By James Rose
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Columbia Valley Métis Association members eligible to apply for funding
Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) has announced $400,000 for Métis chartered communities for Métis early years programming. The Columbia Valley Métis Association is one of 36 provincially chartered communities.
“The funding is coming from the federal government and will go toward supporting families and children for a variety of services,” said Deb Fisher, MNBC’s minister of children and families and Kootenay representative.
The investment will provide communities with opportunities to create early learning programs that focus on Métis culture and language, traditional Métis parenting, early childhood development and family drop-in programs.
“We know our Métis chartered communities are strongly equipped to help support our Métis children,” Fisher said. “We’ve heard loud and clear that they need, and want, more financial supports to meet the needs of our children, and I’m proud [of] that as a nation, we are equipped to make this investment.” The funding builds on the ministry of education’s continued support of Métis children and families.
Fisher travelled to Chilliwack to attend her first public political event since being voted in last October as MNBC’s R4 regional director. It was there she made the funding announcement. “I didn’t realize how quickly I adapted to not travelling,” Fisher said. “After wearing a mask, doing everything I can to avoid the virus, I mean I used to not think twice about flying, and now it’s kind of a weird feeling sitting on the plane.”
Nevertheless, once Fisher made it to the Métis House in Chilliwack, she felt more at ease. “It was the first community gathering, and it was all about the children,” she said. “It was amazing. There were Red River cart races for children; the whole experience was emotional. I’m a hugger, and being able to hug people was really powerful.”
The $400,000 funding will go toward chartered communities to help with services such as respite care. “Let’s say mom and dad have a special needs child, and they’re experiencing some burnout where they need respite care. Now they can apply for funding for a support person to take their child out of the home for one or two days a month,” Fisher said. “Or maybe a child needs a special walker. With this funding, the chartered community could pay $500 toward a walker that would normally cost $1,500.”
Although the funding may at first glance seem substantial, in reality, spreading $400,000 across 36 provincial chartered Métis communities doesn’t go as far as one may hope. “But it’s a great start,” Fisher said. “It’s exciting because we’ve never had funding to be able to support families like this before.”
