Aboriginal Life In Vancouver Enhancement society

Working together for our children and families

Our mission

To enhance, promote, and foster the social, economic, cultural, health, and general well-being of Aboriginal people within the Vancouver area local neighbourhoods.

Our projects

Youth policy conference

The Policy Conference brought together a diverse group of Indigenous, non-Indigenous and newcomer youth from East Vancouver and a range of stakeholders to explore innovative pathways for youth participation, youth leadership and advocacy.

Youth advisory council

The Youth Voices of East Van, established in March 2019 began with tireless youth concerned with the growing homeless population, the gentrification of their communities and the rising number of deaths and missing Indigenous persons.

Youth implementation

We have taken our policy document, youth leaders and we’re now moving into phase 2. The implementation of the “Youth Voices Of East Van Policy Document.” Negotiating the implementation through dialogue with all levels of government.

Truth and Reconciliation policy matters

Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth need to be involved whenever and wherever committees are planning, creating, researching and evaluating policies that affect them. By means of formal and informal decision-making processes, Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth can be involved in choices that are powerful, meaningful and substantive.

In the news

B.C. social workers are stressed, scared and seemingly muzzled

B.C. social workers are stressed, scared and seemingly muzzled Social workers honoured Métis youth aging out of the child-welfare system at a 2017 ceremony in Surrey, B.C. Brielle Morgan/The Discourse

Vancouver, the so called city of “Reconciliation.”

The City of Vancouver's Urban Indigenous peoples Advisory Committee has continued to fail their urban Indigenous population, whilst being the "pinnacle" of urban reconciliation in Canada. To read the so called progress the City of Vancouver has paved, click here to...

Nearly 80 per cent of Indigenous people live off-reserve but have little representation in UNDRIP talks

This article was published by CBC, B.C. Jan 26, 2020 Summary: 80 per cent of Indigenous people live off-reserve but have little representation in UNDRIP talks

Search for Metro Vancouver’s best neighbourhood: Grandview-Woodland, a home for urban Indigenous people

Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood has one of the highest concentrations of urban Indigenous peoples Article published by Wawmeesh Hamilton, CBC NEWS July 24, 2o2o

Youth Take the Lead in Tackling Colonialism, Injustice in Vancouver

This article was published by the Tyee on Sep 22, 2020 and written by Katie Hyslop. Summary: Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth are working together to bring changes based on consultations with 2,000 young people.

Scott Clark on Global News Calling for Change at MCFD

"Two weeks after a judge issued a damning ruling against the Ministry of Children and Family Development, calls continue to come for the ministry to do more to help at risk children. Scott Clark, Executive Director of the Aboriginal Life in Vancouver Enhancement...

First Nations leader: Idle No More in the minority

ALIVE President Ernie Crey spoke to Ezra Levant of THEREBEL.media about the need for First Nations people to participate in all aspects of Canadian life, to coexist in a post-colonial society.

Vancouver Courier: Aboriginal carving pavilion nears completion at Britannia

“It’s a great idea, and the people who spearheaded it are to be commended for their efforts...To take the next step, it needs dedicated programing to sustain it.” - SCOTT CLARK, ALIVE  FULL ARTICLE BY WAWMEESH G. HAMILTON/ VANCOUVER COURIER

No silver bullet to fix Canada’s most challenged urban commmunity

Tristan Hopper of the National Post reports on the state of "Canada's poorest postal code", citing both ALIVE President, Ernie Crey and Executive Director, Scott Clark in a recent article Vancouver’s ‘gulag’: Canada’s poorest neighbourhood refuses to get better...

Scott Clark speaks with the Vancouver Sun for a recent Series on the DTES

Last week, the Vancouver Sun published a series looking at the deep and complex challenges facing Vancouver's DTES. The articles tackle the inadequate coordination of services and funding in the area, the NIMBYism of other communities which results in the ongoing...

ALIVE Advocating Aboriginal Representation in DTES Non-profits

In the wake of the media attention surrounding Portland Hotel Society's financial accountability and leadership issues, Scott Clark (ALIVE ED) talks with the Georgia Straight about what real, meaningful inclusion of Aboriginal people looks like in Vancouver's Downtown...

ALIVE continues to work towards a Salish Sea Village in Vancouver

On this August 15 we are organizing an evening meeting to consult with artists, residents and others who want to assist in building the Salish Sea Village initiative. We will continue to keep all posted. We welcome all voices in this project, if you're interested in...

ALIVE Director Carol Martin, a Remarkable Woman

ALIVE Director Carol Martin was recently nominated as a Remarkable Woman in the Vancouver Parks Board series. See the feature here. Another ALIVE Director, Lorelei Hawkins, was selected as a Remarkable Woman in 2013. See her story here. ALIVE is extremely lucky to...

