CONTENTS

FEATURE ARTICLE Healing Residential School Trauma, Parenting, and Indigenous Child Development: A Conversation with Melissa Meyer Page 1

NATIONAL NEWS Assembly of First Nations Announces “National Day of Reconciliation to be held June 11, 2009Page 3

ECE NEWS Career Training Opportunities in Aboriginal Early Childhood Education Mary Thomas Memorial ECE ScholarshipPage 4

RESEARCH NEWS Introduction to the Aboriginal Steering Committee at Human Early Learning Partnership Page 5

ACCS NEWS Welcome Our Returning Aboriginal Child Care Advisor Mary Burgaretta

Welcome Our New Resource Librarian Pepper Brewster

Thank You and a Fond Farewell to Melissa MeyerPage 6

UPCOMING EVENTSPage 8

ACCS: Tell me a little bit about yourself.

Melissa: I’m Tsimshian, originally from Lax kw’alaams, BC, which means “Island of Wild Roses”. My mom is Elaine Miller, we are Eagle Clan from the Gis pax’ loats Tribe. I’ve been married to my husband Mike Schooner, who is from Bella Coola for thirteen years now, and I’ m a mother of two. I have a background in First Nations Governance and Anthropology.

ACCS: How has the Residential Schools affected you and your family and your people?

Melissa: Basically almost everyone in our family went. There were a couple of uncles who didn’t go to residential school. My mom didn’t go – she was the youngest. Her mom went and her dad went, and she went to a day school, which was on the other side of the reserve, and you didn’t get to see your family. It was pretty strict, very different from our traditional ways. In my husband’s family there was massive

abuse and trauma from people attending there as well. Some of his uncles and aunts went, and definitely the grandparents. We’ve all been affected by it.

ACCS: In what ways?

Melissa: Well, especially the parenting –the bonding, the nurturing, the connections that weren’t made during very young lives. It’s pretty tough to pass that on and translate that into the next generation so you get a lot of unbonded families and it just wreaks havoc and creates a lot of dysfunction.

ACCS: Was the Prime Minister’s Apology healing and helpful to you and your family?

Melissa: I think it was, it finally broke the silence, it finally exposed the denial that our people have lived under that for so long. There’s residential school survivors that I’ve worked with who finally, after that apology, could start to face their

Healing Residential School Trauma, Parenting, and Indigenous Child Development: A Conversation with Melissa MeyerDavid Wu, BC ACCSThis June marks the first anniversary of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s apology for Canada’s Indian Residential Schools. In this issue we interview Melissa Meyer, former BC ACCS Librarian and wellness and healing coach on healing from residential school trauma. Being aware of the intergenerational effects of the Indian Residential Schools is an important part of the healing journey. By walking the journey, conscious parenting, learning and honouring the traditional ways of raising children, we help heal the intergenerational effects of the Residential Schools. We honour the memory of the hundreds of thousands of First Nations, Inuit and Métis children who were separated from their families, and stand in solidarity with the families who still carry the scars of residential school intergenerational trauma. All my relations. – BC ACCS

May-June 2009 Vol. 12 No. 1

2May-June 2009 Caring For Our Children

own stuff and were able to see a counselor, see a therapist. Because you know, the blanket of silence was lifted.

ACCS: Can you tell me a little bit about your healing work relating to residential school trauma and historical trauma?

Melissa: When I work as a healer, the greatest gift a healer has is the ability to change their mind, and the greatest gift you can support another to do is to experience a new perspective. Healing for me is just that ability to change your mind. What if you didn’t view this experience as a victim? What would it look like on the other side? What are the lessons being offered? What are the gifts of this experience? Only by reconciling my own history and learning my own lessons and embracing the many gifts that have been offered in my life can I then empower and support another to take that step.

ACCS: Tell me a little about your children.

Melissa: Now that’s healing! My husband and I have very, very similar backgrounds. We both grew up without father figures. But we did everything different. We had a home birth, he caught the children instantly and we had that time to bond, and we consciously made the effort to build in all the bonding opportunities we didn’t have. It really stretched our family and it brought so much healing, and so they are really huge gifts in our journey.

