What we do together makes the difference
Our H.E.A.R.T. is our difference
We endeavour to ensure the safety and well-being of children by working with and supporting all Indigenous families while respecting their cultural diversity.
While we operate in the Stó:lō territory, we work with Indigenous children and families residing in the Fraser Valley. Our programs help provide stability, cultural learning, development, and community.
We must be able to respect ourselves if we are going to live a good and decent life. If we do not respect all our ancestors among the people and the other creatures, then we do not respect ourselves and we cannot feel the heartbeat of all the life around us. When we feel the life around us, we respect the past and the present and we can live in a humble way, as equals among all the creatures. This is how we understand the wonderful but fragile cycle of life and death on this Earth. It is our duty to pass on this understanding and to hope that our grandchildren will pass it on to others.
– Rene Point Bolton, Xwelίqwiya,
The Life of a Stó:lō Matriarch
Fraser Valley Service Area
FVACFSS operates in conjunction with 17 member communities.
Leq’a:mel
FIRST NATION
CONTACT
43101 Leq’a:mel Way
Deroche, BC, V0M 1G0
(604) 826-7976
1 (866) 826-7976
Sq’ewá:lxw
FIRST NATION
CONTACT
58611A Lougheed Hwy.
Agassiz, BC V0M 1A2
(604) 796-9129
www.skawahlook.com
Sq’ewqéyl
FIRST NATION
CONTACT
PO Box 2159
7686 Chilliwack River Road
Chilliwack, BC V2R 1A7
(604) 824-5302
www.skowkalefn.com
Chowéthel
First Nation
CONTACT
4-60814 Lougheed Hwy 7
Hope, BC V0X 1L3
(604) 869-9994
www.chawathil.org
Xwchi:yó:m
First Nation
CONTACT
52130 Old Yale Road
Rosedale, BC V0X 1X1
(604) 794-7924
www.cheam.ca
Shxw’ōwhámél
First Nation
CONTACT
58700A ST. ELMO ROAD
HOPE BC V0X 1L2
(604) 869-2627
www.shxwowhamel.ca
Th’ewá:li
First Nation
CONTACT
4172 Soowahlie Road
Chilliwack, BC V2R 4Y2
(604) 858-4631
www.soowahlie.ca
Xwoxwelá:lhp
First Nation
CONTACT
314 Hudson Bay St.
Hope, BC V0X 1L0
(604) 869-0013
www.yalefirstnation.ca
Geographic Service Region
Our Geographic Service Area (GSA) covers Yale to the East, Langley/Surrey Ministry Fraser Region boundary on the West (196th Street), Maple Ridge/Mission Ministry Fraser Region boundary on the North (Wilson Street) and the Canadian/US border to the South, including the communities of Member First Nations, and does not include the communities of non-Member First Nations, as set out in the map.
WHAT WE DO
Fraser Valley Aboriginal Children and Family Services Society (FVACFSS) is a fully delegated Indigenous child welfare agency providing culturally appropriate and holistic services through prevention, community development and child welfare programs to Indigenous (Status, Non-Status, In Community, Out-Of Community, Stó:lō and other First Nation, Inuit, and Métis) children, youth and their families residing throughout the Fraser Valley.
You may hear us use the terms FVACFSS and Xyólheméylh interchangeably. FVACFSS has established programs guided under the name “Xyólheméylh,” which is a Halq’eméylem word that was given to us that describes the special relationship between someone who requires care, and someone who provides care. It describes a relationship based on CARING, RESPECT and LOVE.
Our programs and services are created and executed with a special attention on strengthening culture and identity. We focus on keeping families together, reintegrating children back with their families, and discovering and strengthening cultural connections.
Xyólheméylh is a non-profit service delivery organization incorporated under the Societies Act and governed by a Board of Directors comprised of nine individuals elected by members of our Stakeholder communities. We are a public society, and you can become a member if you are an Indigenous person over the age of 18 and reside within one of our 17 member communities or an urban area within our geographic service area. To join, just download the form below, fill it out, and return it to us!
OUR MANDATE
Xyólheméylh provides culturally appropriate and holistic services through prevention, community development and child welfare programs to Indigenous children, youth and their families residing within one of our 17 member communities or an urban area within our geographic service area.
Our
Vision
We advance our inherent right to provide a healthy, safe and nurturing environment for all our Indigenous children and families living within our xáxá témexw té Stó:lō.
Our
Mission
We endeavour to ensure the safety and well-being of children by working with and supporting all Indigenous families while respecting their cultural diversity.
OUR CORE VALUES
THIS IS OUR HEART
Our H.E.A.R.T values are based on the 7 Sacred Teachings (also called the 7 Grandfather Teachings) and are at the core of our values and how we approach every situation, every day.
Our vision is to advance our inherent right to provide a healthy, safe and nurturing environment for all our indigenous children within our Stó:lô xaxa temexw. Our H.E.A.R.T values help us realize this vision.
We honour generations of diverse traditions and cultures.
(Be willing to do one’s work) (Working together)
We engage and foster safe family ties and cultural connections in the best interests of the child.
(Acknowledge)
We are accountable to children, families, communities, stakeholders, and each other.
(Respect someone)
We respect our roots in xaxa témexw te Stó:lō
We trust in the ability of our children and families to grow and develop in a healthy way.