Seed to Cedar Awareness Campaign - BC Aboriginal Child Care Society

From Seed to Cedar
Awareness Campaign

Become an Indigenous Early Learning Champion to celebrate Child Care Month in May the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society (BCACCS) renews the From Seed to Cedar Awareness Campaign every year.

With the right conditions the smallest seeds can become the tallest cedars. Like seeds, our children hold incredible potential. Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care (IELCC) programs play a central role in creating the conditions that nurture the potential of our children and unlock the spirit of our communities.

Our goals:

Raise awareness about the crucial role of self-determined, spiritually enriching, quality Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care (IELCC) programs in our communities
Recognize the work of all dedicated Early Childhood Educators (ECEs), and advocate for a living wage
Create a network of IELCC champions across BC

We have made great progress, but there is still much work to do. Stable funding is needed to support existing programs and create new programs in under-served communities across the BC. In order to attract and retain the very best Indigenous ECEs we need to find ways to increase wages, benefits, and ensure access to quality training and professional development.

Show your support by adding your name to the List of Champions for Indigenous early learning and child care and using #SeedtoCedar and #SupportIELCC if you share on social media.

Hear firsthand, from members of the Speakers Circle, why Indigenous early learning and child care is important. Speakers are working to engage community and help to cultivate change toward a self-determined and self-governed, sustainably funded IELCC Framework across BC and Canada.

Mary Teegee

Carrier Sekani Family Services

Maurice Squires

Aboriginal Services Branch, MCFD

List of Champions

Many thanks to our supporters.

