MVISS-Metro Vancouver Indigenous Services Society
100 - 2732 East Hastings V5K 1Z9 Vancouver, BC, Canada

THIS YEAR, "WINTER SOLSTICE FALLS ON DECEMBER 21st... ...Because many of our Indigenous people are still suffering from the impacts of Colonization and Residential school, to help ourselves heal we are looking to DeColonize our lives, by Reviltalizing & Remembering our own traditional and cultural practices. We may still have intergenerational trauma linked to winter holidays, thus to help heal from past trauma we can start with practicing ceremony within our own families/c...Continue reading

Season’s Greetings from MVISS HAPPY HOLIDAYS MVISS office is closed from... Friday Dec 18th and Opening Jan 4, 2021. MVISS office hours are Monday to Friday 830am-430pm. Over the holidays if you need to connect with a counsellor you can do so on the following days and times, please note that you will not be able to connect with your regular counselor but a counsellor: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays Between 12noon-2pm At this number: 604.306.4523

MVISS Elves are spreading holiday cheer to our community members today. Seasons Greetings from MVISS

MVISS IS TAKING INTAKES AGAIN!! ***Important Note: Intakes and all sessions take place over ZOOM or on the phone. Please call our Intake Navigator Elaine B. at 604.255.2394 EXT. 110 Monday to Friday 10am-4pm Todays Date: Nov 5, 2020 ... MVISS remains committed to offering supports to our community members in a safe and respectful way during the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to do so, we have adjusted our services to fit the current guidelines required by VCH and WorkSafeBC. While are offices are closed to the public until further notice, our Intake, Counselling, and Call in Support services remain available. For more information please call our Intake Navigator at 604-255-2394 Ext. 110 or email our Intake Worker at [email protected]. Thank you for helping us help others. Here are the 2 Options of Intakes currently being offered: 1.) STANDARD INTAKE: Takes approx. 30-45mins. Complete with our Intake Navigator, Elaine B. over the phone. This Intake will allow you to have the following: a.) A regular and consistent One-to-One Mental Wellness Counsellor to meet with via Zoom or phone upon mutually agreed upon days and times and in person once we are able to, and b.) Allows for participation in our Group Programming once Programs start again, for example our 4 day Grief and Loss Program. 2.) CALL-IN INTAKE: Shorter intake to be completed with our Intake Navigator Elaine B. over the phone. This Intake is our most basic and it allows you the following: a one time call in for support [IMPORTANT NOTE: if you wish/need to call again we will request a completed full Intake Package be done with our Intake Navigator Elaine B.].This CALL-IN INTAKE is being offered to folks to help get through this difficult time of COVID, we would like to be there for you during this time. #NewIntakes #COVIDSupport #FrontLineWorkerSupport #MVISS #YouAreNotAlone #Connection #Health #Wellness

Mviss yearly candlelight vigil to honour and remember the loved ones who made the canoe journey home this year.

WAIT!!!!!!!! Have you heard the news!!! Everyone is talking about MVISS taking NEW INTAKES again! Let me give it to you in a NUTSHELL, its great news! ... Not only are we accepting new Intakes, but we taking one off phone calls also in an effort to support those impacted by COVID or 4 those working the front lines that need 2 debrief their day or just need an ear. Intake: 604.255.2394 EXT.110

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbYHaNvCw9M Hey everyone..you may have noticed while we’re in isolation many community agencies etc are using ZOOM to create groups for chatting/meetings or to teach via a webinar.. don’t miss out!!.. you can create a FREE Zoom acct. and join in.. this is a tutorial that I found easy to follow..New to this kind of technology?..be patient with yourself and keep trying..and most of all have FUN with it..(I recommend using a laptop or home computer instead of just a mobile phone)..

New orders mandate mask wearing in all indoor public and retail settings like grocery stores and coffee shops. Masks are also mandatory in workplace areas like shared work spaces, kitchens, and elevators. Learn more: https://gov.bc.ca/COVID19restrictions

MVISS TEA TIME today...we had 3 people join us and had 6 people waiting in the lobby. The folks waiting weren't allowed to come in for some reason, we will work out the technical difficulties. Join us next Tues at 1pm for another MVISS TEA TIME.

