Message from the board of directors
Fraser Valley Aboriginal Children & Family Services Society
Sqwélqwel - Xyólheméylh Winter 2025 Newsletter
Board President Angelina Bowen
Welcome to our Winter Newsletter.
Xyólheméylh held its Annual General Meeting at the Shxwhá:y Village Community Cultural Centre in Chilliwack.
The evening opened with a welcome, an Opening Dinner Song, and a shared meal before members proceeded through the formal agenda. Minutes from the 2024 AGM and 2025 EGM were reviewed, and reports were presented on strategic initiatives, cultural programming, operational updates, and financial stewardship.
We are pleased to announce the following election results:
Re-Elected
- Phil Hall
Newly Elected
- Melody Andrews
- Joanne Hugh
We extend our appreciation to Josh Bailey and Glenda Campbell, who completed their terms and did not seek re-election. We thank them for their service and contributions to the Board.
The meeting concluded with an Honoring Song and closing remarks.
Thank you to our members, leadership, staff, and community for their attendance and their ongoing commitment to the children and families we serve.
In December we chose our new Executive. I’m honoured to remain as President; Marcella Sunshine will serve as interim Vice President until the new year when we will chose a permanent VP; Joanne Hugh is our new Secretary; and Brooke Metchewais will remain as Treasurer.
On behalf of the Board I would like to wish everyone a beautiful holiday season and a happy New Year. We hope that everyone can find time to be with family and friends.
Melí Klésmes qas te Xá:ws Syilólem - (Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year)
Wásems ’íksduqʷia – Angelina Bowen – President, Xyólheméylh Board of Directors
Message from Executive Leadership Team
ELT - Laura-Dawn Wilkin, Rod Spitzig, Teressa Galis
Welcome to our winter newsletter. We’ve had a busy fall season. In September, representatives of Xyólheméylh joined leaders, knowledge keepers, and advocates at the second Annual Loving Justice Conference in Sâskwatôn (Saskatoon), on the traditional territory of the Treaty Six First Nations.
With the theme of “Supporting Each Other,” the conference created a powerful space to exchange experiences, highlight achievements, empower each other, and explore strategies in Indigenous child and family jurisdiction. Through stories, teachings, and dialogue, participants shared both modern and traditional knowledge to guide the path forward.
We are grateful for the opportunity to learn, connect, and carry these teachings back into our work with children, families, and communities.
In October we held the Smímeyáth Ceremony at the Semá:th Longhouse. Smímeyàth is the Halq’eméylem word for butterfly, and the ceremony marks transformation, rebirth, and movement into a new chapter of life. The butterfly is not just a symbol, it is a teaching of grace, lightness, and playfulness that we hope our youth will carry forward.
This coming-of-age ceremony recognizes that youth in our care are not defined by their past but by their journey forward. It stands as a reminder that community, culture, and heritage are anchors in times of change.
We are grateful to every Elder, family member, and supporter who gathered to send these young people off in a good way.
Also in October we held our annual Caregiver Appreciation event at The’í:tselíya in Chilliwack. Thank you to the almost 200 caregivers that attended, our Resources staff who organized the event and MC Chris Silver. We are honoured to recognize caregivers whose commitment provides love, stability, and connection for children and youth in care. You can view some photos of the event further down in this newsletter.
In September, our Xyólheméylh Elders held their Strategic Planning Retreat in Osoyoos. They planned out their cultural circles with staff and caregivers for the year, took a guided tour of the Nk’Mip Cultural Centre, met with Osoyoos First Nation Chief Clarence Louie, and visited Spotted Lake. It was a wonderful, productive retreat and an opportunity to decompress and enjoy nature. Thank you to New Relationship Trust for the grant that made the retreat possible!
Wishing everyone a peaceful and happy holiday season and a Happy New Year!
ELT – Laura-Dawn Wilkin, Rod Spitzig and Shoy:etelwet - Teressa Galis
Meet a Visions & Voices Youth: Steven Dykstra
Steven became involved with Visions and Voices when he was 17 and describes it as a second family. “We’re looking out for other kids in care,” says Steven. He also says Visions and Voices has helped him go deeper into his Indigenous culture which he missed out on as a child and youth in care.
Steven is turning 21 years old this year. He has been in the foster system since he was two years old. He lived with his non-Indigenous family until he aged out, and while he hasn’t had contact with his bio parents, he is close with his grandfather and almost all his siblings.