ACCS: Can you tell us what is the language of your people?

Melissa: Our language is Smalygax, and that’s what the Tsimshian people speak, and my husband’s language in Bella Coola is Nuxalk. Mike’s grand parents are practically fluent and they’re still alive. Mike’s grandparents are our children’s great-grandparents. Our children have all been named and they’ve been initiated into their Nuxalk background. And they will also have the benefits from my house up in Tsimshian country.

ACCS: Can you share how you do some of the literacy and language with your children around you and your husband’s native languages?

Melissa: Well, it’s so interchangeable – they’re not separate now. It’s just two languages that are part of who we are. They’re not discrete or distinct at all, they sort of just merge. Sometimes we’ll be speaking in Nuxalk to the children, whether we’re talking about food, whether we’re talking about the culture or, we’re talking about activities that we’re doing.

ACCS: What makes Aboriginal child development different from Western child development, and how would you integrate both ways of understanding the

development in your children’s life?

Melissa: Well I think our children are exactly the product because we are First Nations and we live in the Western culture now and I’m part-German, and part-Scottish and Tsimshian, and my husband’s half-Irish so our children get the benefit. We’re raising them as traditionally as possible, they get a little bit of my language, they get a little bit of my husband’s language, they know their aunties, their uncles, their cousins, they know that close-knit family community is first and foremost in their lives, their relationship to the land, our traditional foods…Here in the city we still go out on the land and we make offerings, and we give thanks. We go home for the pot latches, they like to sing and drum and dance in our house. We just get creative and do what we can here and connect with our community in an urban setting now.

ACCS: Can you also talk about spirit in Indigenous child development?

Melissa: Spirit is our relationship to everything around us, to even the unseen, that’s just part of our worldview – we believe in that parallel world, that everything is happening spiritually but we can’t see what is going on here. And we just remind the children of that. You get glimpses of that if you know how to read it, like we’ll have a reference of grizzly bear or eagle or humming bird doing something and that’s very specific and symbolic of the spirit world for us. We educate our children about it. For example, Mike’s mother’s ashes – we spread the ashes back in the river, and right away directly there was a grizzly bear on the other side of the river. And for us, they’re like our shaman, so they were just coming to tend to her spirit, and take her to her next calling – it was very significant and very beautiful how it all unfolded, and for the children to witness that, and for all of us to be reminded that there is something always greater going on and we have only the smallest glimpse. Now in terms of our children’s development, it’s not distinctly broken down – we have the mindset where we just socialize our children around us, you know we wear them, we carry them, they’re always with us, so there’s this innate connection, lot’s of skin-to-skin contact. Nowadays I think we rush the babies the babies so quickly have them separate from us. Back then I we wore them right on our skin, and then when they got older we put them in baskets. And the breastfeeding -- that’s huge for us, that creates such a bond. There’s really a strong sense of self and sense of connection. Our children thrive when we wrestle and we cuddle and we snuggle. They won’t get off the breastfeeding until least four, so they have that built in.

ACCS: Wow, until four!

Melissa: At least – if they don’t fall off!

3Caring For Our Children May-June 2009

ACCS: Do you have any insights into healing, being an Aboriginal parent, and raising young children that you would like to share?

Melissa: Well my favourite line is “It takes a community to raise a child; it takes a community to raise parents”. We haven’t grown up with perfect parenting, that dysfunction and mis-bonding that hasn’t happened in our communities is still continuing to heal, and I am always the biggest supporter of parents getting help and support. I have a spiritual parenting group from a whole healing perspective and you know there’s tons of fantastic resources out there – Indian Residential School Survivors Society has brilliant resources. If they can get in and really work with someone they trust. The type of work that I do is all experiential so all that I’m teaching is anything that I’ve gotten through myself. The Aboriginal Healing Foundation has fantastic resources as well if you want to check out their website too.

ACCS: Thank you very much. Dokysum.

Melissa: You are welcome!

