For Those Who Persevered

In Indigenous cultures, Elders are community counselors, knowledge keepers, cultural advisors and spiritual leaders.

They are esteemed members of the community, yet they are the most vulnerable group in Canada’s aging population crisis. Indigenous Elders are especially at risk of being taken advantage of, and many lack access to critical resources like housing, finances and food security. The lasting traumatic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have made these situations much worse.

The Victoria Native Friendship Centre (VNFC) believes that Elders deserve to be cared for. VNFC provides essential services including legal counselling, social workers, trauma counselors, art therapists and cultural programming. More than 340 Elders rely on these services, who in-turn offer their wisdom and Indigenous ways of knowing to other cultural programs at the VNFC. This includes youth language programs, daycare readings and cultural workshops (beading, storytelling, traditional medicine and healing).

Currently there is only one full-time Indigenous Cultural and Traditions Coordinator responsible for Elder-related programming. The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) is stepping in to provide the funding needed to hire a part-time assistant focused solely on Elders. This new support worker will be critical in relieving some of the load while ensuring Elders continue to receive care. 

The VNFC is a non-profit Indigenous-led organization dedicated to promoting the well-being of urban Indigenous Peoples for the last 54 years. Located on Vancouver Island, the VNFC strives to ensure Indigenous Peoples and Elders have the resources to thrive physically and mentally well into the future.

Diocese of Victoria