BC Association Of Aboriginal Friendship Centres #200 - 506 Fort Street Victoria BC V8W 1E6 PH: (250) 388-5522 FAX: (250) 388-5502
Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centres UMAYC 2009 - 2010 Proposal Applications
The primary goal of the UMAYC Initiative is to create a network of projects to support and assist urban Aboriginal youth across Canada in enhancing their economic, social, cultural and personal prospects.
For more information please click HERE
Update:The 2009-10 funding decisions are now posted. For more information please click HERE
Student Bursaries The First Citizens Fund student bursary program is funded by the Province of British Columbia and delivered by the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres.
...more details
Elders Transportation To provide partial funding to Elders for travel costs related to the Annual Elders Gathering.
The B.C. Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres
Hosts
Gathering Our Voices
2010
Provincial Aboriginal Youth Conference
For more info please contact Interim Youth Conference Coordinator Ken Watts or please return to our Youth Conference page soon by clicking "...more details" below.
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: (250)-388-5522
The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres is currently seeking interested applicants for the following three positions:
Click HERE for more details.
The First Citizens Fund, a perpetual fund created in 1969, is available for cultural, educational and economic development for Aboriginal people in British Columbia.
In 2001, the Government of British Columbia doubled the net value of the Fund from $36 million to $72 million. Interest earned from Fund investments supports programs and services for Aboriginal people.
All programs and services are managed and delivered in partnership with British Columbia Aboriginal organizations.
The First Citizens Fund is part of the provincial government's commitment to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal people.
First Citizens Fund programs which BCAAFC manages include:
Please click here to download our brochure.
For more information please contact Lisa Mercure (Gagnon), First Citizens Fund Program Administrator
Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centres UMAYC 2009 - 2010 Applications
The Call for Applications for the 2009-10 funding cycle is now closed. Funding decision announcements will be made January 9th, 2009.
Downloadable Documents:
If you have any questions or problems please call Caitlin O’Reilly @ 1-800-990-2432 . For more information please feel free to contact:
Caitlin O’Reilly, UMAYC Provincial Coordinator BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres #200 - 506 Fort Street Victoria, BC V8R 4W6 coreilly@bcaafc.com 1-800-990-2432 Fax (250) 388-5502
National Aboriginal Friendship Centre Program
Established in the early 1970's, the program strives to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal peoples in urban environments by supporting self-determined activities which encourage equal access and participation in Canadian societies, and respects and strengthens the increasing emphasis on Aboriginal cultural distinctiveness. The NAFC Program established baseline management and operational standards which BC augmented and strengthened:
Peer support in management, administration and governance of Friendship Centre programs and boards. This voluntary committee also shares management and development information with Aboriginal community organizations to build strong local networks.
For more information please contact Lisa Mercure (Gagnon) Aboriginal Friendship Centre Programs and First Citizens Fund Programs Administrator.
The Role of Volunteers All Friendship Centres were founded by volunteers, by Aboriginal and non Aboriginal people working together to provide needed services. The movement is rooted in volunteerism and despite the rapid growth which most Centres have experienced in the past twenty years, they are still highly dependent on volunteers to provide much needed services. Volunteers play a particularly vital role in the areas of cultural and recreational activities for children and youth which form an essential part of Friendship Centre programming. The Role of Elders Elders play an important part in the Friendship Centre movement. They are both the link with the past and guides into the future. They educate the young on the ways of the past thus ensuring the traditions and culture are not lost. Through their leadership, they point the young towards the future. They promote pride in their culture and in one's self and provide guidance and direction to the leaders within the movement. Friendship Centres recognize and give respect to Elders because they recognize that without the Elders' wisdom and guidance, the movement could not be a family untied, supportive and caring for one another and the people they serve. They are the glue that binds Friendship Centres together in a common cause based on equality and justice.
For more information please contact your Local Friendship Centre
Or contact the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres Second Floor ,#200-506 Fort Street, Victoria BC, V8W 1E6 Telephone: (250) 388-5522 Fax: (250) 388-5502
The Provincial Aboriginal Youth Council (PAYC) is a youth council made up of youth aged 14-24 who are involved with Friendship Centres across BC. PAYC strives to:
OUR MISSION...
"To create a healthier future for Aboriginal Youth by being a voice, taking action, and making positive changes at a local and provincial level"
What is PAYC?
The Provincial Aboriginal Youth Council (PAYC) is a youth council made up of youth aged 14-24 who are involved with Friendship Centres across BC. PAYC comes together four times a year when they attend the BCAAFC quarterly meetings. The BCAAFC is the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, and they act to link all the friendship centres in BC. These meetings are an opportunity for PAYC members to voice their hopes and concerns on behalf of youth.
What does PAYC do?
PAYC strives to:
Represents youth voices at a provincial level Act as a liaison between Friendship Centre youth councils, PAYC, and the BCAAFC Board of Directors. Implement province-wide initiatives to benefit Aboriginal youth Provide a network of communication in which youth can learn about other friendship centres, both provincially and nationally, and the Friendship centre movement as a whole. Encourage and support BC Friendship Centres to develop strong local youth councils. Provincial Aboriginal Youth Council History The Provincial Aboriginal Youth Council (PAYC) started in 2000 at a meeting in Vernon, BC of a dynamic and energetic group of Aboriginal youth. The purpose of the meeting was to find a way for youth to start actively participating in the Friendship Centre Movement. The next time PAYC met was in Vancouver in 2001, where the council started to develop their Terms of Reference. These Terms of Reference were brought forward to the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) Board of Directors and passed in principle. Over the next couple meetings PAYC developed their Terms of Reference further, introducing the age group permitted, drug and alcohol policies, and guidelines for the election process.
