‘Breathtaking’: Hope Truck fundraiser raises $151,000 for communities

MOBERLY LAKE, B.C. — An initiative designed to help communities – both of First Nations and settler communities – in the Peace has revealed final fundraising totals.

The Hope Truck fundraiser, which began in March, was a collaboration between West Moberly Industrial Metalwork (WM-IMW) – a division of West Moberly First Nations’ economic arm, West Moberly Corporate Alliance – and Tumbler Ridge-based coal company Conuma Resources.

Following a gala on September 27th, the initiative revealed a total of $151,917.44 was raised after expenses.

This means the four communities involved – Chetwynd and Tumbler Ridge as well as Saulteau First Nations (SFN) and West Moberly First Nations (WMFN) – will receive a share of $37,979.44 

WM-IMW director of marketing and Indigenous relations Marilyn Nelson was also a member of the initiative’s board and told Energeticcity.ca that while fundraising, organizers had an initial goal of $75,000, doubling that total was “breathtaking.”

“[It] takes your breath away to see how many companies, individuals and communities that just jumped on and were a part of it,” said Nelson. “With this being the first year of us doing it, it’s jaw-dropping to see the support that we got. It was amazing.”

A refurbished Caterpillar 739 haul truck – with the bed compartment painted orange to represent reconciliation – moved hauls of coal from the Quintette mine in Tumbler Ridge, with each load sponsored by industry leaders.

Main sponsors included WM-IMW, West Moberly Corporate Alliance, alongside Conuma Resources and LaPrairie Crane.

The initiative wrapped up with the gala and dinner, which featured a 50/50 draw and silent auction, on September 27th at SFN’s Cultural Centre.

Nelson added a total of 44 sponsors contributed to the effort – which included Arctic Arrow, Wajax, Scotiabank, SMS Equipment and more.

Each community has plans to promote culture, education and sport with their share of the proceeds, according to Nelson.

SFN plans include more participation in its music program, while WMFN is focusing on promoting culinary skills and a lunch program for the youth in the community.

“[WMFN will be looking to promote] Indigenous, cultured recipes and having different cooking programs for kids that don’t have the opportunity to learn these things,” said Nelson. 

Meanwhile, Chetwynd will use the funds to promote a track and field program in the community, incorporating Indigenous language with the athletic equipment, and Tumbler Ridge will be using the funds to work on a video project to interview Elders and learn about their history.

Nelson said, unlike other projects focusing on reconciliation, involving the communities made it more special and authentic.

“It’s not just a bunch of money being thrown at the community,” said Nelson. “I think that’s a piece of reconciliation that’s missed a lot because there’s just so much to learn from each other. There’s so much to learn [from the] past. I think that that’s how we move forward, is connecting and bringing us together and being able to move forward together.”

Further details about the Hope Truck initiative are available on its website.