ALIVE featured in Georgia Straight

  ALIVE executive director Scott Clark and President Grace Tait were profiled in the Georgia Straight as part of the "Best of Vancouver" series in 2011. read the full story: Urban Natives Seek Their Place at the Table 

ALIVE featured in the Tyee

ALIVE Executive Director Scott Clark was interviewed for a story on the promise of place-based strategies in the Tyee's "New Ideas" series in 2012. Read the full story: 'Place-based' Plans to Conquer Child Poverty

ALIVE members in the Vancouver Courier

Mike Howell maps the lives of two members of ALIVE, Gina Hawkins and Melanie Lecoy, as they confront the realities of motherhood in the Inner City in both innovative and ordinary ways. Read the full story: Mothers of Invention

ALIVE on Shaw TV

ALIVE Executive Director Scott Clark took part in a segment with Don Walchuk on Shaw TV for ICTV's After Hours program. In the interview, he discusses ALIVE's purpose, mandate and work. See AHA media's coverage of the full interview here

ALIVE stands with DTES residents, community groups and local businesses to end bullying, harassment and intimidation in the DTES.

On Thursday July 11th at 10:00 AM in Pigeon Park, over 15 residents associations, community economic development non-profits, family and cultural service organizations, aboriginal organizations and various other non-profits from...

B.C. social workers are stressed, scared and seemingly muzzled

B.C. social workers are stressed, scared and seemingly muzzled Social workers honoured Métis youth aging out of the child-welfare system at a 2017 ceremony in Surrey, B.C. Brielle Morgan/The Discourse

Director of ALIVE, Scott Clark, Speaks with Sun News on the Topic of Anti-gentrification Violence in the DTES

ALIVE executive director Scott Clark speaks with Charles Adler about ALIVE's work and speaks out against anti-gentrification violence in the downtown eastside.  Interview viewable here.  previous ALIVE coverage on the anti-gentrification issue here.

Youth Take the Lead in Tackling Colonialism, Injustice in Vancouver

This article was published by the Tyee on Sep 22, 2020 and written by Katie Hyslop. Summary: Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth are working together to bring changes based on consultations with 2,000 young people.

Vancouver, the so called city of “Reconciliation.”

The City of Vancouver's Urban Indigenous peoples Advisory Committee has continued to fail their urban Indigenous population, whilst being the "pinnacle" of urban reconciliation in Canada. To read the so called progress the City of Vancouver has paved, click here to...

Vancouver Courier: Aboriginal carving pavilion nears completion at Britannia

“It’s a great idea, and the people who spearheaded it are to be commended for their efforts...To take the next step, it needs dedicated programing to sustain it.” - SCOTT CLARK, ALIVE  FULL ARTICLE BY WAWMEESH G. HAMILTON/ VANCOUVER COURIER

The Province Reports on the Challenges and Risks Faced by Urban Aboriginal Youth

  Read the Story HERE previous ALIVE coverage of Urban Aboriginal youth issues in Vancouver's Eastside here.

Struggling Urban Aboriginal Youth in Vancouver’s Eastside

ALIVE members, friends and partners call for meaningful action in the wake of incidents of self-harm and a "suicide pact" by struggling urban Aboriginal youth in Vancouver. coverage: Apartheid System of Programs Blamed for Youth Suicide Pact When 30 Youths Contemplate...

Speaking up for BC’s Aboriginal Youth

A recent report from BC's Representative for Children and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond has exposed spectacular misspending and inaction by the BC government and the Ministry of Children and Families around the issue of improving services for Aboriginal youth in...

Search for Metro Vancouver’s best neighbourhood: Grandview-Woodland, a home for urban Indigenous people

Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood has one of the highest concentrations of urban Indigenous peoples Article published by Wawmeesh Hamilton, CBC NEWS July 24, 2o2o

Scott Clark speaks with the Vancouver Sun for a recent Series on the DTES

Last week, the Vancouver Sun published a series looking at the deep and complex challenges facing Vancouver's DTES. The articles tackle the inadequate coordination of services and funding in the area, the NIMBYism of other communities which results in the ongoing...

Scott Clark on Global News Calling for Change at MCFD

"Two weeks after a judge issued a damning ruling against the Ministry of Children and Family Development, calls continue to come for the ministry to do more to help at risk children. Scott Clark, Executive Director of the Aboriginal Life in Vancouver Enhancement...

What changes do you want to see in Vancouver?

Indigenous youth are the fastest growing population in Canada. Our governments needs to listen to what we have to say and work with us. Tell us about the changes you want to see in your neighbourhood.