resource.
Our role is simple: to help put safe drinking water into the hands of people who need it, consistently and respectfully.
Indigenous people are disproportionately represented among those experiencing homelessness in Thunder Bay.
Each delivery gives our volunteers an opportunity to provide practical assistance, listen to residents, build respectful relationships, and treat people with dignity.
We recognize that water alone cannot address the complex causes of homelessness or systemic inequity. We do believe that consistent, respectful service can make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people we meet and can form one small part of the broader work of reconciliation.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission emphasizes the importance of public education about the legacy of residential schools and the systemic inequities that continue to affect Indigenous peoples and communities.
Through volunteer outreach, community engagement, public events, and conversations about the work of I WAS THIRSTY, we help draw attention to homelessness, water insecurity, and the disproportionate impact these challenges can have on Indigenous people in Thunder Bay.
By encouraging greater understanding, respectful conversation, and practical community involvement, we hope to make a small contribution to the broader work of reconciliation.
Reconciliation is ultimately about relationships.
Our daily outreach creates opportunities to meet people where they are, listen to their experiences, learn from them, and build trust through consistent and respectful contact.
For our volunteers, these encounters can also deepen understanding of homelessness, Indigenous experiences, and the circumstances affecting people living outdoors in our community.
Every bottle of water we distribute is more than hydration - it is a practical act of support, dignity, and care.
By helping meet an immediate need, listening to residents, and showing up consistently and respectfully, I WAS THIRSTY seeks to make a small contribution to the broader work of reconciliation and to the goals of equity, dignity, and community well-being.
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