About SGINH

The Southern Gulf Islands Neighbourhood House (SGINH) serves the communities of Galiano, Mayne, Pender, and Saturna Islands. Rooted in community, we offer programs that support health, learning, food security, and social connection.

Mission

SGINH works with individuals and families from Saturna, Galiano, Mayne, and Pender Islands. Together, we use local talents and strengths to support well-being, foster self-sufficiency, and reduce poverty. Our mission is to build caring, sustainable communities, especially for those most in need.

Our Objectives

We aim to break down systemic barriers with the help of our partners and community members. By listening to the needs of our program participants, we ensure our services stay relevant, compassionate, and accessible.

Our Commitment to Diversity

The SGINH values diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
We honour each person’s unique background and lived experience. This includes differences in race, age, gender identity, culture, language, ability, faith, and more.
We believe these differences bring strength, creativity, and resilience to our communities. Everyone deserves to feel welcomed, respected, and seen in the spaces we share. We work to ensure our programs reflect these values in both design and delivery. Through ongoing learning and listening, we aim to create truly inclusive and responsive services.

Truth and Reconciliation Statement

The SGINH respectfully acknowledge that our work takes place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the Coast Salish Peoples. We are located on the territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples, who have lived here for more than 10,000 years. This includes the Tsawout, Tseycum, Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Penelakut, Lyackson, and others.

We are grateful to extend our services across Indigenous territories throughout the West Coast of Turtle Island. At every level, from staff to volunteers, board members, and the community, we commit to treating one another with respect, inclusion, and dignity.

Full Statement

The Southern Gulf Island Neighbourhood House’s Truth and Reconciliation statement represents our staff, volunteers, and board members. It reflects our investment in promoting reconciliation through listening, reflecting, learning, and action. We recognize that reconciliation will always be a work in progress. It must be demonstrated through actions and not by declaration alone.

With great respect, the Southern Gulf Island Neighbourhood House confirms that our work takes place on unceded Coast Salish homelands. We are situated on the territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ Indigenous people who have lived here for more than 10,000 years. The W̱SÁNEĆ are part of the Coast Salish First Nations, including the Tsawout, Tseycum, Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Penelakut, Lyackson, and others. We are grateful to extend our services throughout Indigenous territories across the West Coast of Turtle Island.

As a settler-dominated organization, we recognize our participation in the violence of oppressive colonial systems. These systems continue to create harm today. The physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual harm from centuries of trauma, erasure, and abuse is unfathomable and inexcusable.
As an organization, we are committed to changing this. We also commit to upholding the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The SGINH will advocate for the dignity and well-being of Indigenous communities throughout our work.

We must do better to advance truth and reconciliation. This must remain a continuous priority.
We strive to build programs committed to decolonizing spaces. It is with gratitude and respect that we respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action. We particularly recognize the following Calls to Action as most applicable to our work.

Calls to Action We Support

We must do better to advance truth and reconciliation. This must remain a continuous priority. We strive to build programs committed to decolonizing spaces. It is with gratitude and respect that we respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action. We particularly recognize the following Calls to Action as most applicable to our work.

We call upon:

Those who can effect change within the Canadian health-care system to recognize the value of Aboriginal healing practices and use them in the treatment of Aboriginal patients in collaboration with Aboriginal healers and Elders where requested by Aboriginal patients.
The federal government to establish multi-year funding for community-based youth organizations to deliver programs on reconciliation and establish a national network to share information and best practices.
The corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources. This would include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. Commit to meaningful consultation, building respectful relationships, and obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples before proceedings with economic development projects.
2. Ensure that Aboriginal peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities in the corporate sector, and that Aboriginal communities gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects.
3. Provide education for management and staff on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal-Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.

Get Involved

We’re always looking for passionate individuals to help strengthen connections across the Southern Gulf Islands. Whether you’re interested in volunteering or joining our Board, your time and energy can make a real impact.

If you’d like to get involved, please take a look at our volunteer and teams pages!