Jenie Gao

Words are cheap. Reconciliation requires that we put what we learn into practice.

For National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, I have donated to the following organizations:
🧡 @adycenter provides services to Indigenous youth and young adults including emergency shelter, permanent housing, and services to keep Indigenous families together.
🧡 @irsssbc delivers essential, Indigenous‑led wellness, emotional, and crisis support services to Indian Residential School Survivors, intergenerational families, and communities across British Columbia.
🧡 @sacredearthorg is an Indigenous women-led organization dedicated to reducing Indigenous communities’ dependency on fossil fuels and building resilience and clean energy infrastructure in the face of climate change.
🧡 @honouringourgrandmothers [Sacred Rock Community Society] is a multiyear project by artist @hope.spence.art, including the creation of several traveling chests by multicultural artists who have a historic relationship with Indigenous peoples.
🧡 @unidoswi empowers Latine and marginalized communities to overcome domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. They provide language support for survivors to access services and work to break cycles of violence.

Giving isn’t easy during economically hard times. Even so, if you have the means, I encourage you to give what you can.

You don’t have to give a lot. As a self-employed artist and small business owner who grew up in a low-income family, who has often been the sole breadwinner in my household, I’ve made it a priority to give regularly. Since 2020, I have given over $10,500 CAD [$7,500 USD] of my own earnings to nonprofits, mutual aid, and bail funds, not counting cash gifts for which there are no receipts.

I give not because it’s easy, but because I love what I do. I want to live in a generous world. Perhaps that’s what you want, too. 🧡

Image 1: monotype print, The Color of Jade #13. Jade is worn for protection. This work is a gesture of protection that extends beyond oneself to others who need to be kept safe.

Image 2-8: screenshots of receipts + Jenie Gao Studio’s social justice commitment.

#truthandreconciliation #residentialschools