bc association of aboriginal friendship centres | newsletter ......• jul. 13-15, nafc 30th annual...
TRANSCRIPT
The Friendship Centre Movement is built on community support, trust, strong leadership, tradition and faith. Mandated to improve the quality of life for Indigenous people across Canada—the Friendship Centre Movement serves all people working towards a brighter future. Each Friendship Centre is unique to its landscape and plays an important role in its community.
July 2019
BC Friendship Centres
BCAAFC Annual General Meeting – Co-hosted with the Cariboo Friendship Society on July 6
BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres | Newsletter
This year’s AGM took place at the Cariboo Friendship Society Longhouse, in Williams Lake, BC.
In addition to the AGM, a board meeting took place on July 4, and a membership meeting took place on July 5-6.
The Elders and Youth Dinner, hosted by PAYC and the Elders Council, took place on July 4 at the Cariboo Friendship Society’s Hearth Restaurant. About 40 Elders and youth were in attendance.
Mark your calendars |
Annual Meetings• Jul. 13-15, NAFC 30th Annual Youth Forum, Lethbridge, AB • Jul. 16-19, NAFC 48th Annual Meeting, Lethbridge, AB • Jul. 23-24, 43rd Annual BC Elders Gathering, Vancouver, BC
Friendship Centres • Sep. 5, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m., First Nations Health Benefits Plan Information
Webinar (RVSP by Aug. 16 – [email protected])
Dates announced for 2020 • Jan. 30-Feb. 1, Early Years Conference, Vancouver, BC • Jul. 12-18, North American Indigenous Games, Halifax, NS
I·SPARC | Healthy Living Leader Training Sessions: • Sep. 19-20, Tsimshian, Terrace – Best Western Inn• Sep. 24-25, Lheidli T’enneh, Prince George – Coast Inn• Oct. 10-11, Tk’emlups, Kamloops – Sandman Signature• Oct. 17-18, Sumas, Abbotsford – Quality Inn • Oct. 29-30, Snuneymuxw, Nanaimo – Coast Bastion
Registration opens Aug. 26 – Learn more here
Indigenous Youth 3C Challenges: • Aug. 12-14, Campbell River
Contact [email protected] to bring a challenge to your community!
What’s Ahead
In the News …………………………………….......... 2
BCAAFC Policy Team …………………………………• Ending Violence Initiative• Training & Research• Health Initiatives
2
First Nations Health Benefits Plan ……………• Improvements • Information Webinar• Community Relations Support
3
Aboriginal Infant Development Program/ ..Aboriginal Supported Child Development• The Partnerships Project • Professional Development Funds
3
What’s New in Friendship Centres ……………• Ooknakane Friendship Centre• Wachiay Friendship Centre
4
Job Postings ……………………………………………. 5
Staff, Board, and Councils ……………………….. 5
Thank you for reading the July newsletter!Email [email protected] if you have information to
share in our next newsletter.
Special Moments: • Cariboo Friendship Society celebrated its 50th anniversary! • Dr. Jennifer Charlesworth, Office of the Representative for Children and Youth, presented to the
membership on July 5. • Jocelyn Formsma, NAFC Executive Director, attended July 5-6 and presented to membership. • The Elders Council added four new members to the council. • Herman Dan from Mission Friendship Centre Society, and Sadi Dennis from Friendship House
Association of Prince Rupert, received the Honouring Our Elders Award. • Susan Tatoosh, Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society Executive Director, was
blanketed for receiving the Order of BC. • New members were elected to the BCAAFC Board of Directors.
Read the 2018-19 Annual General Report
551 Chatham StreetVictoria, BC, V8T [email protected]
bcaafc.com
BCAAFC Policy Team |
Ending Violence InitiativeWe are currently working on the Status of Women - Ending Violence Initiative with a focus on domestic violence and human trafficking. Kinwa Bluesky, a consultant and current Ph. D student studying out of UBC, is leading this project in tandem with the policy team to engage with identified centres. Ms. Bluesky presented a project update at the AGM in Williams Lake and shared useful resources and information for Centres.