In November 2001 PAYC received their first Urban Multi-purpose Aboriginal Youth Centre (UMAYC) slippage funding. PAYC used the slippage to build capacity, as they still do today. In February 2002, PAYC structured their first PAYC Executive Positions. At this time it was noted that PAYC only had one vote at the BCAAFC Board of Directors, and PAYC wanted to be more involved with board decisions. Furthermore, at this meeting PAYC decided on their logo and resolved to develop their own website.
The next time PAYC met was very significant and changed the structure of the BCAAFC Board of Directors. Not only did PAYC get 4 more votes at the board table, they turned their Executive positions to an Executive committee and the committee members held the votes at the Board of Directors table. Another topic at the meeting was holding another Youth Conference. Since the past two pervious conferences were a success they felt it was important to have another one.
Over time PAYC continued to strive, break barriers and support Aboriginal youth across BC within the Friendship Centre Movement. PAYC got major support and guidance from the BCAAFC Board of Directors, staff and elders. PAYC couldn't have come this far without its dedicated young members.
LOCAL YOUTH COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES
PAYC is made up of youth representatives from local youth councils at BC Friendship centres. These local youth councils play an important role in planning and organizing youth activities at their centres. Local youth councils also provide a way for youth to gain experience in volunteering, community work, and project development. To find out about how to start or run a local youth council, check out the links below. You can also read specific details about each of the Friendship Centre's local youth councils on this website. Search for each council using the interactive map on the right!
Who is PAYC? MEET THE BCAAFC-PAYC EXECUTIVE
The PAYC Executive Committee is a board of 5 youth who are elected every year at the AGM. The committee is made up of the BC Youth Representative and four other PAYC representatives. They vote on the BCAAFC Board of Directors and are responsible for speaking on behalf of PAYC at a provincial level. The 2009-2010 committee is made up of:
Ruth Cook PAYC Elder
Andrea Landry Tillicum Haus Native Friendship Centre BC Youth Representative to AYC
Archibald Thompson Port Alberni Friendship Centre Elders’ Liaison
Megan Harms Prince George Native Friendship Centre UAYC Representative
Todd Alec Prince George Native Friendship Centre BCAAFC Executive
Samantha Cardinal Tansi Friendship Centre Society UAYC Representative
Downloads
Please feel free to download the following PDF( .pdf) documents by clicking on them and saving to the appropiate location. Please note that some of the information located on this page in the following documents could be outdated, the documents below are simply for resources for your own communities and friendship centres
How Can I Join BCAAFC-PAYC?
How to Structure a Youth Council
Tips for Starting Your Own Youth Council
Fundraising Ideas
Getting Members, Keeping Members
(Please note that all documents listed above are in PDF format and require Adoeb Acrobat to view. Available at www.adobe.com )
The Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centres (UMAYC) Initiative is intended for Aboriginal youth between 15 and 24 who live in communities with populations over 1,000, regardless of status, culture or gender, and may include Aboriginal children and youth ages 10-14 years, or young Aboriginal adults ages 25-29 years. Where programs engage youth from 10-14 or 25-29 years, an explanation of why youth in this age group have been included will be required. 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 UMAYC Initiative is to create a network of urban multipurpose Aboriginal youth centres 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.
The UMAYC Initiative was launched in February 1999 in response to a commitment made by the government in its election platform. Originally approved to March 31, 2003, the Initiative was extended to March 31, 2005, to be included in an overall study of the 13 programs and initiatives of the Aboriginal Affairs Branch of the Department of Canadian Heritage. In May of 2005, the Minister of Canadian Heritage announced a five-year extension of the UMAYC Initiative to operate until 2010. The UMAYC 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 UMAYC Initiative are:
Funding Decisions for Fiscal Year 2009/2010 are as follows, please note ALL decisions are considered unofficial until approval from the Department of Canadian Heritage and the signing of official contracts.
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact myself, Caitlin O’Reilly at coreilly@bcaafc.com or by phone 1-800-990-2432
Proposed Provincial Funding list:
CLICK HERE TO VISIT UMAYC DOWNLOADS & APPLICATION PAGE
Useful links include: National Association of Friendship Centres: http://www.nafc-aboriginal.com Canadian Hertiage: http://www.pch.gc.ca
For more information please contact: Caitlin O'Reilly, UMAYC Provincial Coordinator BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres #200 - 506 Fort Street Victoria, BC V8R 4W6 coreilly@bcaafc.com 1-800-990-2432 Fax (250) 388-5502
Please return to this page for future information on Gathering Our Voices
GATHERING OUR VOICES
PROVINCIAL ABORIGINAL YOUTH CONFERENCE
For more information please visit our website www.bcaafc.com
Or Contact Interim Youth Conference Coordinator Ken watts
Email: kwatts@bcaafc.com
Phone: 1-800-990-2432 / (250) 388-5522
Please check back here for future downloads for the 2010 Gathering Our Voices: Provincial Aboriginal Youth. Conference
Information Package
(.pdf)
(.doc)
Registration Package
Frequently Asked Questions
Volunteer Application Form
Application for Exhibitors to Career Fair
(.doc
( Requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader - Download at www.adobe.com)
( Requires you to purchase Microsoft Word at www.microsoft.com )
Links
Images from 2008 Conference in Victoria, BC:
If you have any questions, comments or concerns please feel free to contact Ken Watts, Iterim Youth Conference Coordinator.
BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres
Phone: (250) 388-5522
Fax: (250) 388-5502
#200-506 Fort Street, Victoria, BC
V8W 1E6
