First Nation communities near Sudbury, North Bay and Parry Sound are one step closer to taking over their own child welfare cases.
The province is currently responsible for them, but that's about to change soon.
Several northern First Nation communities are in the process of managing their own child care agency. A conference was held on Tuesday where “Taking care of their own children" was the message.
"We have always said we should be taking care of the responsibility of our own children and displacing the children's aid societies out of our communities." said Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee.
Designation is about three years away for the Waabnoong Bemjiwang Child Well-Being Agency, and is pending provincial government approval, but the announcement is to let people know that the service is coming.
"First Nation children will remain in their own communities and first nation communities will decide what's best for their children and the most important thing is that culture will be part of the children's lives." said Joanne Koehler of the Waabnoong Bemjiwang Child Well-Being Agency.
People working on the project are looking nearby for advice. Last year, Serpent River, along with 6 other first nations from Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie, celebrated their designation.
"We can use some of their policies and things like that, so we don't have to create policies, so we don't have to start from scratch." said Pamela Restoule, also of the Child Well-Being Agency.
Seven First Nation communities, including Nipissing, Dokis and Wahnapitae will be involved with the child agency. The plan is to add more even more communities in the future.
