Aboriginal Support Services
Quick Links
Aboriginal Early Intervention Coordinator
The Aboriginal Early Intervention Coordinator facilitates the Little Robes Program. Little Robes promotes healthy babies and preschoolers and seeks to assist families in meeting the needs of their children aged 0 - 6, whose heritage is First Nations, Metis, or Inuit, living in the West Kootenays. Little Robes is an initiative of Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Child and Family Services and Kootenay Kids. The Aboriginal Early Intervention Coordinator can assist and support you in finding information and resources regarding any issues affecting your family that you may be experiencing. She facilitates the Little Robes group get-togethers every two weeks, meeting in Nelson, Trail and Castlegar to share food, stories, craft skills and other activities that the group chooses together. In this way we reconnect with each other and our histories. Child minding is generally provided.
The Family Place (250) 352-6678
Aboriginal Family Services Development Coordinator for the West Kootenay
The Aboriginal Family Services Development Program is a regional program that provides cultural support within the West Kootenay area. This program offers case management services to Aboriginal people and families who have not yet engaged with services or resources in the community. The program can connect these people to resources and services based on their identified need. The program also provides support and consulting services to service providers who are already working with Aboriginal families. In addition, the program identifies gaps and needs in the community, and then advocates for the development of these services and resources.
Aboriginal Family Services Development
Coordinator: Kris Taks
Castlegar & District Community Services
1007 2nd Street, Castlegar BC V1N 1Y4
250-365-2104 or 250-304-3545
Email: afscoordinator@telus.net
Aboriginal Mentorship/Advocacy Project
The goal of the project is to assist youth and families in building personal self confidence and self empowerment among Métis, First Nations, Inuit and Non Status peoples within the East and West Kootenay areas.
The type of mentoring activities may include teaching traditional skills such as canoe building, beading, drumming, story telling, art, outdoor skills etc. We are also seeking Mentors that can teach modern skills or trades. Importance will be placed on the relationship between the youth and the Mentor in terms of the value of talking, sharing and respect building.
There are many gifted Elders and Aboriginal people who have many talents that can be shared with Aboriginal youth. A final component to the project is recruiting youth leaders that may want to mentor or share their skills with other youth. Aboriginal mentors can provide the opportunities to grow and learn through traditional, cultural and mainstream teaching. They are supportive, positive role models and sources of guidance and knowledge in the lives of youth as they face day to day challenges.
This mentorship initiative has been developed in partnership between the Métis Nation, the K'tunaxa Nation and the Urban Aboriginal Peoples of the West Kootenays. Kootenay Region Métis Association is coordinating this initiative for the Kootenays.
The project is accepting referrals of potential Mentors or of youth who may be interested in having a Mentor. You can contact the Aboriginal Mentorship/Advocacy Coordinator by phone or email.
Kootenay Region Métis Association 1-800-521-5119
Click here to send an E-mail to the Association
Reconnection/Reunification
The Reconnection/Reunification Worker functions as part of a Multi-Agency Aboriginal Service Delivery Team. The Team consists of a partnership between the Kootenay Region Métis Association and the K'tunaxa Kinbasket Child and Family Social Sector.
Goals: It is the Reconnection Workers role in identifying Aboriginal children whom a return to family or community may be appropriate and to assist Ministry Workers, families and communities to develop and implement appropriate reunification plans.
Where a move does not appear to be in the child's best interests, the Reconnection Worker helps to identify and implement strategies to strengthen both the child's connection with their community and culture as well as the community's involvement in planning for the child.
Our goal is to maintain or regenerate the connections between children, their families and their communities. Re-creating culturally sensitive placement plans that respect the child's heritage and acknowledge the traditional roles of community will, it is hoped, enhance their experience and formation of their identity while in care.
There are four main levels of Reconnection that we assist in:
- Adults returning home and/or meeting family and community members.
- Seeking out Nation members and providing information/welcoming (i.e.gatherings planned in various Aboriginal communities).
- Supporting children in care learning about their identity and cultural background.
- Reconnecting and/or Reuniting children to family and/or community.
Reconnection/Reunification Worker- Kootenays
Kootenay Region Metis Association. (Children and Families)
(250) 426.0854 or toll free 1.800.521.5119
Email: click here
School District Aboriginal Education Programs
School districts operate Aboriginal Education programs that focus on providing support to Aboriginal students and their families. Aboriginal Council on Education (ACE) community meetings provide opportunities for families of Aboriginal students and members of the Aboriginal community to share their ideas, concerns and dreams for Aboriginal Education in the school districts.
School District 8:
www2.sd8.bc.ca/abed
School District 20:
www.sd20.bc.ca/dist_progs/aboriginal/ab_ed.shtml
School District 10:
www.sd10production.bcelearner.ca
School District 51:
www.sd51.bc.ca/board
Smum Iem Society
Exists to implement models and programs which promote healing, reconciliation, cooperation and understanding within communities and between cultures. The Board is comprised of Aboriginal Women leaders who have devoted themselves to ‘Building the Community Circle’ in the Upper Columbia River Region. Membership includes women, men, youth and elders. Smum Iem means The Woman in the Sinixt Language.
Aboriginal Advisor, Selkirk College
Provides support to all prospective and current aboriginal students and works closely with staff, students and communities to enhance aboriginal learner's participation and success rate in Selkirk College programs. Services can include information, advocacy and support during the semester, assistance with the application process, help with funding, First Nations and Metis scholarship and bursary forms.
www.selkirk.ca/services/student-report
Aboriginal Health Program Advisor and Patient Navigator, Interior Health
Initiates and maintains a working relationship between the Interior Health Authority (IHA), Aboriginal Health Service agencies, communities and other key stakeholders in order to support and advocate for improvements on behalf of the Aboriginal populations in the health service area. Provides educational sessions to Interior Health care providers, participates in an inter-disciplinary care team and is a resource for both health care providers and Aboriginal patients to ensure care is culturally specific and ethno sensitive. Assists in the early identification of patients' needs and participates in discharge planning.
www.trailfair.ca/directory/Description.php?id=1056
Kootenay Aboriginal Business Advocates Society
The mission of this organization is to provide advice, support, and technical assistance to Aboriginal people (Metis, Inuit, First Nation) in regards to business exploration in the East and West Kootenays.
207 14th Avenue North
Cranbrook BC V1C 3W3
Phone: 250-426-0595
Toll Free: 1-888-426-0595
Fax: 250-426-0802
www.kabas.org
First Nations, Inuit Non-Insured Health Benefits Mental Health Counselling Program
Councillors: Anita Melin 250-551-6597 Nelson 
Esta Porter 250-229-2244 Nelson
Barry Williscroft 250-364-3994 Rossland, Grand Forks, Trail, Castlegar