2020-2021
JABC Programming in B.C. First Nations Communities Year End Report
INDIGENOUS PROGRAMS: YEAR END REPORT
2020 - 2021
Introduction Promoting a culture of financial health for Indigenous youth involves an emphasis on setting goals, making informed financial decisions and planning for the future. This includes the types of decisions Indigenous youth may encounter in the coming years, such as getting a summer or part-time job, managing their own money, and planning for postsecondary education or training. JA British Columbia (JABC) regularly serves a large number of Indigenous students attending public schools as part of its in-school program delivery. However, as one of the fastest growing populations in the province, JABC is focusing its efforts on reaching more Indigenous youth directly in their communities and offering financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship programs delivered inperson and online with the help of inspirational guest speakers. JABC began piloting its entrepreneurship programs in First Nations communities in 2016 and has been making connections with First Nations leaders and councils to adapt programs to make them suitable for the audience. JABC has dedicated staff and resources towards ensuring JA programs are shared and coordinated and that host communities and schools are supported in youth having access to JA programs. This past year, JABC established an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee to ensure the organization is being inclusive of all backgrounds and regions in B.C. The committee’s work includes a focus on Indigenous youth and recommendations on how JABC can take steps towards truth and reconciliation. This report is a summary of JABC’s activities during the 2020-2021 school year to deliver high-quality and life-changing programs to B.C.’s Indigenous youth
1
INDIGENOUS PROGRAMS: YEAR END REPORT
2020 - 2021
Program Reach
439
27
9
Students reached
Programs delivered
Communities participated
Our goal for the 2020-2021 school year was to deliver 25 programs in B.C. First Nations communities. We exceeded our goal and delivered 27 programs through a collaborative effort between JABC staff and First Nations educators in the following communities:
Number of Programs Delivered In Each Community 1 Fraser Valley Aboriginal Child & Family Services* 2 Kyah Wiget Education Society
Nus Wadeezulh Community School
Witset Elementary School
Kyah Wiget Education Society
3 Neskonlith Indian Band* 3 Nus Wadeezulh Community School* 1 Skatin Community School* 3 SKeetchestn Community School* 2 Witset Elementary School 10 W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Secondary School
SKeetchestn Community School Xet'olacw Community School
Neskonlith Indian Band*
Skatin Community School
2 Xet'olacw Community School* *first time receiving a JA program
Note: Programs delivered in each community can be found in Appendix A.
Fraser Valley Aboriginal Child and Family Service W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Secondary School
2
INDIGENOUS PROGRAMS: YEAR END REPORT
2020 - 2021
Program Summaries W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Secondary School During the 2020-2021 school year, JABC delivered ten programs to students at W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Secondary School on Vancouver Island. The 95 students in grades 7 to 12 at W̱SÁNEĆ are attending school fully remotely and most notably, saw their first grade 12 graduating class. Teacher Hayley Atkins had this to say about the programs W̱SÁNEĆ students participated in: Our Grade 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12 classes had such a blast with JA this year! We completed the More than Money and Dollars with Sense with the 7-9s and the Grade 11/12s had a blast with the Be Entrepreneurial Online course. While we did take it at our own pace and mixed up the content delivery with a blend of group work, independent time and partner work, these programs were very impactful, impressive, and so well organized that the students really enjoyed themselves. I am really looking forward to working with JA next year and diving deeper into these programs, hopefully in person!
Skeetchestn Community School Located near Kamploops, Skeetchestn Community School invited JABC to deliver programs across all JA pillars: workplace readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. An Indigenous volunteer, Leann Kruger, worked with JABC to deliver these programs. The majority of JA programs are delivered by business and community volunteers and is what makes youth programming go from good to great. For Indigenous youth, having Indigenous guest speakers from their communities bringing cultural perspectives to the lessons enhances learning as their knowledge and experiences makes the content more relevant to youth and better supports them to achieve their goals.
