Anishinabek Nation Child WellBeing Indigenous Child and Family

Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being Indigenous Child and Family Well-Being: Honouring the Past, Embracing the Future October 2018

Overview of the Presentation – Incorporating Anishinabek community standards and traditions into well-being practices to promote and preserve Anishinabek family unity – Respecting Anishinabek original instructions and incorporating them into the law, system and processes for decision-making – Community decision-making to address issues related to Anishinabek child and youth well-being and family unity – Establishing a grandparents committee – Anishinabek priorities and plans to promote child and youth wellbeing

Anishinabek Approach – First Nation inherent jurisdiction – Community members consultation of First Nation members on- and off-reserve – Involvement of Anishinabek Leadership, Women’s Council, Anishinabek Youth and Anishinabek Elders – Establishment of the Child Well-Being Working Group – Establishment of the Ooshenha Committee

Ngo Dwe Waanigizid Anishinaabe – Original instructions to Anishinabek – Drafted by Anishinabek Elders – One Anishinaabe Family – Opening for the Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being Law

Development through Ceremony – Fasting to initiate process – Social bundle – Sweat to seek name – Prayer at all gatherings and meetings – Participation of Elders in all gatherings and meetings

Anishinabek Nation Child Well. Being Law – Exercise of Inherent Jurisdiction – Respect for the role of family and community – Promotes voluntary services – Ensures protection of children and youth – Respects community standards – Respects role of First Nations and agencies – Adoptions require First Nation and parental approval

Anishinabek Children’s Bill of Rights – Drafted by the Anishinabek Child Well-Being Working Group with community consultations on draft – To be approved by the Anishinabek Chiefs in Assembly – Intended to ensure respect for Anishinabek children and youth in decision-making and the delivery of programs and services

System Structures – First Nations – Agencies – Koganaawsawin – Children’s Commissioner

Koganaawsawin – Support First Nation implementation of the Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being Law – Enter into First Nation and Agency Agreements – Implement the First Nation mandate – Support First Nations and Agencies as requested

Koganaawsawin – support the implementation, compliance and enforcement of the Law – receive, administer, distribute and report on funding secured to support the Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being system and the implementation of the Law – establish policies and guidelines relating to the operation of the Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being System – develop and implement programs and services to support child well-being; – be the central liaison and coordinating body for the First Nations regarding child well-being matters – carry out of any other powers, duties and functions delegated by the Anishinabek First Nations (section 52 of the Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being Law)

Children’s Commissioner – Appointed by the First Nations – Oversees the implementation, compliance and enforcement of the Law (section 53 and 54 of the Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being Law)

Ooshenha Committee – Terms of reference developed and approved by the Child Well-Being Working Group – Membership determined by First Nations – Supports development of the Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being System and the implementation of the Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being Law

On-Going Work – First Nation approval and enactment of the Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being Law – Establishment of the Anishinabek Child Well-Being System – Development and implementation of the Anishinabek dispute resolution system – Establishment of the Anishinabek Children’s Bill of Rights – Negotiating new arrangements with the Governments of Ontario and Canada

New Relationships – With Ontario – Protocol Agreement (April 2017) – Relationship Agreement (November 2017) – Collaboration Agreement (Proposed by Anishinabek) – With Canada – Framework Agreement and funding agreement (Proposed by Anishinabek)

Questions?