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Joanne Mills accepts new role as Executive Director of Indigenous Relations at Community Living BC

We at the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) congratulate Joanne Mills, former Executive Director of the Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association (FRAFCA), on her new role as Executive Director of Indigenous Relations at Community Living BC (CLBC).

Joanne Mills is a member of Fisher River Cree Nation with ties to Skidegate. Her proactive leadership at FRAFCA can be felt by staff, clients, and partners. FRAFCA is a leading centre in the Friendship Centre Movement, receiving the Friendship Centres of Excellence Award presented by the National Association of Friendship Centres in 2019.

FRAFCA is located on the unceded traditional territory of the Fraser Salish People, including the Kwantlen, Katzie, QayQayt, Semiahmoo, and Tsawwassen. The Friendship Centre collaborates with the host nations to design and deliver services for the Indigenous peoples living in the Fraser Salish Region.

Joanne, thank you for your dedication to the movement—you will be greatly missed and we wish you all the best in your future endeavours!

Joanne will continue to serve as Treasurer of the BCAAFC Board of Directors until her term is up.

Three actions you can take to help freeze the 2021 VicPD budget

**ACTION NEEDED BY JANUARY 10, 2021**

In the midst of a global movement to combat racism and police brutality and defund police forces across so-called “North America”, the City of Victoria is proposing a 1.5% increase to the Victoria Police Department’s operating budget for 2021, which amounts to $60.7 million or 23% of their $255.9 million budget.

When other city services and programs such as planning and public works are being reduced due to significant decreases in city revenues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city’s proposed 2021 budget continues the concerning trend of annual increases to the VicPD budget. But there is something we can do about it! The City of Victoria is currently soliciting feedback on the 2021 proposed budget and there are three ways you can let them know that an increase to the VicPD budget is unacceptable.

ACTION 1:

Use the letter template (http://ow.ly/hmid50D1Kf6) to craft your own letter to the city outlining why you would like to see the police budget frozen or decreased.

**Be sure to address it to engage@victoria.ca and send it by midnight on Sunday January 10, 2021.**

ACTION 2:

Complete the budget survey on engage.victoria.ca by midnight on Sunday January 10, 2021. You must register by providing your email, birth year and postal code. You can use the points in the letter template (http://ow.ly/hmid50D1Kf6) to complete Question 10.

You do not need to complete the rest of the survey if you don’t want to; however the folks over at Poverty Kills have done a great analysis of the budget (http://ow.ly/S3gI50D1KpO), if you want to provide more in-depth input.

Note that the results of the survey will be quantified and reported out to the public; therefore, the more responses to the survey that oppose increases to the police budget, the better.

ACTION 3:

Participate in the Virtual Budget Town Hall on Wednesday January 13 at 6:30pm by submitting a written question/comment or 3-minute video to engage.victoria.ca, or registering to speak live via phone by emailing engage@victoria.ca by January 12 at 2pm.

You can also tweet your questions/comments using the hashtag #victownhall.

For more information visit https://engage.victoria.ca/2021-draft-budget.

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More support for friendship centres benefits urban Indigenous peoples during pandemic

News Release

VICTORIA – Indigenous peoples living in urban areas are receiving increased supports to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic through new provincial funding for friendship centres throughout B.C.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has tested everyone in ways we never imagined, and Indigenous peoples living in urban areas are relying on the help offered by friendship centres at unprecedented levels,” said Premier John Horgan. “We have provided additional funds through the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres to meet this significant demand and support the critical, culturally appropriate services that friendship centres are providing during this particularly challenging time.”

Friendship centres throughout B.C. provide many essential services for Indigenous peoples living in urban areas, including child care, counselling, food, and shelter. Over the past several months, friendship centres have seen a substantial increase in needs from people impacted by the pandemic.

“Friendship Centres have seen a rapid increase in requests for services during the pandemic,” said Leslie Varley, executive director with the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres. “They are fulfilling the need for culturally safe and appropriate supports during a time where our people are more susceptible to the impacts of COVID-19.”

