Our Key Agency Partners

Surrounded by Cedar Child and Family Services

Located on lək̓ʷəŋən territory, Surrounded by Cedar Child and Family Service’s (SCCFS) history began in the early 1990s, at a time when Indigenous children were being brought into care at alarming rates, and Indigenous community leaders gathered to take a stand against the ongoing destruction of familial and hereditary linkages, cultural identities and healthy spirits.  Through years of collective efforts, the agency was incorporated as a Society in 2002 and then received its status as a Delegated Aboriginal Agency, responsible for serving the urban Indigenous community in South Vancouver Island, in 2005. Since its beginnings, SCCFS has held strong to its mission of providing child and family services strongly rooted in Indigenous cultural values and worldviews while ensuring urban Indigenous children and youth grow up connected to family, community and culture. They continue to support the empowerment of the urban Indigenous community, working to reclaim traditional systems of caring for and protecting children so no child or youth will be placed into care. 

NIȽ TU,O

NIȽ TU,O was originally formed by representatives of the Esquimalt, Beecher Bay/ Sc’ianew, Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Songhees, Tsawout, Tseycum and T’Sou-ke First Nations in 1997, in response to concerns about the number of Coast Salish children in the foster care system. 

The following seven South Island Coast Salish Communities have submitted a BCR (Band Council Resolution) to have NIȽ TU,O CFSS provide services to their children and families: Beecher Bay/ Scianew, Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Songhees, Tsawout, Tseycum and T’Sou-ke.  NIȽ TU,O provides two distinct streams of services. Both streams of services are designed to keep Coast Salish children with their families and in their community. 

The first stream of services is Family Strengthening Programs for any member Nation youth, parents or caregivers that could benefit from additional support. The second is the types of Support Services that were previously provided by the Ministry of Child & Family Development (called delegated services) and are now provided by NIȽ TU,O CFSS using Coast Salish definitions of care. (from website) 

Hulitan Family and Community Services 

Hulitan preserves, unifies, and advocates for Indigenous families by supporting healing and fostering resilience through culturally rooted programs and services and collaboration with community partners (from website)

South Island Wellness Society 

The South Island Wellness Society (SIWS) delivers a variety of community driven collaborative family planning services using the Coast Salish teachings that have been used by our people for centuries.

SIWS provides services to all First Nations and Urban Aboriginal Children and Families that live within our Coast Salish territory, which included our nine First Nations’ villages and all of the surrounding territories of the Southern Vancouver Island. (taken from website)