Empowering Generosity

We are so grateful to all of the donors who are part of our tsetsuwatil community, working with communities to empower and uplift Indigenous Youth. Doug Darwish shares why he decided to become one of our monthly donors.

“You can do as much if you have a bunch of people giving $5, $10, or $25 as one person who gave a $100k donation. So people who don’t think they can give … $10 a month is reasonable, and collectively we can make a difference. Hopefully we can change the tide on giving so we can get back to some sort of normalcy…it’s important to do. To help support building a stronger community is good for all of us.”

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I grew up in Alberta and when my wife and I retired in 2020 we moved to Victoria and have been here since, enjoying life on the island. I spent the last ten years of my career working with the government of Alberta and before that I was an Executive Director for a non-profit in Calgary that worked with children and families and focused on supports for mental health, addictions, child welfare, and young offenders.

What made you want to donate to KLF?

First, my wife and I believe that if you have the ability to give, you should. Secondly, when we moved to the island, we wanted to find some local organizations to support that are doing good work. I heard the CBC radio interview with Kw’umut Lelum Foundation and they were talking about the Valentine’s Day cards in the Indigenous (Hul’q’umi’num) language and it just resonated with me, the importance of language. So I started with a donation, and based on my own experience working for a nonprofit … I know it is always hard to make plans based on a single donation, so I said, ‘let’s do the piece where we make a commitment over time to support the work that they’re doing and see some good things happen.’

As a side to that, the language piece was also important to me because I have some Middle Eastern heritage and my grandfather spoke Arabic, but he was the only one in our family that spoke it … and I thought this was a good thing to support. I wish I knew more of the Arabic language. My wife speaks three languages and I’m quite sure she has a different perspective of the world based on those languages and the meaning that they carry, and I think within the Indigenous community that also carries over pretty strongly—that there is a view of the world that’s probably a little different than how the English language would colour it, if that makes sense. So yes, there was a decision to make a contribution and to make it ongoing and go from there.

Would you say language is what caught your attention and made you decide to give to KLF?

Well that’s what caught my attention initially, and as I did more reading online, I thought, you can decide where to put the funds, you know what needs are the greatest. And I was impressed with what I’ll call the scope of the services of the organization. So I leave it fully up to the organization … I see it as a very small piece that could be used for wherever you think it works best. I believe in the work you’re doing and just want to support it going forward.

Have you seen UnCharitable ... the documentary about how the public’s misconceptions of charities’ overhead and marketing spending are making it really difficult for charities, particularly smaller ones, to do the important on-the-ground work that can really make a difference?

Well, when I worked for the non-profit in Calgary, there was a very heavy corporate presence like the big successful oil and gas companies, and they were always saying to keep admin costs low, so we aimed to keep our admin costs at 10 per cent or below. Then I went to a philanthropy session and the person presenting said that 10 per cent wasn’t sustainable – you can’t do the marketing, you can’t do the things required to keep yourselves viable. I think management is important, administration is important, and marketing is important—you can’t undermine those pieces. I don’t presume to know the detailed needs of the organization. If that means management, admin, marketing, or if it means buying someone a cup of coffee, that’s all good stuff and it needs to be done.

What would you say to a potential donor who is perhaps considering donating to Kw’umut Lelum Foundation?

From my perspective, I read what you had online, which was very encouraging, and also based on the media coverage at the time I thought, this organization is doing some valuable work that’s being recognized … to get recognized by the media, you typically have to have a good history and some proven ability, so that helped set the stage for me. Seeing what you had posted on your website in terms of material, and the Executive Director reaching out and offering opportunities to connect … it’s those pieces of reaching out, of connection that show the commitment and the viability of the organization. I also went on CanadaHelps where they list all of the registered nonprofit organizations in Canada and give a little history about them so you get an idea of their performance, from the financial and legal end of maintaining registration, etc. Those were all solid with your organization, and made it easier to step forward and give. I think people should be encouraged to give—I think people need to find something that’s meaningful to them and help out. They could start off like I did with a single donation, and then work into a comfort level of giving monthly and going from there.

We are seeing the stats on giving being at an all-time low in Canada. What are your thoughts on this?

I think that’s a sad thing because I know how reliant organizations like yours and others are on public support. I don’t know how we turn the corner for folks to crawl out of whatever cave they’re in and say, ‘I can give a few dollars.’

You can do as much if you have a bunch of people giving $5, $10, or $25 as one person who gives a $100k donation. So people who don’t think they can give…$10 a month is reasonable, and collectively we can make a difference. Hopefully we can change the tide on giving so we can get back to some sort of normalcy…it’s important to do. To help support building a stronger community is good for all of us.

If you had one wish or vision for Indigenous Youth what would that be or what would it look like?

Oh wow, that’s a big question. To hold their heads high, to be well connected to their community and culture, knowing that there’s a bright future for them to participate in. And to be proud of who they are, and to be comfortable with their language, to share it, to know they have a piece to contribute to this world. Frankly, we need them to participate, to be involved. I think it’s critical for everyone to feel comfortable, be proud, and participate. I think it’s building kid’s strengths and abilities—it benefits all of us and makes for a stronger society going forward.

Yes, we’re hoping to continue to build upon that strength and collaboration through our 10 year ‘Snuw’uy’ulh for Success’ vision, where we’ve co-developed four pathways with and for Indigenous Youth to support their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual growth and skill development so they can walk in two worlds successfully. These pathways unite the nine Nations with a common goal, while also ensuring that each Nation is self-determining with their own ideas and dreams for their communities.   

That reminds me, the other piece I really like about Kw’umut Lelum Foundation is the nine Nations coming together and working together. In my experience in Alberta, communities were often pitted against each other, and I will be the first to say that colonization was the biggest contributor to that, as opposed to the misconception that the Nations brought it on themselves. To have nine communities working together, you’ve got something, you’ve got strength there.

In Coast Salish teachings, we publically acknowledge and uphold those who contribute to community, whether it’s in the Big House or supporting a family with a challenge through a raffle. This has been brought up by numerous community members when we tell them we have some anonymous donors. They want to know who the people are that are contributing to the development of their Youth and communities so they can give thanks.

With that context, I’m absolutely happy to do this. I appreciate the work you’re doing. It’s so important to provide this vision. The fact that you have this youth group that’s provided input into this vision is a key piece in going forward because they have ownership, they belong – it’s critical.

I’d previously just quietly given, but I figure now is the time for a voice to be heard, to offer support. I trust and believe in what you’re doing and I believe my gift will be used appropriately and professionally—what you’re going to do with the donations is going to be good and I’m happy to support that.