“We are addressing three priorities as a result of COVID-19—food security, personal protective equipment and sanitation, and equipment and supplies. The allotted funding will help ensure that those who are most vulnerable to the virus have access to food, and that our staff have the equipment and supplies they need to provide these services safely.”

This one-time COVID-19 relief funding of $7.8 million will help friendship centres continue to assist individuals, young families, single parents, youth and Elders through a mix of in person and online services. The grant will help provide supports like meals and hampers, care packages for seniors and education kits for children. It will help keep staff and clients safe with new handwashing stations, sanitization and personal protective equipment.

“Expanding our government’s support for friendship centres, and the Indigenous peoples they serve, is one of the important priorities the Premier tasked me with in my new role,” said Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. “Given the pressures friendship centres have been facing as a result of the pandemic, this new funding comes at a critical time to bring them needed relief, and support their vital services for the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people in urban areas – including Elders who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 and must be protected as knowledge-keepers of language and culture.”

This announcement is one of the immediate actions government is taking to protect British Columbian’s health and livelihoods from the threat of COVID-19. Government will continue working hard to keep people safe and healthy, so British Columbia can move as quickly as possible to address the economic recovery and its broader priorities: investing in people, strengthening communities, and supporting jobs and growth in a clean-energy future.

Quick facts:

B.C. friendship centres are part of a national network of Indigenous-led social service organizations that have served Indigenous families for over 70 years.

There are 25 friendship centres located throughout British Columbia.

The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres is distributing this one-time funding among all the centres.

Approximately 78% of the Indigenous peoples in B.C. live off-reserve or in urban areas.

In 2018, the B.C. government more than tripled the financial support for friendship centres by providing the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres with an additional $6.45 million over three years. This was the first time reliable, dedicated funding was provided to the association.

Learn More:

BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres: https://bcaafc.com/

For recommendations on protecting yourself and your community, visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/coronavirus-(novel)

For more information and latest medical updates on COVID-19, follow the BC Centre for Disease Control on Twitter @CDCofBC Or visit the centre‘s website: http://www.bccdc.ca/

Contacts:

Cale Cowan
Media relations
Ministry Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
250 356-7324

Leslie Varley
Executive director
BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres
250 893-0494
lvarley@bcaafc.com

Congratulations to B.C.’s new cabinet

We at the B.C. Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) congratulate the Government of B.C.’s new cabinet members on their positions.

We raise our hands in the Coast Salish way, in respect and appreciation for the work of Premier John Horgan and the previous Ministers.

The BCAAFC looks forward to working with Minister Murray Rankin and the newly appointed cabinet to continue our collective work towards a vibrant society that supports Indigenous peoples living in B.C. and a brighter future in Canada for all.

Full cabinet for the new NDP government

Premier: John Horgan

Attorney General (and Minister Responsible For Housing): David Eby

• Parliamentary Secretary – Anti-Racism Initiatives: Rachna Singh

Advanced Education and Skills Training: Anne Kang

• Parliamentary Secretary – Skills Training: Andrew Mercier

Agriculture, Food and Fisheries: Lana Popham

• Parliamentary Secretary – Fisheries and Aquaculture: Fin Donnelly

Citizens’ Services: Lisa Beare

Children and Family Development: Mitzi Dean

• Minister of State for Child Care: Katrina Chen

Education: Jennifer Whiteside

Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation (and Minister Responsible for The Consular Corps of British Columbia): Bruce Ralston

Environment and Climate Change Strategy (and Minister Responsible for Translink): George Heyman

