Heavy topics discussed at child-care workshop

Basil Greene is looking for more Anishinabe content in the Child and Family Services Act.
“We need to get that respect from the child care-white society that we do have our own way of raising our children that has not been adopted into their system,” said the chairman of Anishinaabe Abinoojii Family Services during the Aug. 17-19 Weweni Ganawanamiigok Ghga-abinooji Caring for the Children workshop. “That system is being forced upon us and it is one that has devastated families, not only in our territory but all of Canada. That should be corrected and I feel this is a good start in embracing our culture.”
Greene, of Shoal Lake #39, and about 15 other First Nation people discussed the Native provisions of the Child and Family Services Act during the three-day workshop, which was held at the Victoria Inn in Thunder Bay.
The conference had a focus on helping empower communities and workers and to help build relationships to understand the Native provisions of the Child and Family Services Act.
“We had to talk about a lot of heavy topics yesterday – when we talk about the history of child welfare in Canada as it relates to First Nations people, it can stir up some emotions and it did stir up some emotions and that is good and we cannot be afraid of that,” said Lori Flinders, director of Nanaadawewinan at Weechi-it-te-win Family Services and one of the members of the curriculum development committee who developed the materials for the three-day workshop. “People participated in a good way. They did have an opportunity as well to talk about some of their own personal experiences.
“There is a balance in that as well; it’s our personal experience we bring to practice, and also about us evolving as professionals and practitioners for the good of our children.”
In addition to the Thunder Bay workshop, 10 other workshops were held across the province for participants from children’s aid societies, First Nation bands, friendship centres as well as Grand Chief Randall Phillips of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians and a number of band councillors.
Elder Marlene Pierre said the Thunder Bay workshop was a good opportunity to learn about how the new legislation is going to impact First Nation communities.
“After this role play, which was so stimulating, and the songs that were sung by those two ladies (participants in the workshop), I just feel energized about the Anishinabe way of taking care of our children,” Pierre said. “It makes me feel strong to know that we have our own ways and we are discovering them all along by looking at our seven teachings and how they have helped us survive centuries of real hardship.”
Flinders said the workshops provided participants with a better understanding of the provisions of (the Child and Family Services Act), empowered them to make sure those provisions are being adhered to and showed them how they can work with children’s aid societies to make sure their children are kept close.
Amanda Perrault said the workshops are a validation of the loss of First Nations culture in the child-welfare system.
“They are finally acknowledging that we are losing our culture through foster care and we are losing our children,” Perrault said. “The pain the families endure is no different than the residential schools and this is just a repeat of what’s been going on. I hope that some day we are not gathering all together as we did with the residential schools ... and suing the government.”
Flinders said the workshop training sessions will eventually lead to the development of a guide to practice, including a DVD, video resources with interviews with some visionaries in child welfare and a number of training sessions.
“As well, all of the provisions of the (Child and Family Services Act) will be included in that guide to practice and some practical examples,” Flinders said. “How can we work better, what is our indigenous best practice tool box that we bring into the relationship we have to have with CAS right now.”