Métis Early Years Navigators are located throughout the province and are currently reaching out to families with children birth to 8 and enrolling them in the Métis Early Years Program.

When families are enrolled in the program, the Navigators will:

• Connect them to the Métis community and provide them with Métis cultural resources for early years

• Support parents to determine what their children's strengths are and understand their development and progress in the early years

• Link them to programs and services in their area such as supported child development and infant development.

• Advocate for families to access programs and services that are culturally safe

Enrol now to receive a Métis Cultural Connections Kit for your Family!

To enrol your child into the Métis Early Years Program, please complete and return the Enrolment and Consent to Release forms to the Métis Early Years Program Assistant, Madeline Green mgreen@mnbc.ca  If you require assistance in completing the forms, please contact the Métis Early Years Navigator in your area.

FORMS

1.     Enrolment

2.     Consent to Release

The team of Early Years Navigators includes:

Nadine Gagné-L’Hirondelle

Nadine is the Provincial Métis Early Years Program Coordinator. She is a proud Métis person and, feels strongly about the importance of Métis children and their families being connected to their Métis culture, language and traditions. Nadine has spent 23 years as an early years professional working within Indigenous early childhood development in British Columbia. Nadine is a mother of three amazing children.

Kim Hodgson

Kim is the Métis Early Years Navigator for the Thompson Okanagan, Fraser Valley and Langley. With more than 30 years’ experience as an educator in K-12 and extensive involvement as a Métis community leader and volunteer, Kim brings valuable experience to the Navigator role. She is a proud Métis descendant of Hodgson, Manitoba and a mother of two wonderful sons. Kim is an artist and enjoys creating beautiful Métis beadwork which reflects her passion for Métis culture, as well as her commitment to sharing traditional knowledge.

Lisa Lightening

Lisa is the Métis Early Years Navigator for the Kootenays and Northern Region.  Lisa has been in the Early Childhood field for 27 years, working with families throughout the communities of Burns Lake, V Vanderhoof, Fort Fraser and Fort St. James. Throughout her career Lisa has worked with First Nations and Métis children, managing child care programs on and off reserve as well as a Head Start Program. Lisa has worked as a Supported Child Development and Aboriginal Infant Development Consultant as well as an Education Coordinator for child programs. Lisa has four Métis children and has a strong passion for children and family.

Célia Smith

Célia is the Métis Early Years Navigator for the Vancouver Island, Greater Vancouver and Surrey.  She is a proud member of the Métis Nation British Columbia and is honoured to be a part of the Métis Early Years Program. Célia has a Bachelor of Arts in English and History focusing on First Peoples as well as a Post-Baccalaureate in Education from Vancouver Island University. She is passionate about advocacy for children and their families and believes that culture and kinship help to create healthy communities. As a mother of four, Célia understands the importance of the formative years of our children’s lives and believes that supporting and guiding them is crucial to their success.

Madeline Green

Madeline is the Métis Early Years Program Assistant. Madeline has an Associate Certificate in Business Administration from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. As a proud Métis person, Madeline is excited to have the opportunity to utilize her background in administration while embracing her Métis culture.