Parliamentary Secretary – Environment: Kelly Greene

Finance: Selina Robinson

• Parliamentary Secretary – Gender Equity: Grace Lore

Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development: Katrine Conroy

• Minister of State for Lands, Natural Resource Operations: Nathan Cullen

• Parliamentary Secretary – Rural Development: Roly Russell

Health (and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs): Adrian Dix

• Parliamentary Secretary – Seniors Services & Long Term Care: Mable Elmore

Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation: Murray Rankin

Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation: Ravi Kahlon

• Minister of State for Trade: George Chow

• Parliamentary Secretary – Technology & Innovation: Brenda Bailey

Labour: Harry Bains

• Parliamentary Secretary – New Economy: Adam Walker

Mental Health and Addictions: Sheila Malcolmson

Municipal Affairs: Josie Osborne

Public Safety and Solicitor General: Mike Farnworth

• Parliamentary Secretary – Emergency Preparedness: Jennifer Rice

Social Development and Poverty Reduction: Nicholas Simons

• Parliamentary Secretary – Community Development & Non-Profits: Niki Sharma

• Parliamentary Secretary – Accessibility: Dan Coulter

Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport: Melanie Mark

• Parliamentary Secretary – Arts and Film: Bob D’Eith

Transportation and Infrastructure: Rob Fleming

• Minister of State for Infrastructure: Bowinn Ma

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-cabinet-announcement-1.5816947

Request for Proposals (RFP) Consulting Assignments – Business Services

BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres

Development of Business Continuity Plan RFP

Summary of Details:

The BCAAFC is a leading provincial organization that exists to improve the quality of life for Indigenous peoples through the support of the member agencies. We are here to ensure the 25 Friendship Centres throughout the province feel supported with their efforts to serve the urban Indigenous communities in which they live, work, and play.

These Centres serve a wide range of communities who are subject to varying natural disasters including forest fires, flooding, earthquakes, etc. In recent years, the prevalence of forest fires poses a potential for devastating impact on the Centres and entire communities. In addition, the ongoing realities of the COVID-19 pandemic further highlights the necessity of business continuity plans.

Business Continuity Plans

Conduct business impact analysis along with reviewing recent BC emergencies that could potentially occur.

Create a business continuity plan to avoid and mitigate harm, disruption, and costs in regards to an emergency.

Work with BCAAFC Occupational Health and Safety Team.

Ensure plan aligns with and adheres to industry and federal, provincial and regional emergency plan standards as well as best practices.

Engage with Friendship Centres to ensure plans meet specific regional needs. Develop clear examples to guide staff in effective communication strategies in the event of an emergency.

Annual ‘Gathering Our Voices’ Indigenous Youth Leadership Event to Return in 2022

News Release

B.C. – October 20, 2020 – Over 1,000 Indigenous youth look forward to attending the Gathering Our Voices (GOV) leadership training event each year. The 18th annual GOV event was cancelled in March, just days before it was set to take place, due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in B.C. and across Canada. Organizers have made the decision to postpone GOV until 2022 to ensure a safe return.

The event is co-hosted by the Provincial Aboriginal Youth Council (PAYC) and the B.C. Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC). The 25 Friendship Centres across B.C. have continued to provide increasingly necessary social services throughout COVID-19, many of them adapting their youth programming to continue online.

“Ensuring Indigenous youth have access to resources that support their success is vital to achieving a healthier, more equitable society,” said Leslie Varley, Executive Director of the BCAAFC. “Listening to the voices of Indigenous youth is a key part of implementing the calls to action and justice we continue to fight for.”

GOV encourages youth to mobilize their collective strengths and create the change they want to see. Indigenous youth are carrying on the spirit of the event in the face of challenges exasperated by the pandemic. Registration for the 3C Challenge, an entrepreneurship initiative by the BCAAFC, has increased since the training moved to an online platform in March. The resulting business ventures reflect Indigenous youths’ drive to create economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable products and services, grounded in their cultures and traditions.

The GOV 2022 event will coincide with the BCAAFC’s 50-year anniversary. Varley said organizers look forward to gathering together again, “We raise our hands in the Coast Salish way, in high respect and appreciation, to the youth, staff, volunteers, partners, and funders who come together to make this event a huge success.”

For media and event sponsorship inquiries, please contact communications@bcaafc.com.

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To learn more about BC Friendship Centres and Gathering Our Voices, please visit bcaafc.com and gatheringourvoices.ca.

Join the Provincial Aboriginal Youth Council: The next PAYC election takes place on September 24, 2020

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PAYC members are:

Advocates
Council members advocate for issues that are important to Indigenous youth, and are passionate about the future.

