About Us
The Lower Columbia River First Nations council began as an Aboriginal self-help support group in 1995. Prior to the forming of the society the group had met informally as a ball team, known as the Anishinabae that was formed by Valerie Hanson.
Their first meeting was held in the downstairs meeting room of the Castlegar library. Many thanks to Laurin Hackman, Don Pongracz, Leonard Seymour, Eugene Seymour, Valerie Hanson, Barb Nelson, Barry LeCouffe and others who were the core members of the new society.
The goal of the group was to create a society that would assist all aboriginal people in the obtaining of education, employment, and to create an organization that would provide community support.
By May of 1995 the Society became incorporated and remains the only incorporated and legally registered Aboriginal Society in the West Kootenay/Boundary.
The first goal of the society was to do an aboriginal needs assessment of the West Kootenay. A proposal was written for that purpose and accepted by the Okanagan Training and Development Council, OTDC. It was this needs assessment that was the basis of the next proposal to the OTDC and led to the Lower Columbia's establishment of the first off reserve AHRDA office.
Through the auspices of our society we have secured an Aboriginal Human Resource Development Agreement (AHRDA) Employment & Training Office offering employment, training, wage subsidies, work experience, workplace training, and apprenticeship opportunities.
The survey results were instrumental in creating the position of an Aboriginal Advisor at Selkirk College. Currently representatives from the LCAFN sit on those Advisory Committees.
In August of 1996 LCFNC assisted Emily Youngreen as she put together one the first International Indigenous Youth camp in the West Kootenay area, "Listening to the Voice of the Elders."
From 1997 on we have actively organized and planned and hosted Aboriginal Day celebrations.
The Christmas Craft Fair fundraiser, organized by Lil Adshead, was one of the most successful events of 1998.
To be continued
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The Lower Columbia All First Nations is open to all those persons of
Aboriginal ancestry
Our Doors are open to you.
We are currently revising our website to include more support services. Please check back as we are updating daily.
Our Mission Statement and Purpose
© 2007-2011 Lower Columbia All First Nations.
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