3
INDIGENOUS PROGRAMS: YEAR END REPORT
2020 - 2021
Fraser Valley Aboriginal Child and Family Services In Abbotsford, a condensed version of Dollars with Sense was set up for Indigenous teens in care. These youth often don't know how to write a cheque or open a bank account. The program provides them with a basic understanding of banking and options as they enter into adulthood. The program was facilitated by the youth group leader, however two mentors from RBC joined the session to share additional information.
TOTAL PROGRAMS DELIVERED IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
Number of Programs Delivered
30
27 25 22
20
15 10
0
11
2018/19
2019/20 programs goal
2020/21 programs delivered
School Year
4
INDIGENOUS PROGRAMS: YEAR END REPORT
2020 - 2021
Empowering Indigenous Youth - Special Presentation On April 30th, Canadian youth in grades 7-12 had the opportunity to learn from and be inspired by a virtual panel of outstanding Indigenous role models at Empowering Indigenous Youth, hosted by JA Central Ontario. Over 70 youth from B.C. First Nations communities and other B.C. school districts joined the special event to learn more about the speakers' career journeys and ask questions about their career paths. The event was supported by the Peter & Catherine Clark Family Foundation. Speakers: Notorious Cree, Powwow dancer and top 3 world hoop dancer - Keynote Speaker Jennifer Harper, Founder and CEO, Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics Inc, J'net Ayayqwayaksheelth, Ahousaht, Indigenous Outreach and Learning Coordinator, Royal Ontario Museum School Suze Morrison, NDP Member of Provincial Parliament, Legislative Assembly of Ontario Tsista Kennedy, Oneida and Anishinaabe, Artist James McKay, Ojibway, Senior Manager Office of Inclusion and Talent Acquisition, BMO
5
INDIGENOUS PROGRAMS: YEAR END REPORT
2020 - 2021
Thank you to our Donors We are very grateful for the support of all our generous donors:
Indigenous Futures Circle The members of the Indigenous Futures Circle enabled JABC to launch its Indigenous programming strategy and bring JA programs B.C. into First Nations communities.
Anonymous
Indigenous Programming Donors
Pankaj and Rita Agarwal
Trev Deeley Foundation
Anonymous 6
INDIGENOUS PROGRAMS: YEAR END REPORT
2020 - 2021
Looking Ahead JABC will continue its work to ensure we reach Indigenous youth through our traditional deliveries. As part of our 2021-2025 Strategic Plan, Bright Futures for all B.C.’s Youth, to deliver 2,025 financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship programs annually Indigenous and non-Indigenous B.C. youth, JABC is continuing to make reaching more First Nations communities to provide access to to JA programs a key priority. For more information on programming in First Nations, communities, please contact Deborah Wakeham, VP Programs at deborah.wakeham@jabc.org. Learn more about all of JABC's programs at jabc.ca
6 7
INDIGENOUS PROGRAMS: YEAR END REPORT
2020 - 2021
Appendices Appendix A: Programs Delivered in each Community
#
PROGRAMS DELIVERED
1
Dollars with Sense
Kyah Wiget Education Society
2
Economics for Success
Neskonlith Indian Band*
3
Nus Wadeezulh Community School*
3
JABC TechWorks, World of Choices
Skatin Community School*
1
JABC TechWorks
SKeetchestn Community School*
3
Witset Elementary School
2
COMMUNITY Fraser Valley Aboriginal Child & Family Services*
W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Secondary School Xet'olacw Community School*
Dollars with Sense, Economics for Success, Personal Finance
Economics for Success, Be Entrepreneurial, Personal Finance More than Money, World of Choices More than Money, Dollars with Sense,
10
Be Entrepreneurial, JABC TechWorks, World of Choices
2
Personal Finance
*new communities served in 2019/20
8
INDIGENOUS PROGRAMS: YEAR END REPORT
2020 - 2021
360 - 475 West Georgia Street Vancouver, BC V6B 4M9 T: 604.688.3887 jabc.ca
Our purpose is to inspire, prepare and empower B.C. youth for lifelong success. We deliver financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship programs to B.C. students in metro, urban, rural, and Indigenous communities. We acknowledge that our work spans many Territories and that our head office is located on the shared traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.