New orders are in place to help everyone in BC significantly reduce their social interactions and to stop COVID-19 from spreading in our province. The following orders and direction are in effect: Mandatory mask mandate for workers and customers in indoor public and retail spaces and in workplace common areas No events or social gatherings with anyone outside your household or core bubble (if you live alone)... COVID-19 travel advisory in BC: essential travel only Spin classes, hot yoga, and high intensity interval training are suspended No spectators and no travel outside your community for sports games Learn more: https://gov.bc.ca/covid19restrictions

Good afternoon, Community members..as you can see, taking the time to take care of yourself through mindful mediation has many benefits..below pic in the comments you can find a link to a 5 minute meditation video..so grab your headphones and enjoy your 'me' time <3

Metro Vancouver Indigenous Services Society reserves the right to remove without notice any wall posts, comments, photos and/or content that are: - Considered an attack, harassment, or hate speech, assessed at the discretion of the moderator - Irrelevant to the discussion, assessed at the discretion of the moderator - Include nudity, violence or graphic content... - Referencing personal information about others - Personal or commercial solicitation, advertising, or spam - In violation of any law or regulation - Potentially going to cause harm (psychological, emotional or other) Violation of these guidelines may lead to community members being blocked or reported. For questions, concerns, thoughts, or all other inquiries please contact our Intake Navigator at: Suite #100, 2732 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC Ph: 604.255.2394 EXT 110 Fx: 604.255.2395 Website: www.mviss.ca Twitter: Metro Vancouver Indigenous Services Society @IndigenousMetro

It was a day to remember. Yesterday we held a physically distanced ceremony to bless the house posts that have been raised inside Vancouver General Hospital bri...nging in a new era of healing on our path of reconciliation with the First Nations. A special thank you to the carvers Xwalacktun, from Squamish Nation and Brent Sparrow from Musqueam. We'll be holding another ceremony for Tsleil-Waututh Nation in the coming weeks. See more

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158334039555590&set=a.10150424393135590&type=3&eid=ARAFeCZZOzEyO3Qq0QSo3w0OQ3UE7nsWPbX1guDUgCQIUEd26dgOJj6qOzhE1hhGFXmCOlKcJ_xeiuod

REMINDER: MVISS ZOOM TEA TIME TOMORROW ABOUT: No topic or structured discussion, simply a time to connect and enjoy other peoples company. Zero pressure to talk and folks can come and go when they feel its right for you. We look forward to connecting with you. Connect and network or just mingle. WHEN: Tuesday Nov 24, 2020... TIME: 1pm WHERE: ZOOM Session HOW: You will need to open a ZOOM account if you don't already have one. How to access ZOOM: Cut and paste this address into your browser (at the top of the page) OR open your ZOOM account and go to "Join" on the ZOOM main page and type in the "Meeting ID Number." ZOOM Meeting Address: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89924671139 Enter this Meeting ID Number: Meeting ID: 899 2467 1139 WHO CAN PARTICIPATE: anyone and everyone PLEASE SHARE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO TEA WITH YOU.

Hello from MVISS, we are open to take new intakes. Because of the COVID-19 circumstances we are trying to accommodate our support to the community and the existing need for emotional assist. MVISS is only doing intakes and counselling sessions via phone or Zoom meetings. Calls us for an Intake:... Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Intake Times: 10am-4pm only - Intake Phone Number 604-306-5506. Current Community Members: MVISS is asking to our current members to call us to up date your contact information if it has changed. Kindly, All my relations. MVISS- Metro Vancouver Indigenous Services Society is located at: Suite #100, 2732 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V5K 1Z9 Intake Navigator: PH 604.255.2394 EXT 108 Website: www.mviss.ca FaceBook: Metro Vancouver Indigenous Services Society-MVISS @MetroVancouverIndigenousServicesSociety Twitter: Metro Vancouver Indigenous Services Society-MVISS