Melissa leads a private practice as a Healing and Wellness Coach. She also leads a Spiritual Parenting Group at the Aboriginal Patents Lodge at the Lu’ma Native Housing Society (Aboriginal Patients’ Lodge) at 1254 East 8th Ave, East Vancouver. Melissa Meyer can be reached at (604)351-6224 or email her at melissa_meyer29@hotmail.com

To find out more information on healing resources and support from Residential School Trauma, please contact:

Indian Residential School Survivors Society www.irsss.ca Tel: (604) 925-4464 Toll free : 1-800-721-0066

Aboriginal Healing Foundation www.ahf.ca Toll Free: 1-888-725-8886

Presentations on trauma support by First Nations, Inui, Métis and Native American mental health professionals at the Aboriginal Child & Youth Mental Health Forum are available at www.cyhrnet.ca/ACYMHF2009.html

NATIONAL NEWS

Assembly of First Nations Announces “National Day of Reconciliation” to be held June 11th, 2009Thursday, June 11, 2009 marks the first anniversary of Canada’s apology for its treatment of children, parents and families as a result of the Indian Residential Schools system. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine is calling on Canadians to join him and many others from across the country in Ottawa on June 11 to participate in a “National Day of Reconciliation” event that will remind the federal government that the apology calls for the establishment of a new standard of behaviour toward Aboriginal people.

“June 11th will now be a day to put meaningful action to the many fine words that have been given to us by way of apologies from the residential school era,” the National Chief said. “We once again offer our hand to work in partnership with the governments, the churches, and the people of Canada, to make this land a better place for First Nation people, and all Canadians.”

The National Day of Reconciliation will begin with a sunrise ceremony at 5:30 a.m. on Victoria Island. Members of the public are welcome to participate or observe. At noon, First Nations leaders and citizens, church leaders,

politicians and concerned Canadians will gather for a unity rally on Parliament Hill. National Chief Phil Fontaine will address the crowd, as will other leaders and special invited guests (detailed agenda to follow). At the Hill, children will also invite everyone to participate in a Round Dance, a traditional display of friendship and goodwill.

“We will reach our destination when First Nations live in healthy communities and raise children who can pursue their goals and dreams, and when First Nations share in the riches of this, their traditional homeland.”

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations in Canada.

For more information please download the National Day of Reconciliation Information Sheet at www.afn.ca/misc/NDR-infosheet.pdf

Source: Reproduced with permission from the Assembly of First Nations www.afn.ca

4May-June 2009 Caring For Our Children

ECE NEWS

Career Training Opportunities in Aboriginal Early Childhood EducationInterested in a rewarding career in Aboriginal Early Childhood Education? As of June 2009, there are three exciting Aboriginal ECE training programs in British Columbia approved by the MCFD ECE Registry. At the time of this writing, we understand there are other institutions working on offering Aboriginal ECE programs. You can check the list of approved training institutions at www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/ece/training.htm

Institution Program Type Intake Date(s)

College of New Caledonia (Mackenzie Campus)

Box 2110, 540 Mackenzie Blvd Mackenzie, BC V0J 2C0

Contact: Alice Winkel, Aboriginal Early Childhood Education Certificate (AECE)

T: (250) 997-7200 | Toll free: 1-877-997-4333 winkela@cnc.bc.ca | cncmackenzie@cnc.bc.ca www.cnc.bc.ca/mackenzie

Basic

Note: This is an online course only. The AECE is a joint

collaboration of the College of New Caledonia, Northern Lights College, Northwest Community

College, and Yukon College.

