Virge Silveira
Director
Lac La Hache,BC
Summary
To promote positive leadership and continue to work collaboratively with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the province of BC. To provide support and promote self-determination and move forward with their own cultural practices in gaining jurisdiction of child welfare and support services.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Engagement
Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD)
07.2006 - Current
- Support to ISCFd in province of BC
- Delegated Service Agreements renewals in BC
- Insurance and Indemnification review with OCOW
- Indigenous Nation seeking jurisdiction main table representative for ASB
- Liaise with Canada clarify role in business plan options
- Protocol agreements with ICFSD and province renewals
Director of Aboriginal Service Change
Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD)
01.2010 - 01.2013
- Strategic lead Fraser Region band 5
- Mapping Indigenous communities in BC
- Involved interviews with EDS and managers
- Visual site was end goal for staff to use to gain quick information
- Presenting to SDAs in Fraser Region on who the Indigenous People are
- Directing project team on design components and questions for mapping
- Building relationships with Indigenous communities in region to support self-determination
- Supporting SDAs to build relationships to work collaboratively with nations
- Hosted a forum with SDAs and region to explore how to move forward and initiate contact face to face with Nations in SDAs
- Recommended and supported the Cultural Competency training from Health
Sessional Instructor
Douglas College- New Westminster Campus
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Strengthening the Spirit of the Family working with Elders CYC 2332
- Policy and legislation CYC
- Indigenizing curriculum for other Child and youth Care classes
- Indigenous resources for curriculum
- Providing support to students
- Bring in Indigenous speakers to support experiential learning for adults
Director
Provincial Aboriginal Coordinator Office (PACO)
02.2006 - 07.2006
- Took direction from Aboriginal Chairs Caucus (ACC)
- Partnership building through provincial forum
- Support moving forward with jurisdiction
- Provincial meetings regarding transition
- Hosted and coordinated a Provincial Forum with MCFD
- Collaborate with MCFD on issues
- Chaired meeting for ACC
Executive Director
First Nations Urban Community Society
01.2004 - 01.2005
- Supported staff involved in Preventive services
- Supported staff working with Complex Child Welfare cases
- One on one with families and individuals involved in child welfare services
- Liaised with local partners and school district
- Worked collaboratively with local MCFD teams
- Record keeping and maintaining financial management system
- Board support and development of policy and governance
- Grant and proposal writing
- Legal issues
- Direct supervision to all staff carrying clients in Family support, Alcohol and Drug counselor, Early Childhood program, Support Child Care, Head start Program
- Working with Elders for family support and events
Coordinator/Group Facilitator
Warriors Against Violence- Youth Initiative
02.2001 - 12.2002
Provincial Coordinator/Group Facilitator
Pacific Association of First Nations’ Women
10.2000 - 09.2002
- Coordination of Provincial Residential School Survivors Program in rural and isolated Aboriginal communities
- Coordinating and facilitating Aboriginal Women’s’ Violence Programs
- Coordinating family resources for communities in project
- Report writing and oversee project budget
- Submission of renewal for continued Program Funding from Aboriginal Healing Foundation
- Representative on Provincial Safety Coordination BC Specialize Victims Services
- Client support
Family Therapist Intern
Heritage Family Service Treatment Foster Care
01.1999 - 06.2000
Site Coordinator
Vancouver Inner City Poverty Initiative- Kidsafe
03.1997 - 01.1999
Aboriginal respite worker
Ministry of Children and Families
05.1998 - 09.1998
Aboriginal Youth Worker
Vancouver Parks Board Trout Lake Center
04.1997 - 09.1998
Childcare Worker
University Daycare (UCFV)
09.1994 - 06.1998
Team Leader
Westminster Out of School Care Society
09.1995 - 08.1996
Education
Masters in project management -
School of Business Sauder
01.2020
Marriage & Family Therapy Program, Master of Science - undefined
Loma Linda University- Canadian Campus
01.2000
Bachelor of Arts - Child and Youth Care Program
University of Victoria
01.1998
Infant Diploma - Early Childhood Program
University College of the Fraser Valley
01.1995
Certificate - Early Childhood Program
University College of the Fraser Valley
01.1994
Transfer program - General Studies
Langara Community College
