Our February Non-Profit - Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society

        Blackbird Fabrics donates 1% of our revenue each month to a rotating nonprofit. With the help of recommendations from our team members, friends & family, and our customers, we choose nonprofits that support causes that are important to us and our community. You can find a full list of organizations that we have supported here!

Our nonprofit for January is the Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society. 

       Since 1991, the Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society (VAHS) has worked to address the lack of healthcare for Indigenous people in Vancouver by offering medical, social, and counseling services to the residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and beyond. VAHS seeks guidance through culture, with a mission to improve and promote physical, emotional, and spiritual health through a holistic approach. They also provide trauma and violence informed programs to create a safe and inclusive community. 

       A part of the medical services they offer, their Dental Clinic provides preventative and urgent dental services with significantly reduced costs. Providing the lowest barrier option in Vancouver, this clinic relies on volunteers, students, donors, and community support to continue their operations. 

       VAHS also operates a variety of support services that aim to increase access to social services within the community. Framed from an Indigenous worldview, their Mental Health Support Services link mental health with the broader impacts of colonization. This program works with each individual based on their experiences, needs, and goals to develop a holistic, person-centered approach to mental health. 

       From newborns to toddlers, VAHS supports at-risk families and new parents with programs such as Aboriginal Infant Development Program and their Aboriginal Supported Childhood Development Program. They also provide a safe and empowering environment for families who have experienced abuse with the Family Violence Intervention Program. Finally, their Sheway program provides health and social services to people who are pregnant or parenting young children while experiencing current or past issues with substance abuse.