How one First Nation aims to break the cycle of trauma with new child ‘well-being’ law | 24CA News

Taykwa Tagamou Nation Chief Bruce Archibald nonetheless remembers the way it felt to be taken away from his residence as a toddler and despatched to reside with one other household that did not follow his Cree traditions.

“Things like that shouldn’t happen,” he mentioned.

Archibald was two years previous when he was positioned with a French-speaking household.

Today, Archibald is utilizing that have as motivation to maintain Indigenous children rooted of their tradition.

Taykwa Tagamou Nation, situated roughly 126 km northeast of Timmins, Ont., handed a toddler “well-being” regulation again within the fall to take management of a kid welfare system that has had a disproportionate impression on its kids for many years.

“It was an opportunity for us to try and fix those wrongs that were done and that were forced upon us,” Archibald mentioned.

The neighborhood is affirming its jurisdiction by way of Bill C-92, federal laws that acknowledges Indigenous communities have the appropriate to create their very own youngster and household insurance policies and legal guidelines.

Under C-92, 5 Indigenous governing our bodies have to date asserted their management over their youngster and household providers, in response to Indigenous Services Canada.

They embrace Wabaseemoong Independent Nations in Ontario, Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan, Peguis First Nation in Manitoba, the Louis Bull Tribe in Alberta and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation within the Northwest Territories. 

A sixth neighborhood, Atikamekw Opitciwan in Quebec, additionally launched its personal youngster and household providers regulation however hasn’t been capable of implement it but as a result of it is caught within the constitutional battle between the province and Canada over Bill C-92, presently earlier than Canada’s highest courtroom.

Quebec argues the regulation infringes on its constitutional jurisdiction over social providers. 

Rebuilding belief

Taykwa Tagamou Nation has but to subject a 12-month discover to Ottawa, required by the federal laws, earlier than the regulation comes into pressure.

The discover can be issued after the First Nation develops its personal youngster welfare company, mentioned Kayla Viau, Taykwa Tagamou Nation’s youngster well-being regulation lead.

“We have to remember not to rush this work,” she mentioned.

“People are emotional about these systems and how this is going to impact them … So we’re having to rebuild trust.”

For communities like Taykwa Tagamou Nation, Bill-C-92 has cleared a path to lastly finish the historic overrepresentation of Indigenous kids within the foster care system.

First Nations, Inuit and Métis kids account for 53.8 per cent of all kids in foster care, in response to Statistics Canada’s 2021 census.

Taykwa Tagamou Nation’s new youngster welfare regulation will cease the follow of sending kids to foster care within the south and chopping them off from their households, mentioned Archibald.

Over the previous few years, he mentioned, the nation labored laborious to vary this by making a “safe home” — a form of communal youngster care facility the place neighborhood members can take care of kids.

“We made that transition … to make sure that they feel like they’re at home,” Archibald mentioned.

“That’s why we’re doing what we’re doing today, to make sure that our kids don’t feel abandoned.”

Taykwa Tagamou Nation desires to construct extra secure properties below the brand new regulation, which states the neighborhood has the inherent proper and authority to look after and defend its kids, youth and households.

The regulation, which took two years to develop, focuses on prevention and schooling.

If a toddler should be positioned in care, the regulation states businesses should make all cheap efforts to help household reunification.

Housing scarcity nonetheless a roadblock to reunification 

Viau mentioned the objective is to deliver therapeutic after generations of youngsters being forcibly faraway from their households.

“Trauma continues to play out and it plays out in different ways and we create this re-traumatizing cycle. And so we’re aiming to break that,” Viau mentioned.

Viau mentioned she grew up with the concern of kid care staff knocking on her household’s door as a result of prejudice typically drove choices to take kids from their households.

“The reason I became a lawyer is because of the injustice I saw,” mentioned Viau, who’s Archibald’s daughter. 

Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu mentioned the federal authorities is totally dedicated to serving to communities scale back the variety of Indigenous kids in care — regardless of Quebec’s C-92 problem, which the Supreme Court of Canada is predicted to rule on within the new 12 months.

“Communities have that hard work ahead of them, figuring out what’s best for that particular child,” Hajdu mentioned.

“The law provides that foundation. A willing province provides that foundation … You see the opposite in Quebec.”

One of the challenges going through Taykwa Tagamou Nation, which has about 150 individuals dwelling on-reserve and 700 on its band listing, is an ongoing housing disaster.

The neighborhood is brief 60 properties for its members.

“That is a major barrier for our families and for reunification,” Viau mentioned.

“There needs to be more urgent action to address that barrier.”