Nzen’man’ - A Nest to Call Your Own
In late March, British Columbia released the Declaration Act Action plan, first of its kind in the world, in an effort to implement the UNDRIP. Among many other things, this plan is expected to support Indigenous peoples to achieve self-governance in Indigenous child care and early development and learning while ensuring funding and policy measures are culturally grounded.
First Nations need to be able to exercise jurisdiction over their own early development and child and family services, in a manner that honours their cultures, traditions and ways. It’s clear that supporting and increasing Indigenous-led child development centres and services is more critical than ever. For Nzen’man’ Child and Family Development Centre Society, advocating for their own jurisdiction is undoubtedly a priority over the next 5 years, among other missions.
The Nzen’man’ Child and Family Development Centre Society (the Society) emerged following much community consultation in 1993. Responding to a definitive need expressed by the Nlaka’pamux Nation, the Society was formed to enhance and support families by providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality child and family development programs that honour Nlaka’pamux culture, values and traditions. Today, Nzen’man’ has truly earned a long-standing name as an essential service provider for several communities. Operating as a charitable non-profit organization over the past 29 years, the Society currently has offices in Lytton and Merritt, delivering 6 programs to over 200 children and families every year. These programs include pre- and post-natal home visiting, center-based childcare, early year in-home support, family gathering place and assistance to families and children with special needs.
Like many organizations, it’s been a difficult time during the COVID-19 pandemic as most of the services were suspended due to PHO restrictions. These circumstances were only exacerbated by the Lytton fire which destroyed the childcare centre. Families were displaced and some still are to this day. All of these factors have made it impossible to operate to its full capacity and serve families in the region. Through all the emergencies, Nzen’man’ has remarkably continued to function as an effective team and deliver its services. The next challenge is to reconnect with the people in the communities, especially those who have been displaced.
Hardship breeds transformation. These challenges have presented the perfect opportunity for assessment, realignment, change and transformation. Currently we have the pleasure of working with Nzen’man’ to lay out a 5-year roadmap. In recent weeks, we successfully held engagement sessions to listen, discuss and explore priorities, vision, and values that are important to the Society. What we heard was powerful: creating programs and services that embed Nlaka’pamux traditions, language and culture, maintaining a climate resilient and sustainable organization, and working towards its own jurisdiction are just some of the items on top of peoples’ minds.
The Society is in the process of rebuilding the infrastructure that was lost in the Lytton fire. The new facility will not only house Nzen’man’ core programs, but will also be a healing place for gathering and serving multiple community needs - “It will be a beacon for the community to access youth, elder, family and community resources”, said Romona Baxter, the Executive Director. Learn more about the project and help contribute to this important facility.
Nzen’man’ means “bird’s nest” in Nlaka’pamux…
This bird’s nest has been here for a long time and it’s not only here to nurture the young. It’s also here for the elderly, for new parents who need guidance. It’s a nest for the community to heal and grow; a nest that brings up healthy, happy and resilient children and families with a strong sense of identity.
To learn more about Nzen’man’ Child and Family Development Centre Society, please go to https://www.nzenman.org/