Mentors
Council members strive to be role models and help their peers share their voice and be heard.

Change Makers
Council members engage other youth in their communities and advocate for change they want to see.

What does PAYC do?

PAYC members attend monthly meetings, participate in workshops and community engagement sessions with the BCAAFC, and assist with planning the annual Gathering Our Voices: Indigenous Youth Leadership Training event.

Meetings and engagement sessions may take place via teleconference, video conference, or in-person.

Who can join PAYC?

Eligible candidates…
– Are between the ages of 18 and 24.
– Acquire a letter of support from their local Friendship Centre.
– Submit an expression of interest, in order to be nominated for election.

Steps to apply:

1) Get in touch with your local Friendship Centre for a letter of recommendation.

2) Let us know why you’re interested in being a PAYC member.

3) Submit to education@bcaafc.com by September 22, 2020 at 5:00pm PST.

The next PAYC election will take place virtually on September 24, 2020.

Questions?

Contact education@bcaafc.com, or 250-388-5522 ext. 216.

Racist “game” played by hospital staff in British Columbia is unacceptable, say Indigenous health leaders

Emergency room staff regularly play “Price is Right” when predicting blood alcohol level of Indigenous patients

News Release

June 19, 2020 —First Nations, Métis and Inuit patients seeking emergency medical services in British Columbia are often assumed to be intoxicated and denied medical assessments, contributing to worsening health conditions resulting in unnecessary harm or death. This is according to information obtained by Métis Nation BC and the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres. Additionally, the parties have notified the First Nations Health Authority of this concern.

Participants within the San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training program detail thousands of cases of racism in healthcare, resulting in the harm of Indigenous patients. In a recent training session, a program participant disclosed a common game played within B.C. hospital emergency rooms, where physicians, nurses and other staff try to guess the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of Indigenous patients. The winner of the game guesses closest to the BAC – without going over.

“There remains a lack of will to address systemic and specific racism towards Métis, First Nation and Inuit people,” says Leslie Varley, Executive Director of the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC), “We know that our people avoid hospitals because we are afraid of having a discriminatory encounter. This happens to the point where Indigenous people end up in emergency with extreme diagnosis, like cancer.”

“What is allegedly happening in BC hospitals to Métis, First Nations and Inuit peoples is deeply disturbing and must immediately come to an end” says Daniel Fontaine, Chief Executive Officer for the Métis Nation BC.  “We remain committed to work with Provincial Health Services Authority to increase Métis specific content curriculum to increase the knowledge and understanding of healthcare providers serving Métis people to ensure improved care and culturally safe experiences in BC”.

The Province of Ontario made San’yas training mandatory for every employee in the Ontario Public Service in 2016. The Province of B.C. has yet to enforce standardized anti-racism training for health service workers.  BC Health Authorities are inconsistent in their requirements for anti-racism training despite evidence that racism is prevalent within health systems. Cases of systemic and racialized harm and death continue to be looked at as a medical learning opportunity.    

BCAAFC and MNBC, Indigenous leadership are calling upon the Ministry of Health to accept the following four recommendations:  

1. A public inquiry into Indigenous specific racism in health care in B.C with a focus on hospitals and emergency departments.
2. Ensure that all front-line staff are required to take mandatory First Nations, Métis and Inuit training that results in increased health professional personal accountability in the delivery of safe health care.
3. Commit to structural and systemic changes to dismantle indigenous specific racism to ensure culturally safe health care experiences for Indigenous people.
4. Ensure that Indigenous governments play a stronger role in the development and implementation of anti-racism programs and training throughout BC.

Implementing these recommendations helps address the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and would signify the beginning of concrete changes within the Province of B.C.’s health system.

MNBC and BCAAFC agree the way for the Province of BC to properly acknowledge National Indigenous People’s Day on June 21^st would be to address the longstanding racism concerns of Métis, First Nations and Inuit people in our province.

