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Child and Family Services Program

The southern First Nation Chiefs have long been concerned with over-representation of our children in the Manitoba child welfare system, and have sought solutions to exercise control and decision-making for First Nation citizens, families, and Nations.

The past and continued trauma from enforced assimilation, through colonial legislation and policies by governments, has greatly impacted First Nations, families, and children’s overall wellness and security. This is unmistakeable in child welfare where the failure to recognize the systemic racism endorsed and practiced for decades has caused a never-ending cycle of children being removed from their homes while destroying family and community relationships.

Colonial institutions, such as residential schools and day schools, the Sixties Scoop, along with the child welfare system, are core causes of intergenerational trauma leading to the break down of customary and traditional practices in raising children to be on a good path.

As early as 2006, the Southern Chiefs’ Organization received a mandate from the leadership of our Nations to begin advocating and focusing on developing child welfare laws based on the languages, practices, teachings, and traditions of southern First Nations.

To further coordinate this important work, in 2010 the Chiefs-In-Summit passed a resolution establishing the Chiefs Standing Committee on Child Welfare to provide advice on child and family services matters and preside over the development of the Anishinaabe and Dakota Family Law initiative.

In response to Canada enacting federal legislation to support a comprehensive reform of child welfare services in relation to First Nations with An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit, Métis children, youth and families (Bill C92), the Chiefs-In-Summit unanimously passed a further resolution in June 2019 for SCO to support southern First Nations in developing community child and family laws and redevelop the southern First Nation child and family service system.

 Some key issues that our Chiefs-In-Summit in have addressed are:

  • The Anishinaabe and Dakota Family Law Development Initiative
  • Transformation of the Southern First Nations Network of Care
  • Alternative practice to end birth alerts in Manitoba
  • Parents’ Bill of Rights  when dealing with Child and Family Services
  • Provincial recognition of the federal Act’s “minimum national standards”

Our Child and Family Services (CFS) Program team continues to work diligently and collectively with all southern First Nations, individuals, families, partnerships and all levels of government to help ensure that all First Nations children and families are receiving adequate services, programs, and opportunities that will enhance their wellbeing.

First Nations have exercised their inherent jurisdiction over their children and families from time immemorial. We have our own laws and principles that have survived the onslaught of colonialism and community Leadership has consistently taken steps to regain control and decision-making with regard to their own children and families. To further assist SCO First Nations, SCO has started the process of developing a framework for First Nations seeking to reclaim jurisdiction over child welfare since the passing of Bill C92.

Chiefs’ Standing Committee Members:

  • Grand Chief Jerry Daniels (Chair), Southern Chiefs’ Organization
  • Chief Cornell McLean (Vice Chair), Lake Manitoba First Nation
  • Chief Raymond Brown, Canupawakpa Dakota Nation
  • Chief David Meeches, Long Plain First Nation
  • Chief Kerwin Chaboyer, O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation
  • Chief Cameron Catcheway, Skownan First Nation
  • Chief Gordon Bluesky, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation
  • Chief Trevor Prince, Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation
  • Chief Kurvis Anderson, Pinaymootang First Nation
  • Chief Donnie Smoke, Dakota Plains Wahpeton Oyate First Nation

The late Elder Charlie Nelson from Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation gifted our process with the name, Waakaabit: Working together within the circle to make good decisions for our children and families, to ensure we continue to work together and re-build our Nations, our communities, and our families – for our children, our youth, and our future generations – in a good way.

The Child and Family Services Program is dedicated to advancing the Waakaabit-Woksape Initiative, in supporting the southern Anishinaabe and Dakota Nations.

The inspiration for this important work comes from the teachings and guidance of our dedicated Knowledge Keepers:

  • The late Elder Burma Bushie (2023), Hollow Water First Nation
  • Elder Donna Pratt, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation
  • Elder Dr. Harry Bone, Keeseekoowenin Ojibway Nation
  • The late Elder Charlie Nelson (2022), Bagwaa’onishkoziibing, Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation

And the welcomed additions of:

  • Emery Stagg, Dauphin River First Nation
  • Frank Abraham, Black River First Nation
  • Rose Laquette, O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation
  • Shirley Roulette, Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation

We are all responsible and we all have a role in improving the future outcomes of our children, youth, and families.

The Waakaabit-Woksape Initiative is working with pilot communities to build out the circles wrapping around the child, grounded in strong families, communities, and relationships (prevention) to ensure security and safety (protection). Our community level support for comprehensive child and family system transformation to restore southern First Nations’ jurisdiction of their children includes:

  • Community engagement to promote consultation and gather and exchange information
  • Template and tool development to assist Nations in drafting laws
  • Capacity development through proposal development and drafting directed at increasing preventative infrastructure and programming
  • Representation at provincial and cross-jurisdictional tables to advance implementation of governance opportunities outlined in the principles of Bill C92

Our Anishinaabe and Dakota member Nations that have participated in the Waakaabit – Wokesape Initiative include:

  • Brokenhead Ojibway Nation
  • Dakota Plains Wahpeton Oyate​
  • Dakota Tipi First Nation
  • Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation​
  • Lake St. Martin First Nation​
  • Lake Manitoba First Nation
  • Long Plain First Nation​
  • Pinaymootang First Nation​
  • Pine Creek First Nation​
  • Roseau River Anishinaabe Nation
  • Sandy Bay Ojibwe First Nation
  • Canupawakpa Dakota Nation
  • O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation
  • Swan Lake First Nation

Our consultation with the Nations and guidance from our Knowledge Keepers has resulted in tools to assist southern First Nations in their individual paths to legally recognized jurisdiction in child welfare:

  • Orientation to Bill C92
  • Orientation to the Waakaabit-Wokesape Project
  • Phase 1 Consultation  – What Communities Said About Caring for Their Own
  • Information on the Paths to Jurisdiction
  • Anishinaabe and Dakota Family Law Templates (coming soon)
  • Questions Checklist for Communities
  • Youth Survey

Contact us:

For more information, email us: waakaabit@scoinc.mb.ca

SCO Community Child and Family Services Team

  • Margaret Swan, Director of Child Welfare
  • Terry Peebles, Executive Assistant to the Director of Child Welfare
  • Joanne Soldier, Community Engagement Manager
  • Wanda Brown, Researcher and Policy Analyst
  • Isabella Pelletier, Administrative Assistant, Meetings Coordinator

Resources and Links:

An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families

Addictions Agencies Serving Youth (PDF)

Agency Complaint Resolution Process (PDF)

Bill C 92 Notices and Requests

First Nations Child & Family Caring Society Information Sheets

First Nations Child & Family Caring Society Publications

Funding for capital assets: Jordan’s Principle and First Nations child and family services (sac-isc.gc.ca)

Indigenous Services Canada First Nations Child and Family Services

Indigenous Services Canada CFS Long Term Reform  

ISC Transitional Terms and Conditions for FNCFS Funding For Prevention Services

Parents’ Bill of Rights

Southern First Nations Network of Care

Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge University of Alberta