Initiatives and Projects for 2008-2009 fiscal year
Last Updated on Tuesday, 05 January 2010 00:03
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In 2008, the MVUAS Steering Committee identified three major priority areas on which to focus: (a) urban Aboriginal learning; (b) urban Aboriginal family/health/wellness; and (c) organizational capacity development. We recognize the interconnectedness of these priority areas. Though the projects and initiatives funded this year are divided into these three sections here, the Strategic Plan (click here) demonstrates their interrelatedness as they are all part of the bigger vision to build relationships that support self-reliance and economic growth for Urban Aboriginal Peoples. |
“I enjoy my time at West Coast. I get to hang out with my new friends and learn cooking.
I learned a lot from that class for the future. We get to do a lot of fun things at school, and I like that...” Tyler T., student in the Pacific Coast Resources Society/ West Coast Alternate “Aboriginal Culture, Lifeskills and Health program for Youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). |
| These categories are divided into external program/project planning and development and internal Organizational Planning & Development, below, each with sub-categories: | |
External Program/Project Planning & Development
Urban Aboriginal Learning Supports
In the spirit of being creative, practical and culturally-appropriate, we supported Metro Vancouver Urban Aboriginal People and their families to successfully cope during transitional stages as a means of managing developmental junctures in their life cycle*.
16 projects focused on supporting this priority area, including:
- 7 early development projects, click HERE
- 2 youth-related learning projects, click HERE
- 3 post-secondary projects, and, click HERE
- 4 employment-related skills projects, click HERE
*Note: Major life cycle stages (as identified by the MVUAS Steering Committee) are: 0-6 years of age; 7-10 years of age; 11-14 years of age; 15-18 years of age; and 19+years of age (Click HERE to view the Perspectives page for other definitions)
Urban Aboriginal Family, Health & Wellness
We supported new and existing wellness programs or services that are creative, practical, culturally-appropriate and holistic in nature. Specifically, we encouraged inclusive family, health and wellness initiatives that coordinated physical, emotional/mental and spiritual health/wellness resources to strengthen the Metro Vancouver Urban Aboriginal family unit as a whole.
2 projects focused on supporting this priority area, including:
Internal Organizational Planning & Development
MVUAS Steering Committee Organizational Capacity Development
We will enhance our organizational capability as a Steering Committee by fostering collaborations and strategic communications; providing cost-effective programs/projects; and expanding our internal capacity and associated professional development as a coordinated work team.
Measuring Success
We appreciate that deliverables and outcomes outlined within project proposals often cannot effectively reflect all of the indirect benefits that result from implementing that program in the community.
For example, when a Youth develops a stronger sense of identity or creates a new connection with an Elder or mentor because of their participation in a culturally-relevant career exploration program, there are some outcomes easy to report, like a decision to return to college or ability to attain a job. But measuring an improvement or change in their emotional and spiritual health, or the impacts of those changes within the health of their family is harder to define – but can be reflected in comments like these:
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"MVUAS funding covered some of the costs for our AYM Team to travel to Gathering Our Voices 2009 in Kelowna. We developed and presented a new interactive workshop about on-line newsletters (e-zines) and ways Youth could turn their talents into media careers with higher education and access to technology tools. It was pretty empowering to lead my first workshop! And, over 30 Youth got involved in writing articles for our RedWAY BC News e-zine, so now they're more empowered, too." Adele Alexander, Aboriginal Youth Media Team member, KAYA/Spiritlink Project |
We view our work from an interrelated, holistic perspective (for more information click HERE to view the Perspectives page of the 2008-2010 Strategic Plan).
Details of Urban Aboriginal Learning Projects
By providing access to social support networks to manage developmental junctures for school-aged children and youth (ages 7-19), these projects supported culturally-appropriate programs/projects for school-aged Metro Vancouver Urban Aboriginal children and youth (with a special focus on individuals aged 7-14 and 15-18) that are facilitated in different ways as a means of: developing life skills; encouraging the pursuit of higher education and post-secondary or trades and staying in school.
They also directly increased the number of Aboriginal individuals receiving job/skills development training and participating in a cultural program or project.
How are the outcomes measured for these programs?
