Indigenous

The Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) in B.C. helps Indigenous people find safe and culturally respectful homes, managing nearly 10,000 housing units off-reserve. They provide affordable housing, shelters, and support services like mental health and addiction programs. 

Visit the Aboriginal Housing Management Association website here.

Aboriginal Legal Aid in BC helps Aboriginal people in B.C. understand their legal rights by providing legal information and connecting communities to legal support. Their legal information is free to everyone, and they also provide free legal advice and legal representation (a lawyer to take your case) if you qualify. 

Visit the Aboriginal Legal Aid in BC website here.

On this webpage, the Alzheimer Society shares publicly available Indigenous dementia care tools and resources. It also includes news stories that reflect experiences, perspectives and voices from different Indigenous communities. 

Find Dementia Information for Indigenous Peoples here.

The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) is the umbrella organization for Friendship Centres across B.C.

Friendship Centres are not-for-profit, Indigenous-led, social service organizations that work to promote, develop and deliver accessible programs and services that support Indigenous peoples living in urban areas and away from home. They provide a wide range of wraparound programs and services to communities —youth, child and family wellness, employment and training, education, health, economic development, language, culture and arts, preventing violence, sport and recreation, and community outreach. 

Visit BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) website here.

British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) / Indigenous Disability Canada (IDC) provides a variety of services to eligible individuals, families and organizations, both within Indigenous communities and in urban and rural centres. If you are an Indigenous person with a disability, or a community or organization requiring disability information and support services, IDC/BCANDS may be able to assist. 

Visit the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) website here.

The B.C. Elders Communication Center Society, a nonprofit organization in British Columbia, is dedicated to nurturing and enhancing strong bonds within First Nations Elders’ communities.  

Visit the B.C. Elders Communication Society website here.

The BC First Nations Justice Council was created in 2015 to:

• Challenge approaches that contribute to the growing over-representation of First Nations children and youth in the care of government and First Nations men and women in incarceration
• Productively engage with government to advance effective strategies that can achieve better outcomes for Indigenous people in the justice system

Learn more about the BC First Nations Justice Council and the resources and services they provide here.

Find culturally-appropriate information, advice, support and representation for Indigenous people. All Indigenous people, regardless of whether they qualify for legal aid, can access free legal and outreach services if they are facing a criminal or child protection issue. Get free help at one of the BC First Nations Justice Council’s Indigenous Justice Centres in Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Surrey, Kelowna, Prince George, Merritt, Prince Rupert or Chilliwack, or through the Virtual Indigenous Justice Centre.  

Learn more about Indigenous Justice Centres here.

Disability Alliance BC has prepared this help sheet to support the completion of the Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) disability designation application for the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) benefit. 

Find the Persons with Disabilities on Reserve: The PWD Designation help sheet here.

The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA)FNHA provides resources for Indigenous Peoples engaging in Advance Care Planning. 

Advance Care Planning is the process that helps you prepare for your future health care at any age of your life. It focuses on thinking about what matters to you (your values, goals, traditional practices and health care wishes) and sharing it with your family, loved ones and health care providers.   

Visit the First Nations Health Authority webpage on Advance Care Planning here.

Watch a video here about Advance Care Planning called Honour Your Journey.

The purpose of the Guide is to make sure that Elders, their families, and caregivers have access to information about the programs, services and resources they need. Elders play a pivotal role in the health and wellness of our communities. Elders are sought out for guidance and advice. Today, it is more important than ever that Elders are supported to live long and healthy lives and to provide guidance and support for the next generation. 

Read the Elders’ Guide here.

The First Nations Health Authority and Gitxsan communities in Kispiox and Sik-e-Dakh collaborated to create a video featuring community members sharing their experiences of caring for family members with dementia. Community health nurses also participated to educate First Nations about recognizing dementia symptoms and accessing support when needed. 

Watch the video Gitxsan Way of Knowing About Dementia here.

The Health Benefits Program is available to First Nations people who live in B.C. and is also available to infants (up to 24 months) if at least one parent is eligible for the program. 

The Health Benefits Program covers six benefit areas: 

• Dental (read a factsheet here)
• Medical Supplies and Equipment (read a factsheet here)
• Medical Transportation (read a factsheet here)​
• Mental Health
• Pharmacy (read a factsheet here)​
• Vision (read a factsheet here​)

Learn more about the FNHA Health Benefits Program here.

