The Youth We Serve
Orca Lelum offers year-round programming dedicated to supporting Indigenous youth aged 12 to 18 who are residents of British Columbia. Our programming is co-ed and inclusive of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. The Orca Lelum facility is wheelchair accessible and we welcome those with diverse abilities.
Our programming is 100% voluntary, which reflects our commitment to respecting the autonomy and agency of the youth we support. By choosing to attend Orca Lelum voluntarily, youth demonstrate a willingness to engage in their own healing journey – an essential aspect of supporting positive outcomes. Intake packages may be completed by the youth themselves, or in collaboration by a referring agent and the youth applying.
We walk alongside youth who are ready to begin their healing journey.
Care at Orca Lelum is relational, culturally rooted, and responsive to each young person's unique journey - supporting healing across mind, body, heart, and spirit.
Admission Guidelines
Please note: a valid BC Medical Services Card is a necessary requirement for admission into Orca Lelum's programming.
Inclusion Requirements
- Orca Lelum's programming is open to Indigenous youth aged 12 to 18
- Youth must be residents of British Columbia and have a valid BC Medical Services Card
- Our programming is best suited to youth who can maintain a reasonable level of semi-independence, such as basic self-care and tasks for daily living
- Youth will be asked to complete a pre-admission medical assessment by a referring doctor or nurse practitioner
- Youth should demonstrate a willingness to participate in all aspects of programming, including ceremony and cultural activities
- Youth should demonstrate an ability to live with others and respect a shared living environment
- Orca Lelum requires parental or guardian consent for youth to be admitted into our programming
Additional Screening Required
To provide appropriate care for the youth seeking support at Orca Lelum, further conversations are required to assess the following circumstances:
- Certain psychiatric conditions
- Eating disorders
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
- Self-injury and suicide risk
- Violence and/or aggressive behaviour
- Fire-setting and arson
- Sexual offence related concerns
Exclusionary Circumstances
Orca Lelum recognizes that exclusionary criteria are often rooted in colonial systems that misinterpret adaptive trauma-based survival. Guided by Coast Salish teachings and trauma-informed care, we carefully review every situation. Before making any decision, we reflect on our community’s way of being to honour both the individual’s journey and our collective well being, ensuring we do not perpetuate colonial harm.
Orca Lelum cannot admit youth experiencing the following circumstances:
- Unstable medical conditions
- Unstable psychiatric conditions
- Youth experiencing acute suicide risk or escalating self-injury behaviours
- Youth requiring continuous one-to-one support or hospital-level care
Contact Orca Lelum's Intake Team
To connect with our Intake Team, please send an email to [email protected] and include your name, phone number, and let us know if you're referring yourself or contacting us on behalf of someone else.