01.1984
Dogwood Diploma - Secondary School
Gladstone Secondary
01.1982
Skills
- Capacity building
- Indigenous Cultural practices
- Engagement skills
- Facilitation
- Strategic planning
- Governance
- Risk identification and mitigation
- Project management
- Project design
- Communication
- Supervision
- Problem solving
- Financial operations
- Restorative child welfare practices
- Aboriginal Operations Practice policies
- Indigenous Child welfare jurisdiction
Attributes
- Strong work ethics
- Good listener
- Collaborative
- Cultural
- Open minded
- Respectful
- Strategic
- Confident
Professional Development
- Batoche – Cultural support, 2022-07-01
- Climate change issues Metis Youth- Elder Support, 2022-09-01
- MNBC Residential School Survivors- Participant, 2022-10-01
- Project management public service Level 300, 2019-04-01
- NICWA conference, 2019-04-01
- Aboriginal Policy National Conference, 2009-03-01
- Aboriginal Research conference, 2008-05-01
- Community Justice Forum Facilitator Training Level 1, 2005-04-01
- Personal Self Empowerment Training, 2005-03-01
- Leaders & Healers Conference, 2004-05-01
- Aboriginal Men’s & Women’s Health & Wellness, 2004-04-01
- National Child & Welfare Conference, 2003-04-01
- Kamloops Residential School Conference, 2001-06-01
- American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Conference, 2001-05-01
- Aboriginal Mental Health- Suicide Prevention, 2001-03-01
- Women’s Violence Conference, 2000-10-01
- Solution Focused Therapy Workshop Level II Working with Difficult Clients, 2000-04-01
- Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples, 2000-03-01
- Eating Disorder Conference, 2000-02-01
- Vicarious Traumatization, 2000-10-01
- Non- Violent Crisis Intervention Training, 1998-04-01
- Role Model Aboriginal Day- Guest Speaker, 1998-03-01
- Sto-lo Nation Family Conference, 1997-05-01
- Dealing with Difficult Behavior, 1996-03-01
- Creativity for Children, 1995-06-01
- University Tour of Japan’s Childcare Facilities, 1994-05-10
- FAS Conference, 1994-02-01
- ECEBC Conference, 1994-04-01
- National Diversity Symposium, 1993-11-01
- Children in the Valley Conference, 1993-02-01
Volunteer Community
- Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services, Director, 2004-06-01, present
- Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services, President, 2009-06-01, 2011-06-01
- Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services, Board of Director, 2005-09-01, present
- Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services, Interim Board of Director, 2004-09-01, 2005-09-01
- Fraser Region Aboriginal Planning Committee, Urban Representative (Vice Chair), 2002-09-01, 2006-01-01
- American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists, Associate Clinical Member, 2000-10-01, 2005-03-01
- Provincial Working Group for Supported Child Care, Committee member, 2004-01-01, 2004-06-01
- Women’s Provincial Safety Coordination BC Specialized Victims Services, Committee Member, 2001-10-01, 2002-09-01
- Helping Spirit Lodge Society, Board of Director, 1996-03-01, 1998-08-01
Personal
True, True, True, True
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Director of Aboriginal Service Change
Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD)
01.2010 - 01.2013
Sessional Instructor
Douglas College- New Westminster Campus
01.2009 - 01.2010
Director of Engagement
Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD)
07.2006 - Current
Director
Provincial Aboriginal Coordinator Office (PACO)
02.2006 - 07.2006
Executive Director
First Nations Urban Community Society
01.2004 - 01.2005
Coordinator/Group Facilitator
Warriors Against Violence- Youth Initiative
02.2001 - 12.2002
Provincial Coordinator/Group Facilitator
Pacific Association of First Nations’ Women
10.2000 - 09.2002
Family Therapist Intern
Heritage Family Service Treatment Foster Care
01.1999 - 06.2000
Aboriginal respite worker
Ministry of Children and Families
05.1998 - 09.1998
Aboriginal Youth Worker
Vancouver Parks Board Trout Lake Center
04.1997 - 09.1998
Site Coordinator
Vancouver Inner City Poverty Initiative- Kidsafe
03.1997 - 01.1999
Team Leader
Westminster Out of School Care Society
09.1995 - 08.1996
Childcare Worker
University Daycare (UCFV)
09.1994 - 06.1998
Marriage & Family Therapy Program, Master of Science - undefined
Loma Linda University- Canadian Campus
Bachelor of Arts - Child and Youth Care Program
University of Victoria
Infant Diploma - Early Childhood Program
University College of the Fraser Valley
Certificate - Early Childhood Program
University College of the Fraser Valley
Transfer program - General Studies
Langara Community College
Dogwood Diploma - Secondary School
Gladstone Secondary
Masters in project management -
School of Business Sauder