Contact:

Leslie Varley
Executive Director
BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres
250-893-0494

Daniel Fontaine
Chief Executive Officer
Métis Nation British Columbia
604-356-4165

About:

Métis Nation BC

Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) represents 90,000+ self-identified Métis people in BC. To date, over 21,000 Métis Citizens are provincially registered with MNBC. The Métis National Council and the Provincial Government of British Columbia, as well as the Federal Government of Canada, recognize Métis Nation British Columbia as the Governing Nation for Métis in BC.

BC Association of Friendship Centres

The BC Association of Friendship Centres represents 25 centres around the province that provide a wide array of social and health services focused towards the 85% of Indigenous people residing in urban areas.

Notice of changes to the BCAAFC annual general meeting 2020

Notice of changes to the BCAAFC annual general meeting are as follows:

Location: Online via Zoom

Date: July 10, 2020

Time: 9:00AM – 4:30PM PST

The BCAAFC does not have any special resolutions at this time.

Zoom details will be distributed via email on June 25, 2020.

These changes comply with provincial health orders and have been made for the health and safety of our members and communities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Any questions can be directed to Cathie Storey – Board Liaison: execassist@bcaafc.com  

Thank you for your support and understanding as we navigate these changes together.

How Friendship Centres Are Supporting Communities During COVID-19

The 25 Friendship Centres in British Columbia have been contributing to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people for almost 70 years.

At the best of times, Friendships Centres work against high unemployment rates, cutbacks in government spending, and general economic uncertainty.

Now, amid the global COVID-19 crisis, Friendship Centres continue to find ways to provide critical services with disproportionately less support from provincial and federal governments.

Friendship Centre doors are closed to the public so that staff can take all possible measures to operate programs and services safely, including:

– Ensuring minimal points of contact when preparing care kits and managing deliveries

– Frequent sanitation

– Providing direction on physical distancing protocols

– Using safety equipment when possible

The increase in requests for Friendship Centres services, as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, surpasses the funds and resources available. Staff are committed to doing the best they can with limited supplies, safety protection, equipment, and financial resources; balancing their own health and safety with the health and safety of their clients, communities and relatives.

Friendship Centre networks understand the unique circumstances within the communities they serve and have found creative ways to help as many people as possible despite present challenges.

How Friendship Centres have adapted to meet community needs:

– Increased number of meal distribution days per week.

– Delivering meals to individuals unable to travel to the Friendship Centre (such as Elders and shut ins).

– Offering supervision for children while parents and caregivers get shopping done.

– Collaborating with local businesses and communities to connect individuals and families in need with food resources available.

– Purchasing slow cookers for families and delivering weekly recipes and ingredients so that families may prepare healthy meals together.

– Offering grocery pick-up and delivery services.

– Offering grocery gift cards and coupons to families and individuals.

– Constructing vegetable gardens and greenhouses, planting fruit trees and berries to provide fresh produce.

– Implementing extra safety precautions in overnight shelter facilities to protect the health of clients and staff.

– Distributing hygiene kits to homeless, creating handwashing stations.

– Implementing extra precautions to continue providing access to storage space, washrooms, showers, and laundry, as safely as possible.

– Setting up clients in isolation with tablets and Zoom to stay connected to each other and Friendship Centre counsellors.

– Preparing and distributing an outline of all support organizations within the community (i.e. hours of operation, if the office is open/closed, contact information, services available), and updating the document weekly to provide clarity for clients.

– Helping clients access housing subsidies and other financial resources available to them.

– Purchasing Chromebooks for youth who need access to school work.

– Hosting Facebook live classes for programs.

– Delivering infant care kits to pregnant individuals (food boxes, diapers, formula).

– Delivering client care kits containing games, arts, and cultural crafts for all ages.

– Maintaining client contact and providing counselling services via phone, teleconference, social media, etc.

– Providing harm reduction supplies.

– Providing prescription pick-up and delivery.

Thank you to staff, volunteers, leaders, frontline workers, knowledge keepers, and every community member doing their best to help one another and protect the health and safety of their communities. We are stronger when we work together.

Please contact us at communications@bcaafc.com if there is anyway that we can collaborate to better serve communities during this time.