Here's how Cowessess will use $38M to develop its child welfare program
The federal government committed $38.7 million to Cowessess First Nation to assist with the development of its historic child welfare program.
On Tuesday, Cowessess was legally transferred jurisdiction over its children in care. This marks the first time that control of child and family services has been restored to an Indigenous community under federal law.
Cowessess Chief Cadmus Delorme said that money will help get the programs at the new Chief Red Bear Children’s Lodge off the ground.
“This capital investment is going to help us with our start-up costs,” Delorme said, in an interview with CTV Morning Live Regina. “This money is going to take us to control our own destiny, to create our own programs, which are already being created and implemented.”
“Finally, it is going to allow us to make sure that we can invest our culture and our means and our ideology into making sure that one day there’s no children in care.”
The Miyo Pimatisowin Act, which was ratified by Cowessess residents in March 2020, asserts the community’s right to care for children and families in need. The Act is a stepping-stone in the community’s effort to create its own plan for self-governance. It is the first of its kind in Canada.
The act was made possible by the signing of Bill C-92, an Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, giving Indigenous communities the ability to affirm and recognize jurisdiction over child and family services.
Prior to Bill C-92, Delorme said the community did not have decision making power when it came to Cowessess children in care. Now, the First Nation has legal jurisdiction and control over those cases.
“The moment that the phone is picked up, the moment the investigation call is given, the moment that prevention is required, that answer of that phone will be from Chief Red Bear Children’s Lodge, which is a Cowessess organization,” Delorme said.
“From the moment of that first call, that string is connected to home.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe joined Delorme and other members of the community at the Cowessess Powwow grounds on Tuesday to sign a coordination agreement under the federal Act.
Under the Act, which has been in force since Jan. 2020, a request must be made to enter into a coordination agreement in order for an Indigenous law on child and family services to prevail over any conflicting federal, provincial or regional laws.
“We'll ensure that as we move forward kids get the support they need, and the protection they need, driven by their own communities, in their own languages in their cultures so that no kids will be removed from the communities that they're a part of,” Trudeau said Tuesday.
According to the prime minister’s office, 38 Indigenous governments, representing more than 100 communities, are seeking to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services under the Act. Eighteen coordination agreement discussions are underway.
At the signing event Tuesday, Delorme spoke about bringing Cowessess children home. He specified however, that does not necessarily mean physically bringing them back into the community.
“We have some great foster homes right now raising our children. We are just going to make sure that children have a cultural plan, a kinship plan, and if we feel that repatriation is in the best interest for the child’s long term goal, then that is something we have the authorization to do now,” Delorme said.
Delorme said the ultimate goal of the program is to one day have no children left in the welfare system.
With files from CTV News Regina's Michaela Solomon
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.