Elders-In-Residence Program: A Place of Belonging

Kikékyelc: A Place of Belonging is a culturally safe, supportive affordable housing complex. It has 26 units for First Nation, Métis and Inuit youth transitioning from the child welfare system to more independent living. Through the Elders-in-Residence program, 5 seniors live with the youth to support them with life skills and provide mentorship and cultural teachings. This unique model is transforming housing outcomes and the well-being of youth through a holistic and Indigenous-led approach.

Project scope and expected outcomes

Indigenous youth transitioning out of care have unique housing needs

Indigenous children are disproportionately over represented in the Canadian child welfare system. Indigenous people make up about 4.9% of the population in Canada, yet approximately 58% of the children in the foster care system are Indigenous. They disproportionately face negative outcomes as they age out of the child welfare system. This includes things like:

• loss of family, language, cultural identity and a sense of belonging
• greater risk of homelessness, mental health issues, incarceration and premature death

To address these outcomes through an Indigenous lens, Lii Michif Otipemisiwak Family and Community Services developed Kikékyelc: A Place of Belonging.

The organization is Canada’s first child welfare agency to develop and operate its own culturally safe and supportive affordable housing project that brings Elders and Indigenous youth together. This approach breaks the cycle of trauma from having been in care and aging out of the child welfare system.

Kikékyelc supports 26 First Nation, Métis and Inuit youth transitioning from the child welfare system to more independent living. Indigenous youth who age out of care benefit from a supportive environment that enables them to develop important life skills to help them succeed in the long-term. Many of the youth living at Kikékyelc haven’t lived independently before.

Multi-generational housing is key to the program’s success

What really sets Kikékyelc apart is its Elders-In-Residence Program which partners youth and resident Elders. Through the Elders-In-Residence Program, 5 units are dedicated to local First Nation, Métis or Inuit Elders who live with the youth and provide mentorship.

The daily presence and involvement of Elders in the program helps rebuild cultural connections and contributes to a sense of belonging. This unique model also provides unconditional support to the youth as they have largely been deprived of opportunities to learn skills from family and their Indigenous community. Elders also model traditional values such as respect for one's self and for one's community.

Elders serve as on-site mentors through a system where 1 Elder serves as the on-site Elder-In-Residence 1 day a week from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm during the week and varied weekend hours. This provides natural opportunities for mentorship and the transfer of knowledge, values and cultural teachings.

Both the youth residents and Elders complete and application process to live at Kikékyelc. The $4.7 million condo-style building has 31-units and was completed in 2020. The building is smoke and substance free with staff on-site 24 hours to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all residents. All units are fully furnished. The common area is modeled after a kekuli, the traditional winter home of the local First Nation. Collaborative activities such as life and tenancy skills are hosted in this space.

Supportive and culturally appropriate housing makes all the difference

The main purpose of the Elders-In-Residence Program is to provide supports that build tenancy and other important life skills. This prepares and empowers the youth to successfully transition to more permanent housing in the future. The Community Housing Transformation Centre provided funding through its Community-Based Tenant Initiative Fund to support the tenancy building skills training.

While life skills are vital, the traditional and cultural teachings through Elder mentorship are just as important. This helps regain cultural ties which are often lost during the time spent in the child welfare system.

The Elders-In-Residence act as facilitators and work in partnership with a team of youth outreach support workers to develop activities that teach important skills. Activities are designed to build leadership skills, resiliency and the Indigenous concept of caring for and resecting one another.

The Community-Based Tenant Initiative Fund also supported the youth Tenant Care Committee/Council which is at the centre of the programming.

The committee meets regularly to review challenges and issues, and develops strategies to effectively resolve these. With the support of Elders, youth develop leadership skills with the goal of being able to eventually lead their own activities or workshops through train-the-trainer approach. Activities include:

• youth driven community garden
• traditional medicine greenhouse
• cooking and meal program
• cultural programs and activates to acquire traditional knowledge such as drumming and beading circles

The Elders-In-Residence involvement in the collaborative activities promote respectful relationship building skills, conflict resolution and problem solving skills.

Partners step up to support Kikékyelc

Many partners supported Kikékyelc: A Place of Belonging:

• Lii Michif Otipemisiwak Family and Community Services Métis Elders Council support the social work team in the delivery of culturally appropriate child protection services.
• Members of the Métis Elders Council are involved in the selection process of the Elder mentors and provide support to those selected for the Elder-In-Residence program.
• Métis Nation BC provides support to Métis Elders. The organization has a wealth of cultural resources that support the Elders in their mentorship and guidance to the youth tenants.
• Secwempmec Child and Family Services refers First Nation and Inuit youth to the housing and program. It also provides recommendations and supports for First Nation and Inuit Elders.

The Community Housing Transformation Centre contributed $100,000 through its Community-Based Tenant Initiative Fund. This funding supports the tenancy skills training and the youth Tenant Care Committee/Council.

Elders will work in partnership with other staff to support strategies that engage tenants in collaborative activities. They’ll also support youth in building tenancy skills through various activities, including:

• encouraging participation in skills development programs and services offered on-site
• supporting the creation of a youth driven Tenant Care Committee/Council that meets regularly.

A large part of the funding will go towards paying a fee-for-service for the Elders for their time and participation in the program, and for materials and supplies.

Other partners provided funding to support Kikékyelc’s operations:

• The Stollery Charitable Foundation
• HRJ Consulting Ltd.
• Community Living BC
• Interior Health Authority
• Ministry of Children and Family Development

Kikékyelc’s Elders-In-Residence program is living proof of how an Indigenous community is reclaiming care for its youth, helping advance reconciliation.