- Two (2) new life skill services were created by MVUAS funding
- Over 200 Aboriginal clients participated in programs supported by MVUAS funding
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Over 60 professional educators, industry leaders, program managers, and Elders enhanced their understanding of working with Aboriginal learners, some with formal workshop development
7 early development projects supported new or existing transition initiatives for Metro Vancouver Urban Aboriginal children, youth and their families
| Aboriginal Enhancement Agreement Resource Development and Community Feast Celebration | |
| School District 40 in New Westminster | |
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A range of culturally appropriate learning resources were created or collected into a literacy kit for Aboriginal children (primarily in pre-kindergarten to Grade 3). These kits assist in connecting children to healthy school experiences. Over 80 people attended the community/school-based feast held to celebrate successes of the project and highlight positive life skills (like nutrition for young people). |
| Project contribution: $10,000 |  |
| www.sd40.bc.ca | |
| Aboriginal Culture, Life Skills and Health Program | |
| Pacific Community Resources Society | |
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MVUAS resources helped to develop a cultural component for life skills including nutrition and job preparation for FASD students participating in an alternate school program. An Elder from the Aboriginal community worked directly with the students to provide guidance and support. |
| Project contribution: $11,910 |  |
| www.pcrs.ca | |
| Aboriginal Literacy Resources and Computer Skills Enhancement Project | |
| Surrey Public Library | |
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In partnership with Kla-How-Eya, we delivered a lifeskills program to enhance computer literacy and technology skills. Over 800 new Aboriginal resources will be provided to family literacy programs at the Awahsuk Aboriginal Headstart Preschool and enhancement of the Aboriginal collection at branch libraries. |
| Project contribution: $14,500 |  |
| www.spl.surrey.bc.ca | |
| Family Day Project | |
| Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services Society (VACFSS) | |
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The VACFSS program to promote healthy parenting life skills training for parents of young children was expanded to include a new Family Day Project. It was to provide parents with the life skills to resume care of their children and included hiring and training a new community member to increase the organizational and community capacity to better assist families referred to their agency. |
| Project contribution: $46,700 | |
| www.vacfss.com | |
| FASD Education and Prevention | |
| Vancouver Native Health Society | |
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Elders worked with community members and media leaders to develop a script and production plan for a special DVD educating the community about (and the prevention of) Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. It was produced at the direction of the Circle of Elders team to provide a culturally appropriate and innovative resource for the Aboriginal community. |
| Project contribution: $20,450 |  |
| www.vnhs.net | |
| Young Wolves Lodge Program | |
| United Native Youth Association | |
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This project supported the UNYA parenting program for five young Aboriginal women with children in care. It included providing resources and guidance to help find shelters and/or affordable accommodations. Young parents participated in workshops and cultural programs to help build their skills and knowledge of steps to recover and resume care of their children. |
| Project contribution: $9,623 |  |
| www.unya.bc.ca | |
| Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity Training | |
| Kla-How-Eya | |
| By providing an opportunity for clients to explore and gain a sense of their cultural identity and belonging, they will be able to improve their life skills in such areas as; core values, behaviours, relationships, self advocacy/ reliance, and leadership. Another component of this project is to provide a training program on cultural competency to staff, thereby improving the accessibility of services to the Aboriginal community and increasing success rates of participants | |
| Project contribution: $60,841 | |
| http://www.sacsbc.org | |
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2 Aboriginal Youth development projects enhanced existing programs and initiatives to increase Youth community engagement, life skills, and job skills
| Aboriginal Life Skills Leadership Project | |
| Richmond Youth Services Agency | |
| A diverse group of Aboriginal Youth connected to new services in Richmond and participated in an expanded life skills program. They connected with Elders, made drums, and traveled to the BCAAFC Gathering Our Voices conference in Kelowna, BC (learn more, HERE) to further explore careers, enhance cultural awareness and engage in leadership training for at-risk youth. 20 youth engaged in activities that presented a positive outlook for staying in school, and learned of options for higher education and training initiatives. | |
| Project contribution: $44,868 |  |
| www.rysa.bc.ca | |
| Community Based Space | |
| United Native Youth Association | |
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This contribution directly enhanced the creation of a community-based space that supports 21 programs that directly improves services for over 300 urban Aboriginal Youth who benefit from UNYA programs. It helped to renovate and create a more youth-friendly, culturally-relevant public space so they can provide a wider range of programs (including life skills) directly to urban Aboriginal Youth. |
| Project contribution: $32,234 |  |
| www.unya.bc.ca | |
3 post-secondary projects provided direct support to assist Aboriginal learners of all ages to succeed in transitioning into college or university programs
| Aboriginal University Prep Program (AUPP) | |
| Simon Fraser University | |
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To increase the participation of Aboriginal people in post secondary education, a comprehensive core program provided skills and knowledge essential to Aboriginal student success in academic studies. |
| Project contribution: $95,645 |  |
| www.sfu.ca | |
| Math Literacy and Computer Skills Development Project | |
| Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences | |
| University of British Columbia (UBC) - to provide support and tutors at critical levels of learning mathematical skills to encourage the pursuit of post-secondary education since there is a compulsory math entrance requirement for many post secondary programs. Also included are professional development workshops for 30 Educators to provide models of teaching math to Aboriginal students. | |
| Project contribution: $95,645 |  |
| www.pims.math.ca | |
| Aboriginal Health & Wellness Specialist Curriculum Development | |
| Native Education College | |
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This initiative invited community members and organizations to participate in a survey about organizational health and capacity levels and provided a foundation to combine the knowledge of the Elders with the academic process. |
| Project contribution: $54,580 | |
| www.necvancouver.org | |
4 employment-related skills projects created new initiatives or enhanced existing programs to provide job-readiness training in proven industries like construction and trades and emerging sectors like media and digital literacy careers.
