A T-shirt fundraiser that connects Indigenous teachings with modern world problems
Our Goal: Print messages of hope on the humble T-shirt to raise awareness and money for organizations that advocate for Indigenous sovereignty and rights, safe affordable housing and a guaranteed liveable income for all.
Our Call to Action
Meme Tees: Messages of Hope seeks to raise awareness about the status of TRC Call to Action 18 and Call to Action 19 —both are stalled
The T-shirt features the message:
Safe, Affordable Housing and a Liveable Income are Medicine
This meme honours the Indigenous Wisdom Keepers and is our prayer for indigenous peoples, and all people around the world.
Mission & Vision
We seek to amplify the voices of numerous individuals and organizations across Canada advocating for Indigenous sovereignty and rights.
Our efforts focus on the need for action — action to provide safe, affordable housing and a liveable income for all. These are key principles of social medicine.
We need more social housing now.
We need universal basic income now.
Our message speaks to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action 18 and 19. Adequate housing and income are fundamental to the urgent need to address the health disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations.
TRC Call to Action 18 — to recognize and implement healthcare rights of Indigenous peoples.
TRC Call to Action 19 — to establish measurable goals to identify and close health gaps.
We need progress on these calls to action.
Meme Tees supports the calls for economic reconciliation and housing as ways forward to decolonization and reconciliation.
We believe that housing and liveable income are Medicine, in every sense of the word. The T-shirt design is inspired by and reflects the ideals of the Indigenous Medicine Wheel:
“Medicine” within the context of the Medicine Wheel, represents the alignment and continuous interaction of the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual realities. The circle shape represents the interconnectivity of all aspects of one’s being, including the connection with the natural world.
Medicine wheels are frequently believed to be the circle of awareness of the individual self; the circle of knowledge that provides the power we each have over our own lives.
The presence of the Medicine Wheel also draws attention to the fact that Indigenous people account for 2.2% of Vancouver’s total population but make up 33% of the homeless count in Metro Vancouver. Indigenous people are disproportionately affected by poor housing and inadequate income across Canada.
“We have described for you a mountain. We have shown you the path to the top. We call upon you to do the climbing.” The Honourable Murray Sinclair (1951-2024)
What is your Call to Action?
Watch the ReconciliAction Symposium held on Saturday, May 24th 2025 at the Church of the Redeemer in Toronto.
Use your voice, raise your concerns — call or email your MP, the Premier of your province or territory, the Prime Minister of Canada.
Demand the provincial and federal governments to exert the political will and take the necessary actions to get progress on TRC Calls to Action 18 and 19.
Donate to Indigenous organizations and Indigenous-led journalism.
“We should never forget…it’s a part of who we are as a nation. This nation must never forget what it once did to its most vulnerable people.” The Honourable Murray Sinclair (1951-2024)
We donate to these registered charities:
BC Indigenous Housing Society
Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness
UBI Works
The T-Shirt
3rd Edition
3rd Edition tees are printed locally by Decolonial Clothing Company based in xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) territory
We love Decolonial Clothing Co’s t-shirts!
Sustainable and Socially Conscious Manufactured t-shirts by Gildan
Mailing packages made of recycled plastic and sourced from an eco-packaging alliance company by Noissue
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