Aug 14, 2009 (classes start Sept 21st)

Nov 20, 2009 (classes start Jan 4, 2010)

Mar 5, 2010 (classes start April 5, 2010)

Native Education College

285 East 5th Ave. Vancouver, BC V5T 1H2

Contact: Inga Kossoroukora, ECE Program Coordinator

T: (604) 873-3772 | ece@necvancouver.org www.necvancouver.org

Basic Ongoing until early September, class starts September 8, 2009

Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (Merritt Campus)

4155 Bleshaw St. Merritt, BC V1K 1R1

Contact: Denyse Oswald-Finch, Coordinator, Aboriginal Early Childhood Education

T: (604) 378-3311 | F: (250) 378-3332 | Toll-free : 1-877-682-3300 doswaldfinch@nvit.bc.ca | www.nvit.ca

Basic

Infant/Toddler

Special Needs

May 2009 (ongoing – seats still available) for classes starting in

September 2009

Mary Thomas Memorial ECE Scholarship Application Deadline: July 31, 2009

The Mary Thomas Memorial ECE Scholarship is presented and administered by the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society, and recognizes two Aboriginal ECE students each year, for the highest academic achievement in a Basic ECE program ($1,000) and in a Post-Basic ECE program ($1,500) at an approved institution in BC. Scholarships are available for full-time or part-time ECE students. Scholarships announced/awarded in September 2009.

Application forms available online at www.acc-society.bc.ca, or by calling (604) 913-9127.

For more information, please contact: Lynn McBride Child Care Advisor BC Aboriginal Child Care Society Tel: (604) 913-9128 ext. 225 | Fax: (604) 913-9129 Email: lynn@acc-society.bc.ca

5Caring For Our Children May-June 2009

When Grand Chief Ed John was Minister of MCFD, in 2001 he approved the Human Early Learning partnership as pilot project before May 2001. The Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) has prioritized an Aboriginal Steering Committee (ASC) within its infrastructure since initial talks with core members back in 2002/03. The ASC has since become a visible part of HELP’s work and was established formally in 2006. It is the intended that the ASC will continue to have a strong influence on HELP as an organization of researchers, in addition to providing legitimacy to the efforts for aboriginal communities and their growing research agendas as it pertains to aboriginal early years. The strength of the ASC is its members, some of whom, have stayed with HELP throughout a rough start and stop in organizing itself.

The ASC has been working diligently towards establishing its terms of reference and membership. At the moment, we have 12 of a possible 15 seats filled with individuals whose experiences, lived and professional, reflect the realities facing Aboriginal children. We are blessed to have the knowledge, love and kindness of elders, health professionals, front line workers, education professionals and those from healing professions and social work backgrounds contributing to our shared efforts. We ensure that both men and women, from across the life span are able to participate in the important work of early learning and are able to influence HELP, supporting our communities, relational and geographical.

Over the past year, we have held three meetings at the HELP offices located on UBC campus. Two of the meetings have been joint HELP-ASC meetings in addition to ASC meetings with HELP researchers updating and seeking support from the ASC members. We have also approved in principle, the use of language group boundaries in effort to address issues of meaningful use of data, and we have actively sought out new members for the ASC to complement those whose long time commitment continues to lead our way. We are interested in finding potential members whose work, life and professional, is guided in a concern and action towards aboriginal children thriving according to their social and cultural determinants. We are in the final stages of development of the Terms of Reference and are spending our summer months developing policy and practice that will support the overall functioning of the ASC within HELP and with First Nations, Aboriginal and Métis communities, organizations and nations. We are reviewing models of governance in order to best be able to work within HELP as an organization, while following indigenous principles of being, doing and knowing. It is our hope to be of best service for our descendents: our children who are here, those to come and those we may never meet.

Michele A. Sam is the Senior Aboriginal Researcher at Human Early Learning Partnership. For more information please contact Michele at (604) 822-9419 or email her at michele.sam@ubc.ca

RESEARCH NEWS

Introduction to the Aboriginal Steering Committee at Human Early Learning PartnershipMichele A. Sam, HELP

Eagles Nest Preschool Graduation Carwash

Vancouver, BC – On Saturday, May 2, 2009, parents, teachers, children and staff volunteers from Eagles Nest Preschool and BC ACCS gathered at the parking lot of the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre to do a fundraising carwash. Amidst the supportive honking of bus drivers, truck drivers, and Canuck fans, our enthusiastic crew washed thirty cars in four hours. Our Elder Eugene Harry also did a car wash in Squamish Nation. We raised a total of $486 for the graduation. Now our little eagles can leave the nest to enter the larger world of kindergarten!

