Read the Ha-Shilth-Sa article here: Know where you come from: Nuu-chah-nulth members recognized for commitment to their nations
The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council’s annual general meeting (AGM) was hosted by Ahousaht on September 25, 2019. Several community members were recognized for their knowledge sharing, advocacy, and leadership, including Wally Samuel and Marjorie White.
Wally Samuel has been involved with the Port Alberni Friendship Centre since 1980, helping Indigenous people living off-reserve in Port Alberni access culturally relevant services and support resources. Wally spoke about the issue of homelessness at the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council AGM and the work being done to create an Ahousaht housing society in Port Alberni.
Marjorie (Marge) White is a founding member of the Friendship Centre Movement in British Columbia. She has received the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada for her outstanding contributions towards improving the lives of others. Marge says she never forgets where she came from and the greatest reward is to be recognized by her own people.
Marge and Wally are members of the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres Elders Council. We are honoured to have their guidance and congratulate them on their achievements.
The BCAAFC has secured funding from the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions (MMHA) to conduct engagement sessions with service providers and service users in each Friendship Centre. These sessions will map existing wellness programs and identify program strengths, gaps and emerging priorities.
Sessions are currently underway. Here is a look at upcoming engagement sessions:
October 2, Port Alberni Friendship Centre
October 4, Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre (Smithers)
October 8, Quesnel Friendship Society
October 10, Cariboo Friendship Society (Williams Lake)
October 29, Sacred Wolf Friendship Centre (Port Hardy)
October 30, Wachiay Friendship Centre (Courtenay)
November 13, Ooknakane Friendship Centre (Penticton)
November 14, Ki-Low-Na Friendship Centre (Kelowna)
November 15, North Okanagan Friendship Centre Society (Vernon)
November 25, Conayt Friendship Centre (Merritt)
November 27, Lillooet Friendship Centre
November 28, Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society
December 4, Mission Friendship Centre
Please connect with your Friendship Centre for more details regarding the time and location of each session.
Penticton, B.C. — Ooknakane Friendship Centre (OFC) Mental Health and Addictions Program provides counselling services for anxiety, stress, family conflict, and addiction.
OFC is one of 25 Friendship Centres located in BC. Friendship Centres are a place for guidance and support, emphasizing respect and compassion for one another in the delivery of their programs and services. Together, Friendship Centres see approximately 4,500 clients each week.
Just Like Paula Says describes Christopher McGowan’s experience with OFC Mental Health and Addictions Counselor, Paula Jacobs. Paula listened to Christopher and became an inspiration for him on his path to personal growth.
Today, Christopher provides peer support at OFC, among other roles, and helps others progress on their own journey.
Watch the documentary short film:
Just Like Paula Says – Christopher McGowan’s Journey from Lydia Frederick on Vimeo.
July 2019 (VICTORIA, BC) – The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) elected three new board members with eight remaining on the board at the 2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Williams Lake on July 6, 2019.
The BCAAFC welcomes three new board members to the board:
We thank our past board members: Victor Tom from Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society for serving as our Treasurer, and Kari Hutchison from Victoria Native Friendship Centre and Richard Samuel from Port Alberni Friendship Centre for serving as directors. We appreciate our continuing board members:
Composition of New Board of Directors:
President – Dr. Sharon McIvor, Conayt Friendship Society*
Vice-President – Elijah Mack, Conayt Friendship Society
Secretary – Calvin Albright, Kermode Friendship Society*
Treasurer – Joanne Mills, Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre
Youth Representative – Shyla Elgie, Prince George Native Friendship Centre*
Director – Matthew Baran, Ooknakane Friendship Centre*
Director – Debbie Williams, Hiiye’yu Lelum (House of Friendship)*
Director – Fabian Alexis, North Okanagan Friendship Centre Society
Director – Carol Camille, Lillooet Friendship Centre Society
Director – Kerry Chelsea, Cariboo Friendship Society
Director – Tami Omeasoo, Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society
*Indicates Board members who are serving their second year on the board.
Always in Friendship,
Leslie Varley
Executive Director, BCAAFC
Wachiay Aboriginal Multimedia (WaMM), working out of the Wachiay Friendship Centre in Courtenay, BC, is now podcasting!
“We intend to develop and air podcasts devoted to the stories, celebrations, programs, people, culture and goals of the Friendship Centre Movement across Canada.”
A few weeks ago we launched our first in-house produced podcast: ‘What’s Up at Wachiay’ – a weekly chat with our staff about their programs and services. We intend to develop and air podcasts devoted to the stories, celebrations, programs, people, culture and goals of the Friendship Centre Movement across Canada. Our 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”. We want to create a national outlet that represents the voices of Friendship Centres. We’ll even be podcasting live from this summer’s Music Fest here in Courtenay.
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. We get to listen. And listen we do! The respected publication Fast Company found that in 2018 there were over 525,000 active shows and over 18.5 million podcast episodes!
