Andtheniwasfreeorg

Andtheniwasfreeorg AndThenIWasFree aims to create a world where everyone lives authentically by sharing our stories, being vulnerable, and creating space for all to be visible.

We exist to show folks they’re not alone. The various aspects of a person’s identity – gender, race, sexuality, socio-economic status, home life, mental or physical disability– are just parts of one’s journey. They make one who they are, but do not define them. Through holistic programming, workshops, teachings, education, visibility, we will provide culturally specific resources and support for y

outh exploring all aspects of their identities. Guiding Principles: Love; Humility; Respect; Honesty; Wisdom; Truth; Bravery
The Seven Grandfather Teachings are a set of Indigenous teachings on human conduct towards others. They are moral stepping stones and a cultural foundation of which we apply throughout the work we do.

Today is Trans Day of Visibility.A day to celebrate trans lives, trans joy, and the strength of a community that continu...
03/31/2026

Today is Trans Day of Visibility.

A day to celebrate trans lives, trans joy, and the strength of a community that continues to show up, speak out, and exist authentically, even in the face of ongoing harm.

But visibility alone is not enough.

Right now, trans people are facing increasing attacks, from barriers to gender-affirming care, to discriminatory policies, to rising hate and misinformation. This is not abstract. This is impacting real people, every day.

At AndThenIWasFree, we are clear in where we stand:
Trans rights are human rights. Full stop.

Supporting trans people is not something we do once a year. It is a responsibility, always.

It means listening.
It means advocating.
It means resourcing.
It means protecting.
It means speaking up, especially when it’s uncomfortable.

To the trans community: we see you, we stand with you, and we will continue to do the work, not just today, but every day.

Transgender Day of Remembrance is not only about honouring the lives we have lost, but about confronting the harm that c...
11/20/2025

Transgender Day of Remembrance is not only about honouring the lives we have lost, but about confronting the harm that continues today.

At AndThenIWasFree, we hold space for the courage, humanity, and brilliance of trans and gender-diverse people. Today, we grieve those taken too soon and recommit ourselves to the ongoing work of protection, affirmation, and community care.

This day is heavy because the loss is real.
It is also a call to collective responsibility.

We stand with trans communities, advocates, families, and allies.
Remembrance must be followed by action.
Affirmation must be matched with protection.
Care must be reflected in change.

🏳️‍⚧️

AndThenIWasFree founder, Shayne McGregor, graduated the roinstitute Change Makers program in 2023. Now, he’s working wit...
10/19/2025

AndThenIWasFree founder, Shayne McGregor, graduated the roinstitute Change Makers program in 2023. Now, he’s working with ROI to help create future leaders in Ontario. 🙌

✨ The Rural Change Makers program shapes emerging leaders in rural Ontario to lead community development solutions with their communities. Young leaders are critical to the future of Rural Ontario. Their community involvement is key to feeling a sense of belonging, value and relevance. Communities become stronger when youth are leading and making a difference.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 🧡Today, we pause to remember and honour the children who never came home, the ...
09/30/2025

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 🧡

Today, we pause to remember and honour the children who never came home, the survivors of residential schools, and the families and communities forever changed by this dark chapter in Canadian history.

AndThenIWasFree is proud to be an Indigenous-led organization, founded on the teachings of Indigenous peoples and guided by their wisdom. Our founder is the grandson of a residential school survivor, and the work he does is deeply rooted in healing the generational trauma caused by this painful legacy.

We not only recognize the truth of this history, but we also celebrate the strength, resilience, culture, and heritage of Indigenous peoples. Every drumbeat, every story, every teaching passed down is an act of resistance and survival. It is through honouring these traditions that we find hope, healing, and a path forward.

As we reflect today, we encourage you to learn more about the history of residential schools, to listen to Indigenous voices, and to support Indigenous-led organizations. AndThenIWasFree exists to amplify these voices and to create safe spaces for healing, truth-telling, and community.

🧡 Let this day not only be one of remembrance, but also of commitment. To reconciliation. To action. And to a future where Indigenous communities continue to thrive.

🧡

What an incredible weekend at Toronto Pride! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️The energy, the love, the conversations! We are absolutely filled ...
06/29/2025

What an incredible weekend at Toronto Pride!
🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

The energy, the love, the conversations! We are absolutely filled with gratitude. It meant the world to connect with so many amazing humans, share what we do at AndThenIWasFree, and hear your stories. Your support reminds us exactly why we do this work. 🩷

To everyone who stopped by our booth: THANK YOU for showing up, asking questions, and being part of this movement toward safer, more supportive spaces for q***r, trans, non-binary, Two-Spirit, and gender-questioning youth. 🩵

And to our phenomenal volunteers: you are the heart of what we do. We couldn’t have done it without your time, energy, and joy. You made this weekend magic. 🙌

Pride might be over, but our work continues year-round, and we’re so grateful to have you with us. 🩷🩵 To continue supporting us, make a donation through the link in our bio. 🫶

👋 Come say hi at Toronto Pride! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈AndThenIWasFree will be at Church & Charles from June 27–29 and we’d love for y...
06/27/2025

👋 Come say hi at Toronto Pride! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈
AndThenIWasFree will be at Church & Charles from June 27–29 and we’d love for you to stop by our Street Fair booth!
💜 Learn about our work
🩵 Support our life-changing programs
🩷 Show love to LGBTQ2S+ youth and community

Every conversation, donation, and moment of connection helps us create safer, more supportive spaces for those who need it most. Your support means everything. ❤️

We know how to make you feel good 😉LOL not like that…we mean by supporting LGBTQ2S+ & Indigenous communities. 🖤 Why is o...
06/24/2025

We know how to make you feel good 😉
LOL not like that…we mean by supporting LGBTQ2S+ & Indigenous communities.