People who are Indigenous in BC who have their status card can access the First Nations Health Authority’s transportation services without any additional documents needed. This means that people who are 65 and older who need transportation to attend medical appoints and to travel to and from substance use treatment centres will have this support.  

Find more information about transportation for medical appointments and travelling to and from substance use treatment centres here.

This resource provides virtual health care and referral support for people who do not have a doctor or are unable to get an appointment. It is for all First Nations people living in B.C. and their family members, including family members who are not Indigenous.

Doctors are available by video or phone from 8:30am to 4:30pm every day.

Call 1-855-344-3800 to book an appointment.

Learn more about the First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day resource here.  

This resource helps organizations and support people learn ways to support Indigenous Elders by connecting them with others and reducing loneliness. Many Elders often feel isolated, so this guide aims to raise awareness and offer practical ideas. It includes stories and advice from Elders themselves, along with tools to help make a difference in their lives by creating stronger community connections. 

Read A Focus on Indigenous Seniors in Canada here.

This toolkit called “Hope, Help and Healing” helps First Nations and Aboriginal communities in Canada prevent and deal with suicide. It’s based on a method called Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention (PIP). Prevention focuses on making communities stronger and reducing things that might lead to suicidal thoughts. Intervention helps people who feel suicidal right now. Postvention supports people affected by suicide and teaches how to stop future crises. The toolkit uses feedback from communities to talk about these ideas in positive ways that show strengths. 

Find the Hope, Help and Healing toolkit here.

The Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) is a provincial organization that provides essential services to residential school survivors and families experiencing intergenerational trauma. 

Visit the Indian Residential School System Survivors Society here.

The Indigenous Community Legal Clinic provides free legal representation for people who qualify for legal assistance and have a legal issue that falls under the jurisdiction of the British Columbia provincial courts.   

Find information about the Indigenous Community Legal Clinic on the Disability Alliance BC website here, along with other resources from their Disability Law Clinic.

Indigenous Services Canada works with partners to improve access to services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. Their vision is to support and empower Indigenous people to independently deliver services and address the socio-economic conditions in their communities. 

Learn about Indigenous Services Canada here.

The Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Program recognizes that people with disabilities may require additional supports in order to meet the challenges of daily living and to move towards and maintain greater independence. 

To assist, ISC has contracted with the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) to provide adjudication services relating to PWD applications received from individuals residing within British Columbia’s First Nation communities. 

Learn more about the Indigenous Services Canada Persons with Disabilities Program here.

The KUU-US Crisis Line Society provides a First Nations and Indigenous-specific crisis line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, toll-free from anywhere in British Columbia. 

The KUU-US Crisis Line can be reached toll-free at 1-800-588-8717.

Alternatively, individuals can call direct into the Youth Line at 250-723-2040 or the Adult Line at 250-723-4050.  

Learn more about the KUU-US Crisis Line Society here.

Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) represents the section 35 rights of over 24,000 Métis citizens who are registered with MNBC and advocates for the over 98,000 self-identified Métis in British Columbia.

Learn more on the Métis Nation British Columbia website here.

Métis Crisis Line is a service of Métis Nation British Columbia for people who are experiencing a crisis and would like support. 

Call the Métis Crisis Line at 1-833-MétisBC (1-833-638-4722).

The Moose Hide Campaign began as a B.C.-born Indigenous-led grassroots movement to engage men and boys in ending violence towards women and children. It has since grown into a nationwide movement of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians from local communities, First Nations, governments, schools, colleges/universities, police forces and many other organizations – all committed to taking action to end this violence. 

Learn more about the Moose Hide Campaign here.

The National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) was established in 1972 to represent the growing number of  Friendship Centres across Canada. The NAFC represents over 100 Friendship Centres and Provincial/Territorial Associations (PTAs) from coast-to-coast-to-coast which make up the Friendship Centre Movement (FCM). 

Visit the National Association of Friendship Centres here.

For 50 years, the Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia (NCCABC) has helped Indigenous people navigate the criminal justice system in B.C., as well as providing the many support services needed to help build a healthier and more satisfying life free from alcohol, drugs and violence, for Indigenous people, their families and their communities. 

Visit the Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia website here.