Indigenous Guest Community
SIIA’s model of care is rooted in the understanding that our territory is like a longhouse, with four posts representing the outer edges of our service area.
Everything that happens within this longhouse is under our care, including the
well-being of Indigenous guests.
Our urban relatives come from different Nations and communities all over turtle island. Some were born and raised on the South Island, and some came for the opportunities available within an urban centre. We uphold these relatives as members and citizens of their respective nations, and also understand our responsibility to care for them as they live on our territories.
The key Indigenous Service Agencies we are working alongside to gather stories from our urban relatives are Hulitan Family and Community Services, Surrounded by Cedar Child and Family Services, and the Victoria Native Friendship Centre.
Under SIIA’s governance model, the Council of Indigenous Guests will represent Indigenous peoples living within the South Island who do not belong to any of our Member Nations. This Council will include representatives from various Indigenous communities, ensuring that their voices and needs are reflected in our laws and services. We respect the distinct cultures of each Nation and Indigenous guest, and we are committed to providing services in a manner that does not contribute to assimilation but rather honors and preserves these unique cultures. However, as guests within these territories, Indigenous guests have a reciprocal obligation to learn the protocols of the South Island Nations. For more information of our understanding about guest-host relationships within our territory, see our Definitions page.
In our efforts to reclaim our inherent governance rights, SIIA asserts that these rights include providing child and family services to Indigenous guests. Our model aligns with the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the commitments made by Federal and Provincial governments to uphold these rights.
Together, we are building a child and family system that is unique to the South Island Nations, one that respects our traditional laws while embracing the diversity of our Indigenous guests. We are all paddling together towards a future where every child and family on our territory is cared for and feels a sense of belonging.
