Culture & Identity

Minds Matter Magazine Volume III Issue I Culture & Identity Minds Matter Magazine Volume III Issue I Culture & Identity
Although born in the Northwest Territories
rich in Inuit culture, Nanook (Nook) Fareal
was raised in a predominantly white town in
Nova Scotia. At 23, Fareal is finding herself
piecing together a sense of identity.
Fareal was born from an Inuit mother
and white father. Her parents separated
when she was three and her father moved
her and her brother across Canada, consequently
away from their Inuit culture.
“We never grew up with our culture,
and I always felt like I was white,” Fareal said.
“I grew up around all white people. I was a
white person up until a few years ago.”
Fareal felt like there was something
missing. She struggled for a long time with
mental illness and drug addiction, not knowing
who she was scared her and left her
uncomfortable with life. When she moved to
Toronto in her twenties, she had an opportunity
to learn.
She looked into her Inuit culture and
became invested in the LGBTQ community–
where she connected to others struggling
with their own identity. At the same time, a
Native friend began learning about his family’s
history and culture. His interest was
contagious and Fareal started joining him at
Native community centres and events.
He died of a drug overdose before he
could teach Fareal everything he knew about
their shared culture, so she continued to pursue
her identity on her own. It was difficult
for her, but his spirit remained an inspiration
to move forward.
“There was a reason why he was
searching for his culture more,” said Fareal.
“So I also started pushing myself forward and
getting more into it.”
The more she learned, the worse she
felt for her people, what they have been
through and what those still living in Northern
Canada continue to face every day. Fareal
decided to help.
Last year during the holiday season
Fareal started the Feeding Canada project,
which sends canned food and care packages
to Northern Indigenous communities. With
the help of friends, Fareal set up a GoFund-
Me page with images of the shockingly high
food prices in Northern Canada.
Brenda Megannety, a retired yoga
instructor, is among those who have helped
with the Feeding Canada project. Megannety
was introduced to Fareal through mutual
friends and, like so many others, was moved
by her spirit and passion.
“I met her a few times and I just really
liked her. I liked her energy and her drive,”
Meganetty said.
After reaching out to Fareal last year
during the first shipment of goods to the
North, Megannety wanted to be more involved.
Megannety became an asset to the
project and continues to be involved.
“I guess it was when I looked and saw
the prices up in Nunavut. It’s insane. That really
just got me going,” Megannety said. “And
I thought, there is so much going on in the
world and so much money we can give. Why
not just give them home? Why not give our
own country?”
When she was 22, Fareal reached out
to her mother for the first time since the
divorce. She learned her mother had been
placed in a residential school as a young girl.
This resonated with Fareal; suddenly she was
personally involved and the horrific past of
her people became too real.
“Imagine all the abuse they went
through. It just hit me really hard,” Fareal
said, looking away as she recounted the time
she learned about her mother’s past. “I felt
so hopeless. I decided to start the project, I
needed to help in some way.”
After Feeding Canada’s first year, Fareal
managed to send boxes to six different
families and eight care packages to a food
bank in Nunavut– with the highest food
prices in Canada.
Fareal has decided to expand the campaign
in the next years. Wanting to involve
more of herself and her own identity into her
project, Fareal is beginning to plan an LGBTQ
fashion show to fundraise for her cause. She
wants to showcase LGBTQ designers from
Canada and the U.S. and incorporate Native
fashion designers as well.
All of Feeding Canada’s donations go
into the contents of the care packages and
shipping costs. Fareal wants to do more to
help entire communities and increase her
success from six families.
“I was thinking of using the money to
go up there and give it to the hunters,” Fareal
said thinking of the possibilities. “And then
they’ll bring back the food and then they can
feed their whole community.”
The fundraising and project have
helped Fareal learn about her culture and
herself. Learning more about Native history
has led Fareal to see what Indigenous people
are capable of surviving– what she is capable
of and what she can survive.
“I feel like I’ve come a long way in the
last couple years with finding my identity,”
Fareal said smiling to herself. “Although, I
know it’s a long process.”
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