COMMUNITY NEWS

A family of enthusiastic volunteers – Eagles Nest Preschool Graduation Carwash at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre. With permission from the family. (Photo: David Wu)

6May-June 2009 Caring For Our Children

Welcome Our Returning Aboriginal Child Care Advisor, Mary BurgarettaMary Burgaretta is very pleased to be returning to the position of Aboriginal Child Care Advisor. Mary completed her Master of Arts in Child and Youth Care in 2007 and has continued her work with Aboriginal communities. She is a member of Rama Mnjikaning First Nation and proud mother of two adult sons. Mary firmly believes that promoting early learning opportunities through quality child care and support programs make positive differences in children’s lives and build success in later years. I am looking forward to working with old friends again and meeting new people who are dedicated to children’s well being. Mary can be contacted at:

Mary Burgaretta, MA (CYC) Aboriginal Child Care Advisor BC Aboriginal Child Care Society Tel: (604) 913-9128 ext. 224 | Fax: (604) 913-9129 Email: mary@acc-society.bc.ca

Welcome to Our New Resource Librarian, Pepper BrewsterWe are delighted to have our newest staff join our team. Here’s some words from our new Resource Librarian: I am

Pepper Brewster, mother of two beautiful boys and have a wonderful partner who is from the Nuxalk and Tseil-Waututh nations. I am of Aboriginal ancestry on my father’s side from the Chilcotin area. I grew up in Bella Coola, BC as did my partner and we still consider it “home” in addition to our new home

on the Tsleil-Waututh reserve in North Vancouver where we have been living for the past 2 years. My background is in Early Childhood Education, having completed the amazing program at Vancouver Community College. I am very excited to join the team here at BCACCS and look forward to helping you with your resource needs!!

Pepper Brewster BC ACCS Resource Librarian Tel: (604)913-9128 Ext. 229 Fax: (604)913-9129 E-mail library@acc-society.bc.ca Internet www.acc-society.bc.ca Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 9 am – 12 :30 pm.

Thank you and a Fond Farewell to Melissa Meyer, Former BC ACCS Resource LibrarianWe would like to give a heart-felt thank you and Doyksum to Melissa Meyer, our Former ACCS Resource Librarian, for all her work in the Resource Library. During her year at ACCS Melissa oversaw the borrowing and lending of our books, DVDs, and curriculum boxes, updated our memberships, and so much more. Melissa will be focusing on her private consulting practice as a healing and wellness coach and we wish her all the best. She can be reached at (604) 351-6224 or email melissa_meyr29@hotmail.com. Till we meet again, D’M Algik Needs’n.

ACCS NEWS

BC ACCS Summer Hours AnnouncementSummer Hours Monday-Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Starting July 2nd - September 4th, 2009

Resuming regular hours 9 am – 5 pm on September 8, 2009.

7Caring For Our Children May-June 2009

(May 8, 2009) Local artists Lance Belanger and Kitty Mykka assembling the frame for the roof of the new cedar wood longhouse/playhouse at Eagles Nest Preschool in Downtown Vancouver, BC. (Photo: David Wu)

To be covered in a Future Issue: Building a longhouse/playhouse at Eagles Nest Preschool, a Conversation with Lance Belanger and Kitty Mykka. Stay tuned!

The Circle of Care: It Takes a Community…12th Annual Provincial Training Conference, November 19 – 21, 2009

Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle DowntownWe are pleased to announce that our 12th Annual Provincial Training Conference will take place on November 19, 20 & 21, 2009 in Vancouver, at the Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown (1128 Hastings Street). Our Conference theme this year is The Circle of Care: It Takes a Community...

At ACCS, a primary focus of our training and professional development events is to translate our culturally rich traditions into effective early learning and child care (ELCC) programs and services. We believe that community involvement, leadership, and support are central to the healthy, holistic development of Aboriginal children, and we seek to promote the capacity of ELCC professionals to design and deliver programs and services that are immersed in our cultures and communities.