🖤 Why is our work so important?
LGBTQ2S+ and Indigenous youth are facing mental health crises at alarming rates.
➖ LGBTQ2S+ youth who had access to identity-affirming spaces, and trans & nonbinary youth who had access to gender-affirming spaces, reported lower rates of attempting su***de compared to those who did not.
➖ Nearly 75% of Indigenous people in Canada reported their mental health needs are unmet.

This work matters. But we can’t do it without you. 🩵 Every donation goes directly back to the community:
Peer support
Workshops
Resources
Safe spaces

We have a question…
Do you want to feel good?
Donate today.
(plus, you’ll get a tax receipt - it’s a win-win!)

🔗 https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/childrens-peace-theatre/campaign/andtheniwasfree/

A message from Shayne, Founder of AndThenIWasFree:Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day. A day that holds deep meanin...
06/21/2025

A message from Shayne, Founder of AndThenIWasFree:

Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day. A day that holds deep meaning for me as an Indigenous person and as the founder of AndThenIWasFree.

This day is about more than celebration (though our cultures, languages, and traditions absolutely deserve to be celebrated). It’s also about truth. About remembering what was taken from our people, what we’ve survived, and the strength we carry forward every single day.

In everything I do, especially in my work with Indigenous and Two-Spirit youth, I carry our teachings with me. Teachings rooted in community, in reciprocity, in love. They guide the way I show up, how I lead, and how I fight for spaces where our people can heal, thrive, and be free.

I created AndThenIWasFree to be that kind of space for my community. A space of support and of belonging.

Today, I honour the ancestors who made my path possible. I honour the youth who inspire me to keep building. And I recommit to the work of reclaiming our stories, our power, and our future, together

Nia:Wen, Miigwech & Baamaapii,
Shayne
�

1 WEEK TO GO!! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️We’re so excited to be back at the Toronto Pride Street Fair! Come find AndThenIWasFree at our b...
06/21/2025

1 WEEK TO GO!! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
We’re so excited to be back at the Toronto Pride Street Fair! Come find AndThenIWasFree at our booth at Church & Charles! 🩷🩵

Our mission is all about providing much-needed support to LGBTQ2S+ youth, and Pride is the perfect time to connect. Come chat with us about the services we offer and the work we’re doing to uplift and empower our community.

Your support means everything to us and helps fuel the work we do year-round.

📍 Church & Charles
🗓️ June 27–29

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📣 CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!AndThenIWasFree is showing up loud, proud, and full of love at the Toronto Pride Street Fair – ...
06/09/2025

📣 CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!

AndThenIWasFree is showing up loud, proud, and full of love at the Toronto Pride Street Fair – June 28-29, and we want you with us! 🩷

Are you passionate about supporting youth in our community? Do you have lived experience that drives you to do good? Then come volunteer with us. Your voice, your presence, and your energy matter. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

This is your chance to celebrate q***r joy, connect with community, and help us uplift LGBTQ2S+ and Indigenous youth.

📍 Church Street, Toronto, June 28–29
📩 DM us to join the crew!


This month we honour the rich heritage, vibrant cultures, deep wisdom, and powerful resilience of Indigenous peoples acr...
06/02/2025

This month we honour the rich heritage, vibrant cultures, deep wisdom, and powerful resilience of Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island.

We celebrate the traditions, languages, ceremonies, and teachings that have been passed down through generations, despite ongoing attempts to erase them. We recognize that the land we live on, create on, and gather on has always been, and still is, Indigenous land.

National Indigenous History Month is also a time to acknowledge what was taken: land, children, languages, stories, lives, and autonomy. The truth is uncomfortable, but necessary. Honouring Indigenous history means confronting colonial violence and committing to justice, healing, and restoration.

This month holds deep meaning for AndThenIWasFree. Our founder, Shayne, is Indigenous, and our organization’s roots are grounded in Indigenous teachings, centred in community, connection, healing, and care. Our work is a continuation of that legacy, committed to uplifting and supporting Indigenous peoples, especially those navigating systems designed to marginalize them.

We are still here. We are still healing. We are still rising.

🧡 🧡

June is Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️Pride began as a protest, and it still is. It’s a reminder that the fight for freedom, saf...
06/01/2025

June is Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Pride began as a protest, and it still is. It’s a reminder that the fight for freedom, safety, and visibility for LGBTQ2S+ people is far from over. But it’s also a time to celebrate q***r joy, honour resilience, and uplift every beautiful, authentic expression of identity.

At AndThenIWasFree we stand with the LGBTQ2S+ community - not just this month, but always. We're here to support you in being unapologetically, authentically YOU! 🩷🩵

If you believe in this work, you can help us make a difference. Donating to AndThenIWasFree directly supports our programs, advocacy, and care for q***r, trans, and two-spirit youth. And tax receipts are available for all contributions!

Let’s celebrate, protest, and support, together 🌈


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Toronto, ON

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