When he was between 17 and 19 years old he got a new social worker and realized he had to advocate for himself. His advice for Indigenous youth is to get their application for status in earlier rather than later. “Push for status earlier, before you age out,” says Steven.
In his spare time, Steven likes to play Lego, computer games and take bike rides.
Raven Little, who is the Youth Program Coordinator for Visions and Voices says: “Steven has grown to become a strong male Indigenous leader in Visions and Voices and is a proud advocate for other youth in care. Steven channels his own experiences in care and actively advocates the need for children and youth to be connected with their family and culture. Not only does Steven sit on the Visions and Voices youth committee, he shares his voice at Xyólheméylh's Cultural Committee, training initiatives and other community feedback forums. Steven is always the first to volunteer to support growth or positive changes at our agency or in the community and is always wanting to advocate for children and youth.”
Meet an elder: Rikki Kooy
Rikki is an Elder and artist from the Secwepemc and St’atl’imc Nations. She feels honoured and privileged to be an Elder with Xyólheméylh, and to work with staff alongside the other Elders. “I am humbled in heart and spirit.”
Rikki’s traditional name is Slex'lex Tcets' Nux enx' which translates to Spirit Elk Woman coming from her father's Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw people/ Shuswap people of the North. Her mother’s family was from the Li'liwat7ul Nation of Stat'lim'ex area. Mt. Currey was the resettlement site of their families, seven kilometres from Pemberton.
Rikki is active in the Anglican church and combines her strong Indigenous spirituality with her deep Christian faith. She serves as a Mentoring Elder in the local church. She has also been involved with many other diverse organizations over the years, such as recovery programs and various women’s organizations.
Rikki grew up as one of ten children. Both her parents were sent to residential schools, as were some of her older siblings. To prevent the younger children from being taken to residential schools, her father moved the family off reserve to a farm in Mission. Despite navigating trauma caused by residential schools and inherent racism, it was a caring and loving family. “My parents always let us know how much we were loved.”
Rikki learned about her Indigenous heritage through observation and cultural engagement. Hands-on creativity has been part of her life from an early age. Her parents also taught a deep respect for all beings - "the two legged, the four legged, the trees, the ancient ones – all beings or all my relations.” Rikki now celebrates over 50 years of marriage and family with her husband Jack and their adult children and numerous grandchildren.
For Rikki, the most important words are Love and Honor. “Family and relationships are so important in our Indigenous culture. A hand of friendship, shown with the palm open, shows we mean no harm. Today we still raise two hands to show respect, to leave space for the other, to indicate care and support.”
Rikki is heartened to be part of the bridge towards healing between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. For Rikki love, honour, and respect - for herself and for others, are key values that she brings to everything she does, including the work of truth and reconciliation. She feels graced to walked along side others and emphasizes the importance of honouring each other’s stories and journeys. “It’s all about relationships,” she says.
caregiver appreciation night
On October 20 we honoured our Xyólheméylh Caregivers with an event at The'i:tseliya in Chilliwack. Thank you to the almost 200 caregivers that attended, our Resources staff who organized the event and MC Chris Silver. We are honoured to recognize caregivers whose commitment provides love, stability, and connection for children and youth in care.
Xyólheméylh fall events
This Fall we held two Halloween events - Monster Mash for children and a Night of Frights for youth; Seven Sacred Teachings Workshops; A Not So Silent Night at Abby Playland; Metis Dot Painting, Crafting, Woodworking and Beading Workshops; a Medicine Walk; and Christmas Parties for Children and Youth in Care. We also held our annual two day Visions and Voices Forum at Zajac Ranch which is an opportunity for youth to come together, have fun, learn from inspirational speakers and provide feedback to the Representative for Children and Youth. See below for some of our events this Winter. We would like to thank New Relationship Trust for helping to fund some of these workshops.
christmas at Xyólheméylh
It's always a busy time for Xyólheméylh at Christmas. This year we filled Christmas hampers for 100 families and youth. Thank you to everyone who donated to our Hamper fund. We also held two Christmas parties for children in care. Mr. and Mrs. Claus took photos with the families, lunch was served and there were stations for the children to enjoy such as cookie decorating, card and drum making stations, soap stone carving, and painting. Melí Klésmes qas te Xá:ws Syilólem - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Xyólheméylh Elders' christmas party
We held our annual Elders Christmas Lunch at Shxwhá:y Village on December 8. Thank you to all our wonderful Elders who share their wisdom and love with Xyólheméylh staff and the families, children and communities we serve.
upcoming events