If you are interested in presenting a workshop at our Conference, please see the Call for Presentations on our website at http://www.acc-society.bc.ca/files_new/annual_conf.html, or contact Lynn McBride (Director of Conference) by phone at 604.913.9128, local 225 or by e-mail at lynn@acc-society.bc.ca.

For people who are interested in attending our Conference, keep checking our website for more information! Conference information will be posted there throughout the summer.

Traditional Recipes for ChildrenHup’k’chu or Sweet Dumplings

Nuu-chah-nulth NationSutherland/Haiyupis family version

Makes 4 servings

2 Cups of flour 2 tblsp of baking powder 2 tblsp of Sugar Pinch of salt 1/2 cup of cranberries/raisins

1. Add water to consistency of fried bread.

2. Roll it into size and shape of an egg

3. Place in boiling water for no longer than 10 minutes. The dumplings rise to the top when they are almost ready.

4. Serve and dip in maple syrup or other sweetener

“As a child, I loved making this recipe with my grandmother and aunties. It is a sweeter bannock recipe with raisins or dried cranberries.” – Pawa Haiyupis

Printed with permission from the Haiyupis family, Nuu-chah-nulth Nation.

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BC Aboriginal Child Care SocietyKaren Isaac, Executive Director

Lynn McBride, Child Care Advisor

Mary Burgaretta, Aboriginal Child Care Advisor

David Wu, Community Liaison & Researcher

Pepper Brewster, Resource Librarian

Scott Nahanee, Administrative Assistant/Accounts Payable

Editor/Writer: David Wu

Design: DanceyDesign

Printing: Initial Print

Caring for Our Children is published by the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society. It is distributed to ACCS members, on and off reserve child care centres, Head Start programs, Bands and Tribal Councils in BC and individuals interested in early childhood education and care from a First Nations perspective.

Readers are invited to reprint articles provided proper credit is given. We welcome the submission of articles, book reviews, artwork, photos, letters and poetry.

We acknowledge current funding support from The BC Ministry of Children and Family Development. BC ACCS is a proud affiliate of the Canadian Child Care Federation (CCCF).

For more information please feel free to contact us:

BC Aboriginal Child Care Society

708-100 Park Royal South

West Vancouver, BC V7T 1A2

T: 604.913.9128 F : 604.913.9129

reception@acc-society.bc.ca www.acc-society.bc.ca

HIPPY Canada’s 10th Anniversary Gala: Tribute to Leonard George June 25, 2009HIPPY Canada is pleased to announce its 10th Anniversary Gala. It will be a tribute to the accomplishments and contribution of Leonard George of Tsleil-Waututh Nation. There will be a dinner, silent and live auction.Date: June 25, 2009Time: 5:30 pm – 9:00 pmCost: $125 per person; $900 for a table of eightLocation: Chief Joe Mathias Centre, 100 Capilano Road, North Vancouver, BC

(Squamish Nation)For tickets contact the National HIPPY Canada office at 604-676-8252For more information about HIPPY visit www.hippycanada.ca

5th ECE Summer Institute, UBC Institute for Early Childhood Education and Research, July 6-10, 2009Theme: Building Bridges: Pre-Kindergarten & Elementary CollaborationsGuest Instructor: Rebecca New, University of North CarolinaDates: July6-10, 2009 Location: Administration Building of the UBC Child Care ServicesContact: Iris BergerTel: 604-822-6593Email: berger.iris@gmail.com

CEED Conference: Ready for School? Ready for Life? Nov 12-13, 2009 Quebec City, QCCo-organised by the Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development and the Strategic Knowledge Cluster on Early Child Development, this event will raise awareness of observed factors in early childhood that determine or influence school readiness. It will also highlight assessed practices that support children’s school readiness and success.This conference will be held on: November 12-13, 2009Château Laurier Hotel, Quebec City, Quebec, CanadaComplete registration information for this event will be available by July 2009 at www.excellence-earlychildhood.ca.

Upcoming Events

Funded by the Province of British Columbia