Cayley Burton, Early Childhood Educator
Megan Dominic, Student, N.E.C
Diane Hopkins, ASCD consultant
Charlene Jones, Indigenous Literacy Program Coordinator, Early Years Program Coordinator, Preschool
Adrienne Gornall, Communications & Administration Coordinator
Tamara Jacobs, Childcare Options Resource and Referral Training Assistant
June Maynard, Retired ECE
Vicky Roy, Instructor, North Island College
Emma Raaflaub, MPH Student
Avery McNair, Student
Donna Adlington, Daycare Manager ECE/IT
Shirley Rempel, ECE
Denise Hodgson, IELCC Governance Project Manager
Brandie Odenbach, Program Manager, Child Care
Sherri Peters, Director/Early Childhood Educator
Anne Wright
Amielle Aubry-Lafrance, CCRR consultant
Caron Mélanie Sue, Advocate, Child, youth, and family Empowerment, MSW Student, Community Engagement Team – South Island Indigenous Authority (SIIA)
Alana Powell, RECE, Executive Director, Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario
Jenn Carman, ECD Manager, À:lmèlhàwtxw Early Education Centre
Lindsie Manywounds, Daycare Manager, Aboriginal Mother Centre Society
Sandy Hanson, HR, LCDCS
Leanna Logan, Manager, DDA
Tamara Cosic, Senior ECE, SFUCCS
Lindsey Roberts, Student, Langara
Alana Snider, Student, Langara
Ashley Picketts, Student, Langara
Amanda Mielty, Student, Langara
Kimberley Osborn, Student, Langara
Megan Thiesen, Student, Langara
Chanel Zhu, Student, Langara
Asha Rungta, Student, Langara
Jessie Baker, Student, Langara
Rachelle Dahle, Student, Langara
Catherine Sim, Student, Langara
Brandon Jung, Student, Langara
Hardeet Sidh, Student
Hardeep Gosal, Student
Michelle Kang
Bahar Sadeghieh, Librarian, BCACCS
Lenore Jones, Student, N.E.C.
Etovre Vese, Instructor ECE, N.E.C.
Grace Point, Student
Olendia Silvia, Student
Alice Stogan, Student
Brittany Paul, Student
Liz Whonnock, Student, N.E.C.
Tamara Shanoss, Student, N.E.C.
Marj Woods, Student
Laura Eckenswiller, Student, N.E.C.
Anna Braun, Student, N.E.C.
Tori Hunter, Food service worker, N.E.C.
Stewart Wiensz, Student, N.E.C.
Trinity Michell, Student, N.E.C.
Boyd Reynolds, Librarian, N.E.C.
Russell Wallace, Cultural Coordinator, N.E.C.
Sandra Ann Green M., Student, N.E.C.
Candy Zazulak, Elder, N.E.C.
Ashley Flett, Student, N.E.C.
Yvette Bear, Counsellor, N.E.C.
T. Coutlee, Student, N.E.C.
A. Gubana, parent
S.R. Wiley, Instructor, N.E.C.
C.Bear, Maintenance, N.E.C.
Gulshan Mangat
Nathalie Lopez, Program Coordinator, Child Care Resource & Referral
Nina Monahan, Supervisor Teacher, Crown Parent Participation Preschool
Alicia Embree, Program Coordinator, Child Care Resource & Referral
Joon Hwang
Stephanie Howell, Executive Director, SCY Society for Children and Youth of BC
Donna Hill, Administrator, Infant Mental Health Promotion, The Hospital for Sick Children
Nancy Bone, Program Administer, Nakusp Childcare Society / Arrow/Slocan Lakes Early Childhood Community Advisory Council
Tawnia Penson, ECE, C’imoca Head Start
Irene Zolotas, Community Inclusion Worker, Building Bridges Community Support
Connie Konkin, Manager, T’it’q’et Daycare & Preschool Society
Jennine Adams, Owner/operator licensed multi age daycare, Leaps and Bounds Childcare
Pam Preston, Executive Director, Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre
Ann Silberman, ED, Bowen Children’s Centre
Heather Savazzi, Director, Sense of Wonder, Ltd.
Ira Maley, ECE Student, Native Education College
Dr. Laurie Kocher, Douglas College
Leanne Ross, Teacher/Librarian, Public School
M. Rowe, Chairman, Forest Co.
Mohamed Najumi, Director, Positive Energy
Eva Sag
John Davis
Dan Groggo, Manager, The Amigos
Contessa Brown, Practicum, NEC
David Talbot
Catherine Vechina, ECE II
Karen McLaughlin, early childhood educator, Toronto District School Board
Timothy Wairisal
Friday Bailey, Early Childhood Educator
Maria Macedo, Registered Early Childhood Educator, Kanata Research Park Family Centre
Ella Brekke, Educator / Consultant / Home Visitor
Bonnie Chinn, Family Dayhome Consultant, It’s A Child’s World FDH
Monica Samayoa, RECE
Brian Veeren, CSR, FedEx
Aislinn Schwartz, RECE
Natasha Samji Alibhai, Director/Owner, Mahogany Scholars Preschool
Stacy Ryder
Tara Mundy, ECE, Abc kindergarten
L. Tree, Writer