https://www.youtube.com/watch

https://www.cbc.ca//why-orange-shirt-day-is-personal-for-t

Orange Shirt Day founder, Phyllis Webstad tells her story (in her own words). I went to the Mission for one school year in 1973/1974. I had just turned 6 years old. I lived with my grandmother on the Dog Creek reserve. We never had very much money, but somehow my granny managed to buy me a new outfit to go to the Mission school. I remember going to Robinson’s store and picking out a shiny orange shirt. It had string laced up in front, and was so bright and exciting just lik...e I felt to be going to school! When I got to the Mission, they stripped me, and took away my clothes, including the orange shirt! I never wore it again. I didn’t understand why they wouldn’t give it back to me, it was mine! The color orange has always reminded me of that and how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying and no one cared. I was 13.8 years old and in grade 8 when my son Jeremy was born. Because my grandmother and mother both attended residential school for 10 years each, I never knew what a parent was supposed to be like. With the help of my aunt, Agnes Jack, I was able to raise my son and have him know me as his mother. I went to a treatment centre for healing when I was 27 and have been on this healing journey since then. I finally get it, that the feeling of worthlessness and insignificance, ingrained in me from my first day at the mission, affected the way I lived my life for many years. Even now, when I know nothing could be further than the truth, I still sometimes feel that I don’t matter. Even with all the work I’ve done! I am honored to be able to tell my story so that others may benefit and understand, and maybe other survivors will feel comfortable enough to share their stories.

Today we remember all the children who were taken from their families, their communities and forced into the Indian Residential Schools by Government, and run by Churches and sometimes enforced by RCMP. This is still impacting our lives today as Indigenous people, we still see the lasting trauma and abuses in our elders and their children and grandchildren. Today is to let them know we have not forgotten what happened to them, we love them and we are here with them.

Do you use ZOOM to stay connected to people during COVID? Yes OR NO? ... If no, why?

During this pandemic there are days we are not sure what to feel. One day rolls into the next and being separated from our gatherings, (cultural or community) we may find the isolation is confusing to our emotions. We want to be focused, to be able to name what we are feeling so that we can know how to take care of it or how we are going to move through it. I know that if I hold onto my feelings, when I stuff it, when I don't express it, it may come out in a negative way. Today I choose to be self aware, to honor my feelings. Today I use the Wheel of emotional words to help me when I am unsure. How are you feeling right now?

Gratitude Living through a global pandemic is a very trying time for all, things have changed. We miss activities we used to do, and miss various people. This can bring us into negative ways of thinking and affect our general outlook on life. As Indigenous people we have always had ceremony to help us through the different transitions in life. This Pandemic is a time of transition. We are to learn & practice different ways of coping and thriving, despite the limited social in...teractions to keep us healthy and well. Gratitude is the wisdom that is rooted in our indigenous worldview and perspectives. It is a profoundly transformative spiritual practice, with it brings powerful awareness and action into your heart, mind and body. A gratitude routine immediately shifts you from focusing on what you don’t have, to what you do have. It helps ground you in the ‘Now’ rather than in the past or future. The miracle of the practice of gratitude is that it reverses this pattern of looking outwardly for satisfaction, and instantly puts us in touch with all the many gifts and blessings already present in our life. We shift from spinning in perpetual motion on the wheel of seeking happiness from the outside-in to generating happiness from the inside-out. This practice is easy to do and can be done anywhere and any time. Gratitude has proven physiological and psychological benefits, including: Less stress, better sleep, lower blood pressure, less anxiety, more positivity, more laughter, feelings of peace, feelings of happiness, a better sleep, increased mindfulness, and a healthier body. How do you practice gratitude? You can have a conversation with Creator or Universe just as you awaken to greet the day, You can give thanks to all who had part in providing the food, as you sit to enjoy a meal. You can say a prayer of thanks at the end of the day, before you rest for the evening. Don’t forget other ceremony such as smudging, spirit baths (cold water), and walks in nature. Doing these simple practices will increase the sense of gratitude you feel. And that feeling of appreciation not only improves your relationships, but it also helps you bring more love into your daily life. It helps us reconnect, if only for a moment. The more that we practice gratitude, the more connected we are to the sacred, the profound, and the awe of being alive. IN THE COMMENTS BELOW YOU WILL FIND A LIST OF GRATITUDE EXERCISES YOU CAN TRY, Stay safe, and stay well. All my Relations! See more

Please call our office and update your contact info. MVISS- Metro Vancouver Indigenous Services Society is located at: Suite #100, 2732 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V5K 1Z9... Intake Navigator: PH 604.255.2394 EXT 108 Website: www.mviss.ca FaceBook: Metro Vancouver Indigenous Services Society-MVISS @MetroVancouverIndigenousServicesSociety Twitter: Metro Vancouver Indigenous Services Society-MVISS @IndigenousMetro

