About Sasamans

Vision Statement:

Strengthening “Our Children” and families, in a community-driven and culturally-appropriate manner.

Our Mission:

In pursuit of our Vision, the Sasamans Society will respectfully:

• Appreciate and nurture the strengths and capacities of our people
• Communicate and engage, openly and on an ongoing basis
• Honour our traditions, customs and beliefs
• Involve the voices of our children and the wisdom of our Elders
• Learn from one another
• Dedicate ourselves to achieving our short and long-term goals

Beliefs:

• Every child needs someone to believe in them
• Children & families have the right to be heard
• All famillies do the best with what they have
• Every child and their families have gifts and strengths
• Every child deserves to be loved
• Parents must start taking responsibility
• Families must start taking responsibility
• Children & their families need someone to trust

Values:

• Children are our reason for living
• Children are sacred
• Children need a safe loving environment
• Children have to be safe
• Children belong with their family
• Children have the right to be children
• Children have the right to be respected
• We are here to hold a sacred space for our children and families

Society Overview

Sasamans Society’s vision is to strengthen our children and families in a community-driven and culturally appropriate manner. In the Kwak’wala language, Sasamans means “our children”; the society’s name reflects our intention to listen, acknowledge and honour the voices of the communities that we serve. Sasamans is supported and guided by our Board of Directors (BOD), comprised of 16 community representatives from our partnering communities and organizations.

Sasamans facilitated a two-year engagement process in 2010 within our communities which was funded via Indigenous Approaches (MCFD). These community engagement sessions allowed our communities to tell us what they wanted and needed for child welfare services in their community, they identified the need for advocacy services for families that are involved with MCFD.

Sasamans has provided social and emotional support to Aboriginal families through our specially designed and unique programs since 2013 when we launched our Aboriginal Outreach Family Navigator program. Since then we have continued to develop additional services that meet the needs of our communities, these services include: the Aboriginal Youth Navigator program; the Cultural Connections program; the Elders Navigator program and recently added to our services is the Aboriginal Parenting Support program. Sasamans supports youth and families in the communities of Campbell River, Courtenay and Port Hardy.

We would like to recognize and thank our gracious hosts, the Laichwiltach people of the We Wai Kai and We Wai Kum First Nations for allowing us to live and continue to provide service on their traditional territories.