B.C.'s children and family development minister visited the two Aboriginal Head Start programs for Indigenous children under six years old in Prince George to announce $30 million in new funding for the programs around the province.
The programs provide culturally-based inclusive day care, including early learning, family bonding and prevention services to families participating in the program.
On, Thursday morning there was a showcase of the Carrier program at the House of Nechako River Children on Third Avenue where Katrine Conroy announced that the Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC will receive $19.5 million to expand their programs and create new licensed child care spaces that will be provided at no charge for families. The First Nations Health Authority will receive $10.5 million to enhance programs already in existence and to create new early-learning spaces within First Nations communities, including those in urban areas and on reserves.
During the showcase, cultural educator Kelsey Abraham gave an example of circle time with the children. Abraham went through several words in English and Carrier including mother, father, beautiful and rain and then got the children to repeat numbers one through 10 in both languages before doing a traditional dance that saw the children chanting simple First Nations phrases to the beat of Abraham's drum as they slowly danced in a circle.
"We know that investing in the early years is absolutely essential," Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond said. "We know that it helps improve students' success as they continue their education so this is great news. We certainly support this kind of investment. We know that the Head Start programs here in Prince George have been incredibly successful so I'm hoping a portion of the money will be invested in additional spaces here."
The long-established Aboriginal Head Start in Prince George has been in existence for the last 23 years. Speakers during the news conference included mothers of graduates of the Head Start program to talk about the impact a good foundation had on their children.
Leila Aubichon is the coordinator for the two programs in Prince George, one for Carrier and one for Metis. She said each of the two programs in Prince George has room for 20 children.
"Sometimes we don't run at capacity because some of our children have such high needs we need to direct more of our resources towards them," Aubichon said. The local program runs 3.5 hours a day, five days a week, which coincides with the regular school year and they also offer a summer program for four-year-olds as well, "to give them the extra boost they need to prepare for kindergarten," Aubichon said.
Three-year-olds attend Tuesday, Thursday, while four-year-olds attend Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Transportation to and from the program is provided along with lunch and a snack.
"We're so happy to provide these programs to children because we have many parents that would like to go back to school or work and when they can't afford day care this is a good alternative," Aubichon said. "These are no-fee day cares and parents will be able to access that to continue their education and perhaps that will lead to getting above the poverty line - and that's really exciting."