Hello from MVISS, we are so happy to announce that we have worked through our wait-list and are able to take more Intakes starting today, Monday Sept 14, 2020. All Intakes will be on the phone only. Intake Phone Number (Only phone intakes at this time): 604-306-5506.... Intake Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Intake Times: 10am-2pm only Current Community Members: Please call and update your contact information if it has changed, a lot of numbers are not working anymore. Please and thanks. MVISS- Metro Vancouver Indigenous Services Society is located at: Suite #100, 2732 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V5K 1Z9 Intake Navigator: PH 604.255.2394 EXT 108 Website: www.mviss.ca FaceBook: Metro Vancouver Indigenous Services Society-MVISS @MetroVancouverIndigenousServicesSociety Twitter: Metro Vancouver Indigenous Services Society-MVISS @IndigenousMetro

Information Sharing: Mental Health & Cultural Supports Available Many treatment centres and healing centres in BC are providing virtual support to First Nations individuals and families. See contact information on the post to contact them directly. See link as well: https://www.fnha.ca//FNHA-COVID-19-Mental-Health-and-Cultu

Information Sharing: If you may be or are experiencing violence, your safety is still priority during this pandemic. Visit the link for resources available. http://www.bccdc.ca//people-who-may-be-or-are-experiencing

MVISS staff have been working hard on care packages for our community members.

Information sharing with Anita from the Kackaamin Family Development Centre. Thank you!

Please call our office and update your contact info. MVISS- Metro Vancouver Indigenous Services Society is located at: Suite #100, 2732 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V5K 1Z9... Intake Navigator: PH 604.255.2394 EXT 108 Website: www.mviss.ca FaceBook: Metro Vancouver Indigenous Services Society-MVISS @MetroVancouverIndigenousServicesSociety Twitter: Metro Vancouver Indigenous Services Society-MVISS @IndigenousMetro

Information Sharing for Seniors: For non-medical information about COVID-19, call 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319), 7:30am-8pm, 7 days a week. If you have questions about your health, call 8-1-1 at any time or speak with your health care provider.... Seniors can call 2-1-1 for information on support services including meal delivery, help with cooking, delivery of groceries and medications, wellness calls and visits.

Information Sharing: Affected City and Park facilities and services during the COVID-19 Pandemic. "Some parks, beaches, and gardens are open. Visit only if you are not sick, stay at least 2 meters away from others outside your home." Check the link to verify closures and facilities/services still available.... https://vancouver.ca//coronavirus-whats-closed-affected-or

Note the changes for the 2019 Tax Year: Filing Deadline is June 1, 2020 ** File before deadline to ensure your Canada Child Benefit (CCB) credit is calculated appropriately ** File before deadline to ensure your GST credit is calculated appropriately... Payment date for 2019 tax year is September 1, 2020. https://www.canada.ca///covid-19-filing-payment-dates.html

HOW IS MVISS ASSISTING DURING COVID-19 All MVISS in-house programming has been suspended until further notice as our office is closed. MVISS staff will continu...ed to provide counseling services to our clients via telephone instead of face to face counselling sessions. MVISS is committed to continuing to develop programs during this time, support our client base, and branch out to further support front line workers in our community. Please stay updated with MVISS Services via FB and Twitter. Important Note: MVISS is NOT a crisis line. If you are in crisis please call 911 or Crisis Center BC at: 604-872-3311. Current MVISS Client/Community Members: 1.) Call 604-603-0444 2.) Monday to Friday Only. 8:30am-4:30pm. Last call will be taken at 4pm daily. 3.) Have a phone number ready for the person answering and also the name of your counsellor who you typically see at MVISS. 4.) Wait for your counsellor to call you for a session. 5.) The person taking your information will give you a general timeline of when your counsellor will get back to you to for a session. Front Line Workers who wish to utilize our services: 1.) Call 604-603-0444. 2.) Monday to Friday Only-8:30am-4:30pm. Last call will be taken at 4pm daily. 3.) Have a phone number ready for the person answering so a counsellor can return your call. 4.) Wait for a counsellor to call you for a session, a general timeline of how long that will be will be given.

Information sharing. Positive Reflection.

Information sharing, thank you to Elsipogto Health & Wellness Centre.

Honouring our people.

A fun & gentle reminder to keep ourselves & our communities safe: -only go out when needed & social distance -don’t touch your face -wash your hands -cough into your arm ... -stay home as much as possible See more