Métis Commission for Children and Families of BC
201-805 Notre Dame Drive V2C5N8 Kamloops, BC, Canada

Call for Board of Directors The Métis Commission for Children and Families of BC (Metis Commission) is excited to announce the opening of a vacancy on their Board of Directors. The Metis Commission is a non-profit organization working on behalf of the Métis community of British Columbia in matters related to Métis children and their families involved in the child protection system. ... Currently there are over 700 Métis children in foster care in BC. We are working to reduce these numbers through cultural connections and Métis community caring options rather than government care. We work with Métis agencies and communities across the province to ensure that children in the care of the Ministry for Children and Families Development and Delegated Aboriginal Agencies have connections with the Metis community where they live. The Metis Commission’s board is a policy board in good standing with the Society Act and has been incorporated since September, 1999. Our vision is to promote connections between families, communities, services and government so Metis children are being raised within their families and cultural communities. Time commitments: Meetings are held by phone every 3-4 weeks for 2 hours. In person meetings once every 3 months (location varies). Qualifications: The Metis Commission is looking for Métis youth, Elders and individuals who have experience in the helping and or social services field. You have a strong desire to help Métis people. You are a good listener and respectful to others. You understand the responsibilities of participating on a non-profit board. You are interested in being part of an organization that acts on behalf of Métis children first and foremost. Please come and join us with this important work. Please send a resume and cover letter to the Executive Director, Sheri Wildman, at [email protected]

Reminder of our upcoming event in one week! MCCFBC and LMO have partnered together for Youth in Care Week to excitedly bring you Dot Painting with Marissa! Join us on Facebook Live on June 2nd from 2-4 pm to learn how to paint in this beautiful Metis style - list of supplies needed to participate is included on the poster. Please check out the event link here: www.facebook.com/events/467210164493898/

Reminder of our upcoming event! MCCFBC and LMO have partnered together for Youth in Care Week to excitedly bring you Dot Painting with Marissa! Join us on Facebook Live on June 2nd from 2-4 pm to learn how to paint in this beautiful Metis style - list of supplies needed to participate is included on the poster. Please check out the event link here: www.facebook.com/events/467210164493898/

MCCFBC and LMO have partnered together for Youth in Care Week to excitedly bring you Dot Painting with Marissa! Join us on Facebook Live on June 2nd from 2-4 pm to learn how to paint in this beautiful Metis style - list of supplies needed to participate is included on the poster. Please check back for the link to the event!

Taanshi! The Métis Commission for Children and Families of BC (MCCFBC) is looking to fill two vacancies on our Board of Directors. We are looking for Métis youth, Elders and individuals who have experience in the helping and/or social services field. Do you have a strong desire to help Métis people? Are you a good listener and respectful to others? Do you understand the responsibilities of participating on a non-profit board? Are you interested in being part of an organizatio...n that acts on behalf of Métis children first and foremost? Then please come and join us for this important work! We are a non-profit organization working on behalf of the Métis community of British Columbia in matters related to Métis children and their families involved in the child protection system. Currently there are over 700 Métis children in foster care in BC. We are working to reduce these numbers through cultural connection and Métis community caring options rather than government sponsored care. We work with Métis agencies and associations across the province to ensure that children in the care of the Ministry for Children and Families have connections with the community where they live. Our Vision is to promote connections between families, communities, services and government so Metis children are being raised within their families and cultural communities. Time commitments: Meetings are held by phone every 2-3 weeks for 2 hours. In person meetings once every 3 months (location varies). If interested, please send a resume and cover letter to the Executive Director, Sheri Wildman, at [email protected]

The Métis Commission would like to welcome Serena Tiwari! Serena joined our team in February 2021 as a Cultural Safety Worker and feels honored to be working on behalf of Métis children and families. Her personal and professional experience has given her the knowledge and awareness to create effective changes for our families. Serena is a proud Indo-Canadian woman who was born and raised in Kamloops, BC. Serena’s family is from Punjab, India. There is a rich and vibrant cult...ure in Punjab, full of connection to the land, community, and much more. Serena feels deeply connected to British Columbia and enjoys spending time outdoors whenever possible. Serena understands that balancing western and traditional identities is difficult but maintaining connection to your roots is essential. Serena holds a Bachelor of Social Work with a specialization in Child Welfare and has been involved in working with children and families for the past 5 years. During this time, Serena has had the privilege of working with Indigenous children and families in different capacities and settings. Serena continues her journey in hopes that she can contribute to making the child protection system safer for Indigenous families by supporting and honoring their connection to culture, family, kinship networks, community, and Nation.

Reminder - starting in 2 weeks, please join us! Please join us for a 2 week presentation with Madelaine McCallum! During these one hour presentations, Madelaine will be sharing her story and journey with Métis jigging and giving viewers the opportunity to learn the Red River Jig. This is a great opportunity for youth to learn about jigging and give it a try from the comfort of their own home. These videos will be posted at 9 am on January 5th and 12th and will be available for viewing any time after that. Please feel free to interact with Madelaine in the comments of the videos!

