The 2018-2019 West Region Child & Family Services (WRCFS) Annual General Meeting (AGM) was hosted by Skownan First Nation this year.
The circle of care approach is based on ensuring the families are kept together and children are brought home.
The AGM was very well attended and the theme was respect which is the buffalo. A teaching was provided about the buffalo in that the buffalo will respect and protect its herd in its circle of care. Also, when we harvested and lived life through the buffalo we used every part of the buffalo, nothing was wasted. Restoration of our ways of being is a key tool in our healing and reconciliation journey. Tim Catcheway of the Sandy Bay Child and Family Services (SBCFS) presented the WRCFS Board of Directors with a gift of a Buffalo Robe. Tim spoke of the history of the buffalo in Skownan First Nation and offered the gift in solidarity of the work both agencies are doing within the Southern Region of the province.
The First Nations in Treaty 2 Territory Government has begun working collaboratively with WRCFS as well as Anishinabe Child & Family Services (ACFS) , Interlake Reserves Tribal Council (IRTC) and West Region Tribal Council (WRTC) in order to gather our mandates and responsibilities, programs, services information and determine gaps or areas that require addressing from a First Nation, territorial, regional, and agencies approach. http://treaty2.com/index.php/2019/09/12/territory-regional-agencies-wellbeing-healing-collaborative-strategy-meeting-september-11-2019/. Our next meeting is scheduled in early October and we are all honoured to come together to serve our children, Nations, and families in this way.
The photos of the AGM include the poster boards created by staff of WRCFS, great job. A couple photos include a reunited family and a staff member working with her children alongside of her. Miigwetch to WRCFS for your work and efforts.
FNT2T is also working with WRCFS and ACFS on transforming and rebranding child welfare do it will reflect who we are as First Nations people, as well as being involved in the child and family wellbeing law development through Bill C-92 https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/bill/C-92/royal-assent as directed by the FNT2T.
FNT2T will begin Nation law development sessions starting October 2, 2019 in Pinaymootang First Nation, October 3, 2029 in Dauphin River First Nation, October 7, 2019 in Little Saskatchewan First Nation and October 9 in Lake St. Martin. Your participation and involvement is important because this will be your child and family law for your Nation that will replace the current Manitoba Child & Family Services Act http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/c080e.php
Child and Family Law development sessions will begin in the western region of FNT2T during the week of October 21st, 2019. Keep a lookout for the notices.
Miigwetch and Ekosi everyone, stay and play safe!
Last modified: September 28, 2019
