Syilx Early Years

“Our children are our roots and everything we teach them is their responsibility to carry on.”

The Syilx Early Years (SEY) program has been in development since early 2011 and is funded by BC Ministry of Family and Child Development (MFCD). A Syilx Aboriginal Early Childhood Development (AECD) Strategy has been created and plans for implementations are underway. The SEY Lead provides support for front-line staff and coordination of cultural and language materials for the Aboriginal Early Childhood programs within the Okanagan territory. Such supports include training pertaining to childhood development, as well as assisting in the development of these resources to ensure an Indigenous education for our young. The SEY Lead is in charge of building relationships in the territory between Aboriginal and mainstream programming, to create partnerships and identify areas of need and future funding opportunities.

The SEY Lead also supports the En’owkin Centre’s Syilx ECD certificate program.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

  • Annual Early Years Gathering: March 2022
  • AECE Assistant Certificate Training Opportunities
  • Management Support

WORKSHOPS

  • ONA ECE Workshops
  • ASQ
  • Syilx Parenting
  • Truth and Reconciliation

Training is offered to groups and communities by request, and are provided on-site at both on and off-reserve communities. To learn more or to book a workshop, fill out the form and email to early.years3@syilx.org

RESOURCES

ONA has created, developed, and saved many Syilx cultural resources. Stay tuned for more information.

ONA can support you in requesting and signing out BCACCS Curriculum Kits which are designed to provide resources to educators and support learning and play for children. Currently, our drum, salmon, bear, owl, coyote, raven, and cedar kits are available for loan from the BCACCS Resource Centre in West Vancouver. Please contact early.years3@syilx.org for support/availability/delivery.

    

COMING SOON

4 ONA Seasonal Syilx Early Years Kits, available for loan (TBD).

PARENTING SUPPORTS

Northern Okanagan

OKIB Health

76 Head of the Lake Road (Upstairs)
Vernon, BC V1H 2A2

T 250-542-5094

Vernon Friendship Society

2904 29 Ave, Vernon, BC V1T 1Y8

T 250-542-1247

Central Okanagan

WFN Health

WFN Health and Wellness Building
1900 Quail Lane
Westbank, BC

T 250 768 0227

Kelowna Friendship Society

442 Leon Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6J3

T 250-763-4905

South Okanagan

PIB Health

841 Westhills Drive
Penticton, BC V2A 0E8

T 250-493-7799 ext: 101 & 102

Friendship Society

146 Ellis Street, Penticton, BC

T 250-490-3504

LINKS TO OTHER RESOURCES THAT YOU MIGHT FIND USEFUL 

Child Care Licensing

Finding Quality Childcare

Child Care Operating Fund

Child Care Maintenance Fund

BC Early Learning Framework

Appetite to Play

Participaction Bring Back Play

Science World

Affordable Child Care Benefit

Early Childhood Educators of BC

BC Aboriginal Child Care Society

Heart Mind Online

Early Childhood Educator Registry

BC Family Child Care Association

HOW DO I ACCESS THE SYILX EARLY YEARS LEAD’S SERVICE?

Rachel Marchand, Syilx Early Years Coordinator

T 250 707 0095 ext. 225

F 250 707 0166

E Early.Years3@syilx.org