Success by 6 Powell River - Aboriginal Engagement

Provincial Strategy

In August 2004, the Provincial Success By 6 Initiative, in partnership with the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society (ACCS), embarked upon the Aboriginal ECD Community Engagement Project to determine relevancy of Success By 6 for Aboriginal people in BC. Over 300 representatives, from various sectors of Aboriginal community, provincial and political organizations, engaged dialogue regarding their needs and priorities with respect to Aboriginal children and families.

In June 2005, ACCS presented a final report to the Early Childhood Development Provincial Partnership [internal hyperlink Early Childhood Development Provincial Partnership] with several recommendations designed to guide the initiative in its work with the Aboriginal communities in B.C. One recommendation was to establish the position of Provincial Aboriginal Coordinator. Marcia Dawson was hired in this position in October 2005, and when funding for Success By 6 was renewed in June 2006, the Province placed particular emphasis on continued work with Aboriginal children and families in B.C.

Strategies

Aboriginal Engagement continues to be an important component of Success By 6. Four priority areas have been identified as key to working with Aboriginal communities to decrease the number of vulnerable children and increase the number of children thriving in B.C:

1. Representation
2. Capacity building
3. Cultural awareness
4. ECD awareness and promotion.

Guiding principles for Aboriginal Engagement

Mindfully recognize the diverse populations of First Nations and Aboriginal people in B.C., that includes urban Aboriginal and Métis;
Support aboriginal children and families through recognition of Aboriginal peoples’ right to self-determination and community driven approaches;
Support the progress of the communities, local initiatives and provincial implementation team; and,
Build on the strengths of existing relationships and partnerships.

Powell River Strategies

A one-time grant of $20,000 has been made available for Powell River Success By 6 Aboriginal Engagement activities to be completed by March 31, 2008. The Success By 6 Council of Partner’s obligations are to:

propose activities for use of funds and;
set up accountability framework for administering funds and monitoring contracts through to the end of the project activities,

Powell River has made a strong start on a local Aboriginal Engagement strategy. Partners from the Sliammon community and Sliammon agency service providers have served on the Council of Partners since its inception, and this has made it possible to move forward confidently on a local strategy.

During the most recent round of Strategic Implementation allocations, the Council of Partners set aside a small sum for a fee-for-service contract with the on-reserve community health care agency, Tla’Amin Health. The objective was to do an environmental scan and to identify service gaps in supports and services for young children and their families. The findings from this project will provide the direction for the full Aboriginal Engagement allocation for the area. The Council of Partners will build on the relationship with Tla’Amin Health to manage the full allocation phase.

The Success By 6 Aboriginal Engagement resources will be support activities in two areas.

Mapping and planning for Early Childhood Development in the Sliammon First Nation.
Designing or adapting one or more early development resources specifically to meet the needs of young aboriginal children and their families in the region.

The aboriginal allocation will be overseen by an “Aboriginal Engagement Accountability Team” that includes the aboriginal partners, a member of Success By 6’s allocation committee, and other Council of Partners members who have an interest or stake in this area. Included on the team is the director of Tla’Amin Health and two aboriginal ECD service providers. This team will be a ‘standing committee’ of Success By 6 Council of Partners and will provide support, development and contract management.

If you are interested in working with this team, contact the Success By 6 coordinator.

To find out more about Success By 6 Aboriginal Engagement throughout BC, download the “Report Card”.