Timeline – Wabaseemoong Child Welfare Authority

January 1, 2020 – Bill C-92 Comes Into Effect

WCWA — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 12:01:16 +0000

Bill C-92 An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families comes into effect. It recognizes Indigenous peoples’ jurisdiction over child and family services as part of the right to self-governance. Laws created by Indigenous communities will take precedence over federal, provincial and territorial laws if an agreement is made with the government, or if reasonable efforts have been made over 12 months to do so. WIN submits its code.

2017 – WIN Customary Care Code Created

WCWA — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 21:10:47 +0000

The WIN Customary Care Code is created, based on Elders’ knowledge and community input, and is confirmed at a special meeting in 2017.

2011 – Wabaseemoong Child Welfare Authority Created

WCWA — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:09:45 +0000

Wabaseemoong Independent Nations regained jurisdiction over its own child and family services and created the Wabaseemoong Child Welfare Authority. Intensive discussions begin within the WIN community about traditional practices of raising children.

The Mid 2000s – Anishinaabe Abinooji Family Services

WCWA — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 21:07:42 +0000

The Anishinaabe Abinooji Family Services (AAFS), which was created as a replacement of the OTFS, is given a provincial mandate to provide child welfare and prevention services to 14 First Nations in the northern region of Treaty 3.

The Mid 1990s – Ojibway Tribal Family Services

WCWA — Sat, 11 Mar 1995 21:06:23 +0000

The Ojibway Tribal Family Services (OTFS) was initiated, which provided an Indigenous-operated alternative to the mainstream child welfare system. Despite some initial success, it stopped receiving funding from the government in 2001.

1990 – Banning Children’s Aid Societies

WCWA — Mon, 01 Jan 1990 21:05:27 +0000

With about 300 of our children living away from us as victims of the CFS system, Wabaseemoong Independent Nations band council passes a resolution forbidding children’s aid societies from entering the reserve.

The 1970s – Sixties Scoop & Northern Adoption Project

WCWA — Wed, 11 Mar 1970 20:55:46 +0000

The Sixties Scoop & Northern Adoption Project created emotional devastation in our community. Our children were gathered up without warning and flown hundreds of kilometres away to Sandy Lake, where they were adopted by families with no prior plans or official paperwork.

Early 1900s – Residential School Program

WCWA — Sun, 11 Mar 1900 20:52:49 +0000

Many of our children were taken away by the residential school system. Most WIN children went to Kenora, where they suffered culture loss and trauma. Some of our Elders remember being bribed and tricked by the teachers, who would come to our settlements and promise picnics and fun at residential school.