Support Indigenous Community Land-Based Education and Access

Did you know that we hosted over 1,000 additional on-site Indigenous guests in 2022? Many are kids, youth, and elders. Examples include:

• Elementary and High School class visits from Indigneous schools and classes
• Elders groups from multiple communities
• Community days where any Indigenous family can drop in

Each visitor is offered a warm meal, a chance to participate and learn from our land-based programming, and an opportunity to bring fresh healthy food home.

These visits are currently not funded or supported. We have multiple opportunities for improvement including:

• Support for supplies and materials to provide tours, meals, and food to take-home
• Funds to hire additional hosting staff, so we can host more guests, and add more community days, workshops, and special visits
• A welcome structure such as a gazebo where we can sign visitors in and out, and conduct orientations
• A "hay wagon", mutli-seat side-by-side vehicles or golf carts to provide on-site transportation options for the young, old, and physically disabled. We'd love to stop using our regular farm trailers, which are not well suited for people transport!

Help Connect Trainees to Jobs and Opportunities

The addition of a Bridging to Employment coordinator would go a long way to help trainees and apprentices transition to employment and self-employment. There are currently a lot of work opportunities in the region, and generally a shortage of workers. The jump from training to regular employment is jarring for most trainees. 

Additionally, it is important to advocate and support trainees to get into fair jobs for their training level. Consider that according to ITA BC, roughly half of Indigenous apprentices do not get hours recognized in their trade. Also consider that Indigneous people face systemic racism and discrimination in workplaces, sometimes resulting in being given jobs and tasks below their skill and training level. 

The following would help improve employment outcomes:

• Dedicated staff to assist trainees bridge to employment and self-employment
• Monies for pre-employment programming at Tea Creek
• Monies for job-ready training programs at Tea Creek
• Assist with networking to key private sector supporters

Local Accommodation Options for Out-of-Region Trainees and Guests

• Support the accommodation costs for out-of-region Trainees to attend Tea Creek's training.
• Directly support the development of our existing accommodation property to add RVs (in the short term) and guest cabins (in the longer term). The site is 3 acres. We can add 'camp' style accommodations such as trailers or RVs in the short-term. 
• Support a local Indigenous entrepreneur to create their own B&B, and we could refer guests to them.
• Support an Indigenous Carpentry cohort to build a Cabin(s) or Tiny Home(s) over 12 weeks, including all costs. This would also include sponsoring trainees as ITA BC Carpentry apprentices.
• Support the larger vision for accommodations, affordable housing, and incubators for Indigenous farmers and entrepreneurs! Click here to view the design brief.

Support Childcare for Trainees

Lack of affordable, reliable childcare is a large barrier for trainees at Tea Creek. Our site also offers a fantastic environment for children, if they have competent caregivers to keep them safe. Ideally, we would have a complimentary childcare service located on-site for participants who are unable to secure childcare at home. At a minimum on-site we would need a play area including a weather shelter (such as a gazebo).

Children on site would benefit from our land-based, culturally-safe education. They'd also have access to healthy, local food daily. 

Some Ideas:

• Support a local Indigenous entrepreneur to start a childcare business, possibly on our site, which would be actively supported by Tea Creek. 
• Support Tea Creek to add a child care space on site. 
• Provide funding for trainees and participants to hire their own in-community childcare.