Capital region First Nations now control child protection

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The First Nations in the capital region have taken the first step towards full responsibility for providing support and protection services to their children and families.

A signing and blessing ceremony was held in the Lekwammen Longhouse on May 5. It was an historical event in an appropriate place. There was a sacred dance performed and it was a gift from Mary Thomas. It was appropriate because it is for the children and the agreement signed is also for the children.

Wendy John of the Musqueam Band was there to sign for the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

"I think it is really significant that the document was signed inside the longhouse," John said. "The sacredness of the ceremony shows the priority they have for their children."

The agreement, which is a phased-in delegation of provincial authority for child welfare services, recognizes that five bands -Tsawout, Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Songhees and Beecher Bay - have joined collectively through the NIL/TU,O Child and Family Services Society to take direct responsibility for providing child welfare services in the capital region.

"This is an important building block for the member bands of the NIL/TU,O Child and Family Services Society, said chairperson Paul Sam. "Our mission is to preserve the culture, safety and well-being of Aboriginal children and youth through services that build on the strengths, creativity, capacity and uniqueness of families and communities in the capital region."

When asked if he had any worries about how the new arrangement will work out, considering there have been problems in the past with Aboriginal communities and the child-care system, Sam said, "We're kind of hoping that won't happen because of our own traditional systems and families. We can bring in our own Elders to build up our own family systems and put them back in place. We have to remember who we are and where we came from."

"This agreement recognizes the inherent responsibility of Aboriginal people to care for their own," said Children and Families Minister Lois Boone. "It also reflects the ministry's commitment to support First Nations people to develop and deliver their own child, family and community services."

The new agreement allows for delegation of authority from the province to the society to be phased in over the next three to five years. The society will then manage and operate a full range of child protection and family support services under the Child, Family and Community Services Act.

The federal Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development will provide funding for start-up and operation of the new First Nations agency as part of a commitment - under Gathering Strength ?-Canada's Aboriginal Action Plan - to bring real and practical improvements to the lives of Aboriginal children, their families and their communities.

Under the first phase of the agreement, the society will develop preventive and support services while building expertise and establishing resources such as foster homes. In the second phase, the society will take on guardianship responsibilities for the long-term planning for children in their communities. In the third phase, a further agreement will be negotiated for the agency to provide a full range of child and family services, including child protection.

In addition to this agreement, 14 other British Columbia First Nation groups have signed child welfare agreements with the province.