Richard Lorenzew, General Manager, DTES Pest Control
Mark Amodeo, Volunteer
Nancy McRitchie, Executive Director, Kiwassa Neighbourhood House
Semir Yusuf
Betty Traverse, Volunteer, Longhouse Church
Kathy Acoby, Volunteer, BWSS
Carmel Hennessy, Supervisor – Pathways to Education, PCRS
Barbara M. Brown, Health Care Consultant
Sean O’Donaghey
Kathleen Kummen, Coordinator ECCE Program, Capilano University
Lynne Reside, Early Years Community Developer/Early Childhood Educator, Family Resource Centre Society/United Way
Alicia Stark, Early Years Centre Coordinator, Willoughby Early Years Centre
Jamie Hunt, Family & Youth Support Worker, Namgis Community Services
Nadine L’Hirondelle, Provincial Advisor Aboriginal Supported Child Development, BC Aboriginal Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres
Vicki Mulligan
Brenda Pike, Parent Child Assistance Program Advocate, Sto:lo Nation Health
Johanna Kunz Kunz, Success By 6/Children First Regional Coordinator, Success By 6/Children First
Kim Thorn, Success by 6 Community Coordinator/Community Literacy Coordinator, Success by 6/Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy
Katie Pearson
Niki Sinhart, Site Coordinator, Community Action Program for Children
Tabitha Donkers, Lower Fraser Valley Aboriginal Society
Penelope Coates, Coordinator, Children’s Partnership Surrey White Rock
Belinda Macey, Program Coordinator, Victoria Child Care Resource & Referral
Rachel Calder, Executive Director, Artemis Place Society
Dr. Deborah Canada, Métis Commission for Children and Families of BC
Pamela Lee Lewis, Director of Education, WeWaiKai Nation
Adrienne Montani, Provincial Coordinator, First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Union of BC Indian Chiefs
Carrier Sekani, Child & Family Services
Carey Clint, Manager of Childcare /Stzuminus First Nation
Andrea James, Coordinator Social Emotional Skills Development Program
Terry Teegee, Tribal Chief, Carrier Sekani Tribal Council
Laura Wilson, Mission ECD Committee Coordinator
Vanessa Campbell
Jan Hare, Associate Professor, Indigenous Education, Department of Language and Literacy Education, Faculty of Education
Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society
Alison Gerlach, Occupational Therapist and Doctoral Student
April Kennedy, Infant Development Consultant
Lesley Florell, Aboriginal Early Childhood Education Instructor
Lorraine Ladan, Director/Principal
Valerie Richards, Acting Executive Director, Metis Community Services Society BC
Lynne Reside, Early Years Community Development Coordinator
Rosalind Williams, Language and Culture Preserver
Jeanie Cardinal , White Buffalo Aboriginal and Metis Health Society
Heather Todd
Michele Buckman, Mother, Graduate student at SFU
Velta Douglas, Teacher, Kativik School Board and OISE
L Guebezai
Bryanna Scott, Academic Manager, Confederation College/Negahneewin College
William Lindsay, Director, Office for Aboriginal Peoples, SFU
Kathlelen Kummen, Instructor, School of Education and Childhood Studies, Capilano Univeristy
Ryan Herriot, Resident Physician, St. Paul’s Hospital
Patricia McClelland, Instructor Early Care and Learning, Northern Lights College
Carol Bottenfield, Aboriginal Supported Child Development Consultant, White Buffalo Aboriginal Metis Health Society
Lu Ann Hill-MacDonald, Registered Early Childhood Educator
Paula Tait, Project Coordinator, Vancouver Coastal Aboriginal Engagement & ECD Planning Initiative
Sharon Gregson, Director, Collingwood Neighbourhood House Society
Amy Dash, Teacher
Landy Anderson, Manager, Scarborough Child and Family Life Center
Sheila Dick, Health Administrator, Canim Lake Band
Kathleen Elphick, Little Badger Early Learning Program, Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve
Marc Lalonde, Manager,Child and Family Centre, Qualicum First Nation
Dianne Prairie, Support Worker
Maryvon Delanoe, Translator
Vivianne Vanderpool, Foster Parent Recruitment and Support Worker
Gillian Pettersen, Resource Team Leader, Carrier Sekani Family Services
Warner Adam, CEO, CSFS, Carrier Sekani Family Services
Sue Sterling, AECD Consultant, Interior Region of BC
Scott Nelson, Bus Driver/Support, Eagle’s Nest Preschool – Vancouver Aboriginal Headstart