Podcasts have sky rocketed! So much so that major players like Apple and Soundcloud have jumped into these turbulent waters with both feet.
WaMM intends to take full advantage of this medium with our Community Podcast Centre. When Wachiay purchased our building it came with a fully functioning FM radio station previously known as The JET. Our facilities include a master control room, a professional audio/video production studio, a two person voice-over booth, a five station student work room and a three seated soundproof broadcast room – just like you see on TV! We deliver classes and workshops that cover the full gamut of basic multimedia production including recording, lighting, cameras, mics, editing software and most importantly – writing. Everything starts with a script!
In the planning stages, and soon to go live, will be a podcast series based on the work of a local novelist; a series based on integrating Elders experience and practical advice to youth under duress; a series featuring environmental challenges and changes in our communities; and a podcast devoted to the creative Indigenous arts community here on Vancouver Island. We are even casting for a podcast series featuring traditional children’s stories.
Call or email Rob Crowston at WaMM to talk about what we can create for your Friendship Centre:
Check out our websites: www.wachiay.com , and www.wachiaymultimedia.com to find out more.
Phone: 778-225-0309 Email: rob@wachiay.com
We look forward to talking with you about how multimedia can spread the word about your Friendship Centre.
Daflos, P., CTV Vancouver, June 3, 2019 – ‘Shameful and disgraceful milestone’: Response to MMIWG report from Vancouver
“‘It’s finally good to have it acknowledged that what’s been happening to us for the last 200 years is genocide,’ said lawyer, activist and professor Sharon McIvor.”
“McIvor says while she’s encouraged to see the report finally come to fruition, it’s going to take a long time to fix the deep systemic inequalities at play.”
Read the final report here – Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Indigenous Youth Leadership Training
The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC), the Provincial Youth Aboriginal Council (PAYC) and the Port Alberni Friendship Centre (PAFC) are honoured to host Gathering Our Voices (GOV) 2019 on the traditional territory of the Hupačasath and Tseshaht First Nations. The purpose of the event is to unite youth throughout the country in learning, healing and sharing, and to provide tools, resources and knowledge the youth can bring back to their communities.
In the spirit of bringing people together, the event is hosted in different communities and in partnership with different Friendship Centres each year. This year the Hupačasath and Tseshaht have graciously welcomed our delegates to their territory to share their culture and knowledge, as well as create a legacy that helps GOV grow each year.
The BCAAFC has hosted sixteen Gathering Our Voices, starting with over 100 delegates in communities such as Prince George, Nanaimo, Vancouver, Kamloops, Victoria, Kelowna, Prince Rupert, Penticton and Richmond. Since then, it has grown immensely and continues to grow with the support of the delegates, volunteers, chaperones, facilitators, exhibitors and host communities.
GOV 2019 registration reached capacity within an hour. This overwhelming response of support serves to reinforce the need for a provincial forum where Indigenous youth can come together to being to make positive changes in their lives and in their communities.
We raise our hands and thank you for your continued support as we grow together.
Leslie Varley
Executive Director, BCAAFC
lvarley@bcaafc.com
PHSA has released guidelines for an Innovation Fund dedicated to Indigenous women living with or at risk of HIV and HCV. This funding is for $75,000 per fiscal year, for 2018/2019 and 2019/20. Proposals are due on Friday, September 14th and can be submitted to lauren.allan@bccdc.ca.
Please use the attached proposal template for submissions.
The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres Membership elected a new Board of Directors at the 2018 Annual General Meeting. The AGM was hosted by Lilloet Friendship Centre Society in Whistler July 5-7th, 2018.
The BCAAFC is pleased to announce the new Board of Directors:
1. President: Dr. Sharon McIvor, Conayt Friendship Society, Merrit
2. Vice President: Joanne Mills, Fraser Region Aboriginal Centre, Surrey
3. Secretary: Calvin Albright, Kermode Friendship Centre, Terrace
4. Treasurer: Victor Tom, Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society
5. Youth rep: Shyla Elgie, Prince George
6. Mathew Baran, Ooknakane Friendship Centre, Penticton
7. Richard Samuel, Port Alberni Friendship Centre
8. Keri Hutchison, Victoria Native Friendship Centre
9. Fabian Alexis, North Okanagan Friendship Centre, Vernon
10. Debbie Williams, Hii ye yu Lelum Society House of Friendship, Duncan
11. Elijah Mack, Conayt Friendship Society, Merritt
On behalf of the BCAAFC President, members and staff, we extend a warm welcome to the new Board of Directors.
The newly elected Board of Directors extends their appreciation and gratitude to the previous board for their commitment and dedication, and raises their hands in the Coast Salish way in high respect of the previous President, Annette Morgan, Dze L’ Kant Friendship Centre, for her commitment and leadership over the past seven years.
Always in friendship,
Leslie Varley
Cariboo Friendship Society part of provincial one million points of service milestone.
The B.C. Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres said the province’s 25 friendship centres provide more than 400 programs.
#FC1million