Training & ResearchThe Policy team will also be reaching out over the summer to engage and identify one to two staff members from Centres to receive two days of Legal support training –Supporting Aboriginal families through the child welfare system training. This training in tentatively set for September 30th or October 1 this fall. The training, travel, and accommodations will be at the cost of the BCAAFC and all centres are highly encouraged to attend. Registration information will be distributed over the summer.
The policy team will also be reaching out to centres for assistance in compiling information relating to funding that is not flowed through the BCAAFC. Research to substantiate BCAAFC and our Centres stance that more Friendship Centres specific funding is required, and in light of funding shortfalls that have been experienced in Interior Centres.
Health InitiativesWe will be conducting meetings with Friendship Centres to identify mental health and wellness priorities. These priorities will be summarized in the development of a framework for engagement that supports the needs of Friendship Centres and urban Indigenous peoples in BC.
We will also be collaborating with Primary Care partners across BC Friendship Centres and other Indigenous organizations to engage in the Primary Care Network Planning process. More information is to follow into the late summer and early fall.
BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres | Newsletter July 2019
In the News |
Investing in our youth – the BC Indigenous Youth 3C Challenge The BCAAFC, in partnership with the University of Victoria, Gustavson School of Business, and National Consortium for Indigenous Economic Development, will be hosting 50 Indigenous Youth 3C Challenge workshops within the 25 Friendship Centres. Read more here
BC athletes heading to the 2020 North American Indigenous Games The Province of BC has invested $1.46 million dollars in funding to support BC Indigenous athletes’ participation in the 2020 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG). I·SPARC will be administering the funding, which will give more BC athletes the opportunity to compete at the 2020 Games. Team BC placed first in the 2017 Games, we can’t wait to see what the 2020 Games will bring! Read more here
Geoff Rankin, Director of [email protected] | 250-388-5522 ext. 220
Kassandra Woods, Director of Health [email protected] | 250-388-5522 ext. 252
Kinwa Bluesky, Consultant – Status of [email protected] | 1-778-239-2375
551 Chatham StreetVictoria, BC, V8T [email protected]
bcaafc.com
The Partnerships Project The AIDP/ASCD provincial office facilitates agreements for The Partnerships Project –community-based training models for practitioners and parents who serve children birth to six with special needs. Visit http://partnershipsproject.bc.ca/ if you are interested in holding a module in your community!
Professional Development FundingThe AIDP/ASCD receives annual funding to support professional development among Infant Development and Supported Child Development consultants and frontline workers.
Supporting professional development helps to ensure frontline professionals are knowledgeable on new and current information related to child development and provides opportunities for them to specialize in specific areas of child development. Funds are allocated quarterly.
Professional Development Funding Application*Next application deadline: September 30, 2019*
Provincial Child Care Planner The BCAAFC Child Care Planner is available to support early learning and child care programs in each of the 25 Friendship Centres.
Aboriginal Infant Development Program/ Aboriginal Supported Child Development
Coming Sept. 16 | Improvements to the First Nations Health Benefits Plan
The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is modernizing delivery of dental, vision, and medical supplies and equipment benefits for FNHA clients. The new plan will be more convenient to use and will expand benefit coverage in key areas. On Sept. 16, the FNHA will transition these benefits off the federal Non-Insured Health Benefits program to a new administrative partner, Pacific Blue Cross.
FNHA clients in BC will receive more coverage for preventative dental care services, along with more flexible coverage for dentures, crowns and bridgework. Pre-approvals will be eliminated for standard prescription eyewear, and eye exam coverage will increase. There will also be a streamlined claiming process for medical supplies and equipment.
This benefits transition follows months of engagement with First Nations communities, health directors and health care providers.
BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres | Newsletter July 2019
Sept. 5, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m., First Nations Health Benefits Plan Information Webinar
The FNHA is pleased to invite members of the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, patient navigators and health workers who support FNHA clients to attend a webinar on the First Nations Health Benefits program.
*Please RSVP to [email protected] by Friday, Aug. 16*
Community Relations Support for Friendship Centres
FNHA Health Benefits Community Relations Representatives are available to visit Friendship Centres in person to share posters and handouts or host information sessions for staff members.