Michelle Woods, Teacher
Carla Hees, Mentor, Qaqauailas-Heiltsuk House of Learning
Eryn Williams, ECE Teacher
Alexandra Punkey, ECE
Corina Barton, Daycare Manager
Diane Sugars, Executive Director
L Guebezai
Aurora Eyolfson, Operations Manager
Erica Skinner, Program Coordinator
Al Lawrence, Day Care Manager, Kidz Co Learning Centre Inc.
Cindy Wilgosh, Aboriginal Engagement Coordinator Success By 6
Maggie Peters, Aboriginal Early Childhood Education Student/ First Nations educational Support, Huu-ay-aht First Nation
Caley Campbell
Derek Delost, Eagle Bay Financial Services
Arelene Smith, Speech Language Pathologist
Amanda Willett, Manager – Group Retirement, Licensed Financial Advisor
Donnalee Boissoneau, R.E.C.E/Early Learning Resource, Autism Intervenor
Jacqueline Ewonus, Burnaby Con ED-ECE
Rebecca Leong, Day Home Coordinator
Mary Williams, Woyenne Daycare Coordinator, Lake Babine Nation
Julie Skaftfeld, Executive Director, Strathmillan Children’s Center Inc.
Jessica Stelkia, Manager, Inkameep Preschool Daycare
Erin Boswell, Speech and Language Pathologist
Gail Moody, Manager at Healthy Beginnings, Pregnancy Outreach & Early Child Development programs
Andrea Lemire, Executive Director, Society for Children and Youth of BC
Donna Germyn, Manager, Qaqauailas Day Care
Jen Moses, Faculty and EC Educator, Organization: ECCE, Capilano University
Viki Buchanan
Tiziana Cagnoni, Eagle Bay Financial Services Ltd
Audrey Fourre, Family Literacy Specialist, Manitoba First Nation Education Resource Center
Dawne Persson, ECD Manager,Carrier Sekani Family Services
Alicia Gilbert, Head Start Coordinator, Soda Creek Indian Band
Melissa Montoril, Eagle Bay Financial Services Ltd.
Jesse McNeil, Eagle Bay Financial Services Ltd.
Susy Komishin, Early Childhood Literacy Specialist, Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre Inc.
June Maynard,
Roberta Badine, Preschool Teacher, Chalo Preschool -FNFN
Duane Mitchell, Chief Councillor, Moricetown
Frank Malloway, Chief, Stolo
Irene Smith, Councillor, Shxwowhamel
Darrell Ross Jr., Community Liaison, Tseshaht
Clifford Atleo, President, N.T.C.
Any Phillips, Chief, Scowitc
Harold Tarbell, Facilitator, Tarbell Facilitation Network
Alberta Billy, Elder, MCY
Ted Tuttle, Councillor, Sumas
Versh Kwakseestahla, Capilano University
Cary Lee Calden, Councillor, Quatsino
Charlene Gray, Early Childhood Educators of B.C.
Denise Marshall, ECE ECEBC Board Member
Lynell Anderson
Andre Davis, Director,Edmonton Northwest Out of School Care, Community Options
Shirley C.E.Wolf, Instructor, Bow Valley College
Sue Delanoy
JoAnn Gillan, Manager, Children’s Services, Region of Waterloo
Don Giesbrecht, CEO, Canadian Child Care Federation
Rita Chudnovsky
Chris Beaton, Executive Director,Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre
Emily Mlieczko, Executive Director, Early Childhood Educators of B.C.
Sima Yamini, AID Consultant
Randi Gurholt-Seary, Child Care Programms Supervisor
Shirley Rempel, Early Childhood Educator/Child Development Supervisor
Krista Walkus, ECD, Heiltsuk Kaxla Society
Carole Tootill, Alternate Learning Associate, Bow Valley College
Patricia Davison, Executive Director, Children First Society
C. Yorke, Special Needs Early Childhood Educator
Frank Boucher, Council, Lhtako
Amy Merritt, Social Worker, Carrier Sekani Family Services
Dana Marshall, Social Worker, Carrier Sekani Family Services
Carly Baylis, Social Worker, Carrier Sekani Family Services
Elizabeth Thiderman, Social Worker, Carrier Sekani Family Services
Suzane Rees, Child and Family Counsellor, Fort Nelson First Nation
Bonnie Avey, Nenan
Chris Ross, Analyst, Carrier Sekani Family Services
Arlene Smith, Speech Language Pathologist
Alanna Makabe, AIDS Vancouver
Cherie Payne, Vancouver School Board
Glenda Burrows, Director, Early Childhood Educators of BC
Tara McLaughlin, ECD Supervisor, A:lmelhawtxw Early Education Centre
Carie McIntosh, Disability Research Advocate, Opaskwayak Health Authority
Donna Michal
Julie Cheng
Andrea Lemire, Executive Director, SCY Society for Children and Youth of BC
Judy Sturm
Sarah Valentine
Michelle Jackson, Special Education Assistant, Pemberton Secondary school
Lynn Geary, Entrepreneur