| Aboriginal Youth Media Team (AYM Team) Digital and Media Literacy Skills Development Project | |
| Knowledgeable Aboriginal Youth Association | |
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An innovative ‘earn and learn’ project provided a blend of training and work experience for 12 Aboriginal youth to develop reading, writing, researching and computer skills. They developed then presented interactive workshops at the provincial Youth conference BCAAFC Gathering Our Voices conference in Kelowna, BC (learn more, HERE) so Youth could explore media careers. Youth chose their own story topics (highlighting community success stories, covering events, writing ‘tech-e’ tips) then published over 80 Youth-written articles in various publications like the free on-line newsletter RedWAY BC News. A project DVD speaks to benefits of including Aboriginal Youth voice in the media, encouraging peer-mentoring, and providing work experience that connects Youth to technology. |
| Project contribution: $47,737 |  |
| http://www.kayaweb.net/ | |
| BladeRunners Aboriginal Youth Employment Training Program | |
| ACCESS | |
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This internationally recognized, award winning employment program assists multi-barrier and disadvantaged youth to gain on the job construction training and apprenticeships. Students also enhanced life skills by participating in family, health and cultural workshops and being mentored by job coaches. With this contribution, certified health and safety training was provided to 24 Aboriginal youth; many job placements were found within the Metro Vancouver. |
| Project contribution: $90,612 |  |
| http://www.accessfutures.com/bladerunners/ | |
| Vancouver Native Housing Society | |
| Digital Technology & Education Society (DTES) | |
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This social enterprise provided 6 Aboriginal Youth participants with hands-on work experience opportunities to learn about working in the growing sector of digital trades. |
| Project contribution: $74, 648 | |
| www.vnhs.ca | |
| Essential Skills | |
| ACCESS Trades | |
| The Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society (ACESS) created a DVD audio documentary that showcased the success of the program and demonstrated how Metro Vancouver Aboriginal people are taking the opportunity to enhance their essential workplace skills leading them to job security and to build a better life for themselves and their families. The DVD will be used to encourage Aboriginal students to pursue trades training. | |
| Project contribution: $40,000 | |
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Urban Aboriginal Family, Health & Wellness Projects
These two projects support new and existing wellness programs and services that are creative, practical, culturally-appropriate and holistic in nature. Specifically, we will encourage inclusive family, health and wellness initiatives that coordinate physical, emotional/mental and spiritual health/wellness resources that strengthen the Metro Vancouver Urban Aboriginal family unit as a whole.
Projects in this section directly support our 2008-2010 Strategic Plan
Objective #2 to “Improve the Overall Wellness (i.e., physical health, emotional/mental health, and cultural/spiritual connections) of Metro Vancouver Urban Aboriginal People and their Families.” Click HERE to read more about these objectives.
| Métis Elder’s Engagement | |
| Métis Nation BC (MNBC) | |
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This project identifies how Elders can be actively involved as transgenerational imparters of traditional knowledge and Métis history. Four “Honoring our Elders” events were to be held in Metro Vancouver to connect with individuals and families and to share their traditional knowledge. |
| Project contribution: $24,662 | |
| www.metisnation.ca | |
| Honesty, Open Mindedness and Willingness (HOW) Program | |
| Aboriginal Front Door Society | |
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This non-profit agency provided 18 at-risk women in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver with opportunities to participate in culturally appropriate group and individual healing sessions. They engaged in activities that assisted in exploring their identity, raised awareness of self-destructive behaviours and lifeskills to evoke positive changes. They examined how they currently function in society and identified or connected to resources that help to overcome barriers to success. |
| Project contribution: $24,600 |  |
| http://www2.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca/DBs/RedBook/orgPgs/1/12099.html | |