Reminder - new video on Wednesday! Please join us for an exciting opportunity to learn Métis jigging from the one and only Madelaine McCallum! This 8 week series of half hour videos is aimed for younger kids to learn and try out jigging steps and grow their knowledge and Métis pride. Videos will be posted every Wednesday starting on December 2nd at 9am and will be available for viewing anytime after that. Be sure to wear your favourite dancing outfit and feel free to share your experience and pictures with Madelaine in the comments for her to see!

Welcome to week 3 of the 8 week series with the talented Madelaine McCallum! Please be sure to comment and interact with Madelaine as she will be checking the comments and is excited to see your progress!

Please join us for a 2 week presentation with Madelaine McCallum! During these one hour presentations, Madelaine will be sharing her story and journey with Métis jigging and giving viewers the opportunity to learn the Red River Jig. This is a great opportunity for youth to learn about jigging and give it a try from the comfort of their own home. These videos will be posted at 9 am on January 5th and 12th and will be available for viewing any time after that. Please feel free to interact with Madelaine in the comments of the videos!

Welcome to week 2 of the 8 week series with the talented Madelaine McCallum! Please be sure to comment and interact with Madelaine as she will be checking the comments and is excited to see your progress!

Please join us for an exciting opportunity to learn Métis jigging from the one and only Madelaine McCallum! This 8 week series of half hour videos is aimed for younger kids to learn and try out jigging steps and grow their knowledge and Métis pride. Videos will be posted every Wednesday starting on December 2nd at 9am and will be available for viewing anytime after that. Be sure to wear your favourite dancing outfit and feel free to share your experience and pictures with Madelaine in the comments for her to see!

Reminder - New video on Wednesday! Please join us for an exciting opportunity to learn Métis jigging from the one and only Madelaine McCallum! This 8 week series of half hour videos is aimed for younger kids to learn and try out jigging steps and grow their knowledge and Métis pride. Videos will be posted every Wednesday starting on December 2nd at 9am and will be available for viewing anytime after that. Be sure to wear your favourite dancing outfit and feel free to share your experience and pictures with Madelaine in the comments for her to see!

In honour of Louis Riel day, please enjoy this short video we put together celebrating some of the things our rich Métis culture has to offer!

In the wake of COVID-19 and celebrations in person being put on hold, here is another great opportunity to celebrate Louis Riel Day virtually!

Today we honour the men and women that have served to protect our country and preserve our freedoms. In Canada, it is estimated that 20,000 Aboriginal men and women served over the course of the two World Wars and in the Korean War; of that, the number of Métis people is unknown. One of the major contributions of the Métis people to World War II was as Code Talkers; they took classified information and translated from English to Cree and vice versa to ensure that it was not intercepted by the Axis powers. Today, on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour, we say maarsii. Lest We Forget.

The Metis Commission would like to introduce and welcome back Lisa Nguyen to our team as Cultural Safety Worker. Lisa Nguyen is a proud Vietnamese woman who was born and raised in Kamloops, BC. Lisa’s family background is from the North and South of Vietnam where her ancestors and family members still reside. Growing up in a westernized culture and balancing Vietnamese culture simultaneously Lisa knows how important it is to stay connected and to be proud of your roots. Lis...a has been involved with working with children and youth in different capacities and settings for the past 8 years. She has had the privilege of working with Indigenous children and families throughout her journey. This is the first time that Lisa has worked for a specific Nation but is extremely honored and grateful for this opportunity. Lisa obtains a Bachelor of Arts degree from Thompson Rivers University and a Master of Education specializing in Leadership. Throughout her professional career, Lisa has had experience with ensuring cultural connections to our children and youth through activities, events, and cultural practices. Lisa is most proud of connecting children and families to their roots and culture and keeping traditions alive. Lisa continues to dedicate herself to help families and children through commitment and honoring the work she does. Welcome back Lisa!

Taanshi! My name is Chantel MacMillan and I am the Youth Connections Finder for the Métis Commission. This is a new role for MCCFBC, and one that is very important to the Métis children and youth in care. The impact of youth aging out of care without knowing their culture, their families, and a place they belong to can be detrimental not only to that youth, but to generations to come. We have seen the impact on previous generations, and we want to create a new, more positive ...path. The role of the Youth Connections Finder is to seek out connections not just with direct kin, but with extended families and circles to ensure that our youth remain connected to their culture and are surrounded by a network of positive, healthy relationships. I seek out the family friend they remember as a child; I seek out the uncle that did not know they existed; I seek out the teacher that believed in them; I seek out the Elder that will welcome them into the community. My mission is to ensure that when they leave care, they do not do so alone. The Family Finder works alongside social workers, cultural safety workers, families, communities and the youth themselves to facilitate relationships that will last beyond paid supports. My hope is that when the youth I work with leave care, they do so surrounded by a network of love and culture. I am honoured to be working amongst the Métis Commission team who are striving to make an impact on Métis children and youth in care. Maarsii. See more

In the wake of COVID-19 and celebrations in person being put on hold, here is an excellent opportunity to celebrate Louis Riel Day virtually! Tickets available online and you pay what you can.