Understanding our New Self-governed Child Welfare Authority
Wabishki Maakinaakoons is a alternative model of child care. It will restore and emphasize traditional family welfare practices, provide decolonized, anti-oppressive healing through culturally grounded values and connection.
The WCWA approach creates layers of protection for families and holds a space for their voices. Accountability is required from all parties, and independent bodies are available for advocacy.
When a child is identified as “at risk of harm”, the WCWA assessment unit completes its study within five days, with input from family members. It may recommend enrollment into one of the following streams:
- Prevention Services supports long-term, sustainable, positive change in Wabaseemoong. It includes crisis support, family support, mental health & wellness, family and youth programming.
- Early Intervention is for families in which there are risks that could affect the safety of the children, but would not warrant a formal assessment or investigation. To be eligible for this service, families must be willing and able to collaborate with workers. An example would be a gambling addiction in which guardians are leaving children inadequately supervised.
- Family Preservation is required when a child’s safety risk or the breakdown of the family has been confirmed. This program provides immediate, intensive support for 3-8 weeks. It may include coordination with other services, individual and family counselling, cultural interventions and aftercare planning and follow-up.
- Customary Care involves children facing an immediate threat who are placed under emergency care or safe home declaration for up to 10 days during assessment. One of five orders (Shawentassowin, Ganwentassowin, Obigiasoowin, Gagiigimassowin, Nabiigundiwin) will be selected with input from the family and sanctioned by the Wiidokazawad Committee. Children’s voices must be heard in this process. Parents in the Customary Care stream are assigned a worker who helps them to meet the requirements of their family service plan.
- Family reunification, when safe, is always the goal for every WFMS child and parent.
There are additional safeguards in place for children and their families in the Wabishki Maakinaakoons Family System.
- All WCWA employees will receive a core curriculum of Wabaseemoong cultural teachings, including local family history, clan systems, community legends, spiritual guardians and sacred sites.
- Employees will be honest about their own struggles and histories, and work with humility and compassion. They will be at risk of burnout in their high-stress positions, and will keep their self-care a priority. Managers will pursue ongoing development to increase emotional intelligence, conflict resolution and effective management.
- The Onakonigewad ensures Abinoojii Inakonigewin is carried out properly. It reviews, oversees and amends the Wabaseemoong Customary Codes, and its policies and manuals, as required.
- The Wabishki Maakinaakoons Board oversees the WCWA organization, and receives its monthly reports. The Board approves budgets, and system and personnel changes, by resolution.
- The Family Advocate works independently of WCWA and is available for families who need support in navigating the system, and in situations where young people believe their rights have been violated.
- The Onakonigewad Review Board is available for families and children to voice their concerns and to appeal decisions if they are not satisfied with the actions of WCWA.
Community Partners & Programs – Working Together
- Infant Stimulation
- Healthy Babies Healthy Children
- Early Childhood Development
- Education Intervention
- Family Well-Being Program
- National Native Drug Abuse Program
- Brighter Futures
- Mental Health & Addictions
- Wabaseemoong Youth Camp
- Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative
- Jordan’s Principle
- Safe Haven
- Nigonigawbow Secretariat
- Kenora Chiefs Advisory
- FASD Services
- Aboriginal Child Nutrition
- Right to Play Program
- Wiisokodaadig Peer Helpers Program
- Bii-Zin-Da-De-Dah Prevention Program
- Children’s Mental Health
- Youth Outreach Worker Program
- Youth in Transition
- Life Skills Program
- Niigaanning Bimaadiziwin Developmental Services
- Bimose Tribal Council
- Firefly
- Kenora Association for Community Living
Anishinaabe Laws existed before contact and before Treaties
They are sacred, traditional and customary, and they are not extinguished by Treaties.
The source of Anishinaabe Laws is Miinigo`iziwin. Sacred Law and Traditional Law cannot be written, but Customary Law may be written with the guidance, direction and permission of the Elders through ceremonies.
The Well-being of Our Children: A Timeline
Since time immemorial, our children lived happy lives on the land. They received Elders’ teachings about our traditions so they could use the gifts of the waters, lands and animals with respect. They learned to trap, fish, garden and pick medicine. They travelled with their families, according to the seasons, to pick rice and blueberries. They had deep connections to their families and their surroundings.
March 1900
Early 1900s – Residential School Program
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.
March 1970
The 1970s – Sixties Scoop & Northern Adoption Project
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.
January 1990
1990 – Banning Children’s Aid Societies
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.
March 1995
The Mid 1990s – Ojibway Tribal Family Services
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.
March 2005
The Mid 2000s – Anishinaabe Abinooji Family Services
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.
March 2011
2011 – Wabaseemoong Child Welfare Authority Created
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.
March 2017
2017 – WIN Customary Care Code Created
The WIN Customary Care Code is created, based on Elders’ knowledge and community input, and is confirmed at a special meeting in 2017.
January 2020
January 1, 2020 – Bill C-92 Comes Into Effect
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.