British Columbia Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres

Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth (formerly UMAYC)

CLICK HERE TO VISIT CCAY DOWNLOADS & APPLICATION PAGE

The Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth (CCAY) Initiative is intended for Aboriginal youth between 10 and 24 who live in communities with populations over 1,000, regardless of status, culture or gender. Programs that are funded will have strong involvement and participation of Aboriginal youth at all stages, i.e., planning, development and delivery of the program.

The overall goal of the CCAY Initiative is to create a network of Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth that will provide accessible, Aboriginal community-based, culturally relevant and supportive programs, services and counselling to urban Aboriginal youth, and facilitate their participation in existing programs in order to improve their economic, social and personal prospects. The Initiative is in support of measures that equip and encourage urban Aboriginal youth, regardless of status, culture or gender, to meet their challenges and improve their life prospects.

A key expected outcome of the CCAY Initiative is the enhancement of Aboriginal youth capacity, and an increase in the role of Aboriginal organizations, in particular Aboriginal youth, with respect to planning, priority-setting and program design, implementation, management, delivery and administration to meet the needs and priorities of urban Aboriginal youth.

The CCAY Initiative was launched in February 1999 in response to a commitment made by the government in its election platform. The CCAY Initiative is designed to provide urban Aboriginal youth with a wide range of culturally based programs, services and activities that are locally controlled and designed in conjunction with Aboriginal youth. Year-to-year programs, services and activities will be structured in a manner that will empower Aboriginal youth to address the challenges they face and determine their own future with a sense of pride in a safe and culturally relevant environment.

The key objectives of the CCAY Initiative are:

To provide accessible, community-based, culturally focused projects for Aboriginal youth aged 10-24 that promote one or more of the following themes:
- Cultural Development
- Life Skills and Wellness
- Youth Engagement
- Leadership Development
- Community Engagement

To involve Aboriginal Youth in the management of CCAY through maintaining a mandatory youth advisory committee (Youth Advisory Councils/Committees)
To improve the cultural, social, economic and personal prospects of urban Aboriginal youth.

Please find below a listing of the recommended projects for the 2010-2011 BCAAFC Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth (CCAY) Initiative. PLEASE NOTE: The list below are those projects recommended for funding by the regional youth review committees, BUT FUNDING IS DEPENDENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE MINISTER OF CANADIAN HERITAGE, JAMES MOORE. Approval last year occurred on April 3, 2009.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact myself, Naomi Graham at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone 1-800-990-2432

Proposed Provincial Funding list 2010/2011:


Tansi Friendship Centre Society	Creating connections for Empowerment	$ 80,000.00
Hii’ye yu Lelum House of Friendship Society	Hiiye'yu Tul (Friends with each Other)	$ 80,000.00
Fort St. John Keeginaw Friendship Centre	Miyo.sin Teens Program	$ 80,000.00
Interior Indian Friendship Society	Strengthening Our Aboriginal Youth	$ 50,770.34
Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society	Turtle Huddle Youth Program	$ 80,000.00
Lillooet Friendship Centre Society	Chillaxin' Youth Centre	$ 80,000.00
Conayt Friendship Society	Spirit of the Youth	$ 80,000.00
Mission Friendship Centre Society	Leaders of the Future	$ 80,000.00
Tillicum Lelum Native Friendship Centre	How Nuq Youth Centre	$ 80,000.00
Ooknakane Friendshi Centre	Urban Youth Movement	$ 80,000.00
Port Alberni Friendship Centre	Pathways to Youth Empowerment	$ 80,000.00
Prince George Native Friendship Centre	IRAY - Integrated Resources for Aboriginal Youth	$ 80,000.00
Friendship House Association of Prince Rupert	Planet Youth	$ 80,000.00
Quesnel Tillicum Society Native Friendship Centre	Youth Leadership and Community	$ 80,000.00
Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society	Youth Now	$ 80,000.00
First Nations Friendship Centre	Sookinchoot Youth Leadership Centre	$ 80,000.00
Victoria Native Friendship Centre	RAVE Youth Cultural Program	$ 80,000.00
Cariboo Friendship Society	Choices for Youth	$ 80,000.00

Proposed Metro Vancouver Funding List 2010/2011:

Collingwood Neighborhood House	Renfrew/Collingwood Aboriginal Youth Canoe Club	$ 115,000.00
Federation of Aboriginal Foster Parents	OASIS-Our Spirits Are Strong Inside	$ 85,000.00
Kla-how-eya Aboriginal Centre of SACS	Surrey Aboriginal Youth Drop-In Centre	$ 85,000.00
Knowledgeable Aboriginal Youth Association	Advocates Project	$ 113,746.00
Urban Native youth Association	Native Youth Drop-In Centre	$ 115,000.00
Women Against Violence Against Women	Aboriginal Youth Outreach Program	$ 85,000.00
Mooshum Bob's Dance and Cultural Society	Inside Thoughts, Outside Actions	$ 85,000.00
Richmond Youth Services Agency	Pathways Aboriginal Centre - OSKAYAK	$ 85,000.00
Spirit of the Children Society	Urban Drum Youth Program	$ 84,433.60
Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society	Aboriginal Youth Enrichment Program	$ 65,646.25
Visible Arts Gallery	Native Youth Artist Collective	$ 65,646.25
Warriors Against Violence	Youth Warriors Against Violence	$ 85,000.00
Knowledgeable Aboriginal Youth Association	Songweaver Studio	$ 84,088.97
Metis Family Services	BEAR - Youth Program	$ 60,000.00
Redwire Native Youth Media Society	Redwire Rewired	$ 58,765.20

Useful links include:
National Association of Friendship Centres: http://www.nafc-aboriginal.com
Canadian Heritage: http://www.pch.gc.ca

For more information please contact:
Naomi Graham, CCAY Provincial Coordinator
BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres
#200 - 506 Fort Street
Victoria, BC V8R 4W6
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: (250) 388-5522
Toll Free: 1-800-990-2432
Fax: (250) 388-5502

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 02 March 2010 )

About Us

BC Friendship Centres