FNES was incorporated as a non-profit society in April 1997. FNES is made up of 10 member nations that include the T’sleil Waututh, Tsawwassen, Squamish, Sliammon, Sechelt, N’Quatqua, Musqueam, Mt. Currie, Klahoose and Homalco First Nations of British Columbia.  The dedication to working together to support Urban Aboriginal people provided a strong foundation for expansion and growth of FNES over the last few years.

FNES entered into a 5-year Aboriginal Human Resources Development Agreement (the “AHRDA”) with Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) as of April 1st, 1999, and concluding on March 31, 2004. Work is underway to continue the support of FNES and the Urban Aboriginal community it serves.

FNEEC officially opened its doors in July, 1999 to provide a professional yet welcoming Centre, blending technology and tradition in an innovative setting. Their success comes from building strong relationships across the Lower Mainland, therefore rapidly increasing the number of clients they serve to include all Aboriginal people - First Nations, Metis and Inuit.  FNEEC currently has registered database made up of approximately 2500+ First Nations, Metis and Inuit people. Out of those clients that are currently registered, approximately 40% are youth between the ages of 15 – 30 years old. FNEEC has developed and implemented a range of programs and services designed to meet the specific needs of their youth clientele. This is done in the form of creating and maintaining partnerships with various community stakeholders and corporate businesses that are involved in delivering youth-oriented projects. Some of these projects and initiatives include:

• International Internship and Youth Exchange Programs
• Targeted Wage Subsidies
• Workshops/Informational Sessions with Corporate Businesses
• Job Clubs
• Summer Student Employment Program
• Cultural Ranch Retreat
• Youth Theatre Project

The results of these activities have been positive, proven by the high numbers of job placements of Aboriginal people, especially our youth. We are excited to build relationships to help us become one of the most successful of organizations delivering employment and training opportunities and services to Aboriginal Youth in the Lower Mainland.

We are proud to announce that over 60% of FNES staff are Aboriginal Youth. FNES recognizes the need to connect with youth in its formation and thus, a hiring policy was implemented to reflect this strategy. The result has been that the FNES office environment is very youth oriented: positive and uplifting energy emanates from the moment you walk into the centre and permeates throughout their offices and meeting rooms. The FNES staff are proud of the environment they have created, and it shows; Aboriginal Youth use FNEEC as a hub to meet, take advantage of the services and get professional referral to help meet their multi-dimensional needs.

The support of the FNES team will be a valuable asset as we create this Urban Aboriginal Youth Website called RedWAY BC. We look forward to working with them to make this project a youth-driven, youth-focused website at www.redwaybc.ca this year!

For more information, or to join the next Job Finding Club at FNES, contact them by:

Tel: (604)605-8901
Fax: (604)605-8902
email: jobs@fnes.ca

Or visit them at the corner of Cambie and Pender Street in Downtown Vancouver at #101 - 440 Cambie Street, Vancouver, BC,
V6B 2N5