Being responsive to the communities the Victoria Foundation serves means engaging in important conversations, listening to learn, and being open to evolving processes. The Indigenous Granting Advisory Pilot emerged from the Board’s 2022 Reconciliation Task Group. Comprised of local nation members and Indigenous people living on the South Island, the Advisory reviews and recommends applications for the Indigenous Priorities Fund.
The purpose of this fund is to support social, cultural, and legal infrastructure for Indigenous communities in the capital region. Developing new avenues for supporting Indigenous communities is fundamentally important to reconciliation. This new initiative builds on the Victoria Foundation’s ongoing relationship with Indigenous communities and recognizes the need for this process to be Indigenous-led.
The Indigenous Granting Advisory’s Guiding Principles:
› Good mind and good heart
› Work and collaborate in a good way
› Rethink ways of doing, especially around granting
› Walk and learn with humility
› Be reflective
› Be proactive and responsive
The new Indigenous Granting Advisory Pilot distributed $506,000 to four local Nations and 13 other organizations. The Esquimalt Nation, Tsawout Nation Head Start program, and The Literacy Circle Society with the Victoria Native Friendship Centre were recipients.
“The process (is now) more streamlined and feels more empowering. Often, we are shoehorning into what a grant can offer versus fitting our needs within a grant. The Pilot is very Nation-centered and feels more about meeting the needs of the community,” shares Kalie Dyer, Director of Education, Esquimalt Nation.
They received $38,598 to hire an employment and education navigator to support Nation members in attaining personal, educational, and employment goals. The collective need for this new position emerged from the Nation’s education advisory committee discussions and their work creating an internal post-secondary policy manual.
Dyer and her colleague wear many hats for the small Esquimalt Nation. Connecting, supporting, and finding out an individual’s goals takes time. “The biggest gap is community members having difficulty navigating external systems. Having someone internally who is encouraging and responsive to the individual who is part of the community is a game changer. They can get to know the person, hang out, be present to walk alongside the person throughout their education or employment journey, and track community needs. That core relational component is key.” This position will “facilitate skill-building and support people to take charge of their goals, and enhance the community’s self-sufficiency.”
The founding Indigenous Granting Advisory Pilot group members for 2023 include Margaret Charlie, Songhees Nation Council Member; Ruth Young, Cree Nation of Wemindji, Director, Indigenous Initiatives, UVic Law, and Victoria Foundation Board Member; Tamara Napoleon, Saulteau First Nations, Co-leader and Principal Lawyer, Miller Titerle + Co’s Indigenous Law Group and Victoria Foundation Board Chair; and Charla Huber, First Nations and Inuit heritage from Fort Chipewyan, AB, Indigenous Consultant and Instructor at Royal Roads University. Together with Victoria Foundation staff they developed this Advisory group’s structure, values, and priorities and the Indigenous Priorities Fund. “We talked about our values and how we are doing that work, walking and learning in humility. We want to be responsive and proactive — the next level of trust-based philanthropy,” shares Young.
“The Victoria Foundation has done a really good job ensuring organizations and nations are informed about the grants rather than expecting the communities to seek opportunities. This included visits to Nation offices to ensure the granting procedure is more accessible, dynamic, flexible, and inclusive.” Some grants were delivered orally. Indigenous communities and organizations were invited to an inaugural Victoria Foundation open house to ask questions and strengthen grant requests. This new approach asks, “What are your gaps? How can we fund those areas so your nation or area can thrive? It’s a beautiful thing to be part of. It really is about highlighting the strengths of community and meeting them where they’re at. It creates opportunities for conversations and building relationships…and ideally does not create more labour.”
The Literacy Circle provides “English literacy skills through storytelling in a supportive, safe, and self-paced environment” for Indigenous Elders and adults, residential and day school survivors, and intergenerational survivors. In Nanaimo since 2021, The Literacy Circle with Victoria Native Friendship Centre received $10,000 for a Victoria pilot.
The Literacy Circle Executive Director Mary Desprez reflects, “It takes bravery to return to a classroom. You need to build that trust — we’re blessed to be with a powerful group of learners.” Some learn to read and empower their grandchildren to stay in school. “Many students want to learn how to read recipes, their medication, etc. One is learning basic math because she was worried about not getting the right change from stores. There are still disturbing attitudes around Indigenous people. Many are, sadly, used to being ripped off.” Retired teachers lead the classes after completing San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training.
The classroom is more than just a place to learn reading, writing, tech literacy, and math. It’s a safe space for people to bring up other issues they may face — like a landlord forcing an illegal eviction, for example. “Other learners want to write their stories, to leave a legacy. We will create chapbooks of the stories they can share with their families so their history is not forgotten.” Desprez adds, “I’m grateful to the Victoria Foundation. They are the most forward-thinking people I know. Now, a class means something different.”
Transportation is vital when delivering Tsawout Head Start’s programming. For Amber Cunningham, Tsawout Head Start Coordinator, the $38,598 received for a van means family field trips, land-based learning, cultural programming, and access to services. Cunningham has been managing the milk, eggs, and produce delivery program from her car. “The van will be equipped with the appropriate car seats to help make this service less stressful for our community parents.” Tsawout Head Start is part of Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve, a program for families with kids up to age 6 that focuses on family involvement, nutrition, education, social support, and culture and language. The van will increase home visits and facilitate helping Nation members navigate services. “(The van) eliminates the transportation barriers of living in a remote community. Bussing services often run once an hour, with the nearest grocery store over 2 km away.”
The Indigenous Priorities Fund and the Indigenous Granting Advisory Pilot are part of the process toward more inclusive and effective community engagement. Indigenous voices and needs are heard and acted upon by listening and having timely conversations. This evolution fosters a deeper understanding of and collaboration with Indigenous communities and builds community.