Click here to download RCY’s Indigenous Strategies and Partnerships fact sheet.

The Representative actively seeks out every opportunity to engage, collaborate and establish partnerships with Indigenous communities to improve the child-serving system in British Columbia for First Nations, Métis and Inuit children, youth and families. The Representative recognizes the importance and necessity of ensuring that RCY is a culturally safe and responsive organization and, to support that goal, has established the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Relations team. A key responsibility of the team is to work with RCY’s other program areas to ensure that Indigenous values and perspectives are reflected in all aspects of the organization’s work.

The First Nations, Métis and Inuit Relations team:

• works with Indigenous leadership, agencies, and communities to advocate for culturally safe and effective support for Indigenous children, youth and families who are receiving government services that fall under the Representative’s mandate
• provides consultation, advice, and expertise to staff throughout the organization with respect to Indigenous children and youth and engaging Indigenous communities
• liaises with service providers, including the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Delegated Aboriginal Agencies, Indigenous, and Northern Affairs Canada and other community service stakeholders, and maintains effective two-way communication in order to monitor trends and issues affecting Indigenous children, youth and families
• supports and guides the Representative’s Indigenous Youth Leadership events.

Click here to learn more about the Representative’s past Indigenous Youth Leadership events.