Vancouver Island: [email protected] | 250-830-7346Vancouver Coastal: [email protected] | 604-693-6588 Fraser Salish: [email protected] | 778-684-1886Interior: [email protected] | 250-318-6634North: [email protected] | 250-960-9201
Child Care Planner: [email protected] Provincial Advisor: [email protected] | ASCD Provincial Advisor: [email protected]: [email protected] | 250-388-5593AIDP Website: www.aidp.bc.ca | ASCD Website: www.ascdp.bc.ca
551 Chatham StreetVictoria, BC, V8T [email protected]
bcaafc.com
BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres | Newsletter July 2019
Wachiay Friendship Centre (WFC): http://www.wachiay.org/ | www.wachiaymultimedia.com | www.wachiaystudio.com
Wachiay Aboriginal Multimedia (WaMM) is now podcasting! – working out of their Community Podcast Centre, WaMM intends to develop and air podcasts devoted to the stories, celebrations, programs, people, culture and goals of the Friendship Centre Movement across Canada.
WFC youth, staff and Elders will host podcasts where they speak with their fellow Friendship Centre colleagues across Canada about “what’s up at their Friendship Centre”!
WaMM’s in-house produced podcast ‘What’s Up at Wachiay’ consists of weekly chats with WFC staff about their programs and services.
What’s New in Friendship Centres |
So, what is a podcast? Quite simply, it’s a conversation. Like an old school radio talk show, but without rules, restraints or commercials. A host speaks with guests about a topic, story, event, similar interests and an interview or friendly discussion is the end product.
Ooknakane Friendship Centre (OFC): http://www.friendshipcentre.ca/
The OFC Aboriginal Infant Development Program Worker will be working with The Granny Cloud! Members of Granny Cloud are dedicated to engaging children in dialogue that promotes their learning and self-development.
Going forward, OFC is providing an Elders lunch twice a month!
Contact Rob Crowston to talk about what WaMM can create for your Friendship Centre –[email protected] | 778-225-0309
Listen Now: What’s Up at Wachiay
551 Chatham StreetVictoria, BC, V8T [email protected]
bcaafc.com
BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres | Newsletter
Job Postings| Visit our website for updates
Friendship Centre Movement • Gathering Our Voices
• Lead Event Coordinator, BCAAFC, Victoria • Workshop Coordinator, BCAAFC, Victoria• Logistics Coordinator, BCAAFC, Kamloops• Registration Coordinator, BCAAFC, Victoria
• Board Liaison, BCAAFC, Victoria • Family Outreach Worker, Ooknakane Friendship Centre (OFC), Pentincton• Child & Youth Mental Health Aboriginal Development Clinician, OFC, Pentincton• Bookkeeper/ Accountant, Friendship House Association of Prince Rupert, Prince Rupert
External • Indigenous Program Coordinator, Canadian Mental Health Association, Victoria
Staff, Board, and Councils |
New Elders Council Members: • Minnie Kenoras, Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society • Stanley Namox, Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society • Laura Fortin, Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Society• Wally Samuel, Port Alberni Friendship Centre
New PAYC Member – Zoe George
Newly Elected to the BCAAFC Board of Directors: • Elijah Mack-Stirling, Vice President• Joanne Mills, Treasurer • Fabian Alexis• Tami Omesso• Kerry Chelsea• Carole Camille
New NAFC Representative – Patricia Wilson
Mary Burgaretta is the new BCAAFC Child Care Planner. Mary will be assisting BC Friendship Centres with their child care programs. Contact Mary at: [email protected].
Meagan Curley is the new 3C Program Assistant. A 3C Challenge Alumni, Meagan appeared on CTV Morning Live Vancouver with Leslie Varley, BCAAFC Executive Director, in June. We are so happy to have her on the 3C Program Team!
Ooknakane Friendship Centre Mental health and Addictions Counselor, Paula, received her certificate in Aboriginal Health and Administration Program and has been accepted into the Master of Public Indigenous Health program, to begin August 19, 2019 –Congratulations Paula!
July 2019
Email [email protected] if you have information to share in our next newsletter! Thank you for your support.
Thank you, Renee Wilson –
Renee has been a dedicated PAYC member and represented BC on the NAFC AYC. At 25 years of age, she will no longer be serving on the youth council. We wish her all the best in her future endeavours!
Renee was honoured at the AGM for her time as a PAYC member.
551 Chatham StreetVictoria, BC, V8T [email protected]
bcaafc.com