Community Links & Resources
Regional Governments
Support Organizations
Provincial Support Organizations
BC Aboriginal Child Care Society - Committed to nurturing excellence through community outreach, education, research and advocacy, to ensure every Aboriginal child in BC has access to spiritually enriching, culturally relevant, high quality early childhood development services. This organization offers an ECE Scholarship opportunity annually.
BC Assembly of First Nations - The role of the Assembly of First Nations is to advocate on behalf of First Nations as directed by Chiefs-in-Assembly. This includes facilitation and coordination of national and regional discussions and dialogue, advocacy efforts and campaigns, legal and policy analysis, communicating with governments, including facilitating relationship building between First Nations and the Crown as well as public and private sectors and general public.
BC Metis Federation - Non-profit association that works with Metis communities to ensure the well-being of grassroots BCMF members.
First Nations Education Steering Committee - FNESC works at the provincial level to provide services in the areas of research, communications, information dissemination, advocacy, program administration and networking. FNESC also strives to share current information about available programs, government policies and initiatives and education issues that impact First Nations learners.
First Nations Health Authority - The First Nations Health Authority is a health service delivery organization responsible for administering a variety of health programs and service for First Nations people living in BC with status (on or off-reserve).
Indspire - Indspire is an indigenous-led registered charity that invests in the education of indigenous people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada.
Regional Support Organizations
Boundary Individual and Family Services Society - Provides a wide variety of programs to support children, youth, women and families’ needs. Programs include Boundary All Nations Aboriginal Council.
Castlegar Community Services - Castlegar and District Community Services Society serves a wide and diverse range of people with a variety of programs, from long-range counseling to short term groups. Programs include Volunteer Driver Program, Women’s Centre (Chrissy’s Place), Loans for Women and more.
Circle of Indigenous Nations Society - COINS offers programs throughout the West Kootenay and Boundary region that promote cultural awareness in the community, and create safe space and support to access cultural gatherings and traditional ways of healing.
Columbia Basin Region Community Information Kit - Learn more about the role of Community Social Services Organizations in your region, or find out more about specific social issues in the Columbia Basin. This site also includes a directory of some of the social service organizations located in the Columbia Basin.
West Kootenay Early Years - Provides regional support info for caregivers with children 6 and under. Also, parents can apply for subsidies for activities for children six and under through the Stars for Success program, found on this site.
Kootenay Family Place - Based in Castlegar, with services throughout the West Kootenays, the purposes of the organization are to provide services to children, youth and families. Early intervention services and therapies for children include: Speech and Language, Infant Development, Supported Child Development. Drop in calendar of services listed on the homepage of their website
Kootenay Kids - Aboriginal Early Intervention Program - This program seeks to provide support to families who self-identify as First Nations, Metis or Inuit. Program and activities are designed to be flexible to accommodate the diverse needs of Aboriginal families with a focus on honouring and maintaining Indigenous culture and traditions.
Okanagan Training and Development Council - OTDC’s mandate is to encourage self-sufficiency for aboriginal individuals by addressing local and regional labour market and community needs and priorities through the delivery of employment, training, programs and services.
Talking Little Feet Council - A regional council supported by BC’s Success by 6 Initiative that travels to West Kootenay communities to invite input into initiatives that focus on Aboriginal children ages 0-6 and their families. Calendar of family-support events and programs can be found on the homepage.
Employment & Training Resources
Explore more Employment & Training Resources compiled for students at Co-op Education & Employment Services...
Community Futures in Nelson/Castlegar & Trail/Rossland - Community Futures fosters local entrepreneurs through all phases of business from the pre-startup phase to the expansion of existing business. They offer entrepreneurial programs and training, business counselling, loan programs and a business library of resource material to people interested in expanding or starting a business.
Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program (ISETS) The ISET Program provides funding to Indigenous service delivery organizations that design and deliver job training services to First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban/non affiliated Indigenous people in their communities. Check the website to find an Indigenous service delivery organization near you to get the training you need to find jobs.
Kootenay Aboriginal Business Development Agency - Supporting Aboriginal business in the Kootenays. KABDA serves First Nation, Metis and Inuit people in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. If you are thinking about starting a business, or are an existing business owner seeking to expand, contact us. KABDA will be happy to assist with your business venture because we want to see you succeed!
Métis Nation BC - The Métis Employment & Training Program improves the employment potential, earning capacity and self-sufficiency of Métis people in British Columbia.
Okanagan Training and Development Council - Okanagan Training and Development Council's mandate is to encourage self-sufficiency for aboriginal individuals by addressing local and regional labour market and community needs and priorities through the delivery of employment, training, programs, and services.
Post-Secondary Education
In the News
Overcoming obstacles on the way to a successful educational pathway is something the majority of post-secondary students can understand. A recent graduate on Nelson's Silver King Campus knows what it's like to stare into the face of adversity and triumph.