Cowessess First Nation Chief Cadmus Delorme welcomes the federal government's transferal of child welfare back to the tribe.
COWESSESS, Sask.-In early July, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed a landmark agreement to return child welfare responsibilities to Cowessess First Nation, which he says is critical in reducing the number of Indigenous children in the foster care system.
"Never again should kids be taken from their homes, families and communities," Trudeau said at the ceremony to commemorate the agreement. "Kids need to be kept by, protected by, supported by, and taught by their communities."
According to the federal government, Indigenous children account for 52.2 per cent of children in foster care under the age of 14, even though that group makes up just 7.7 per cent of all children under 14. According to a Cowessess source, about 150 children from the community are now in foster care.
In 2019 legislation was introduced seeking to reduce the number of First Nations, Inuit and Métis children in care and improve family services. This agreement is the first signed under this legislation.
"Since 1951, the jurisdiction of children in care was removed from Cowessess First Nation and final decision-making responsibility and judicial decision-making power was driven by non-Cowessess First Nation laws," Chief Cadmus Delorme wrote in a statement. "In March 2020, the Cowessess First Nation Miyo Pimatisowin Act was ratified by Cowessess citizens asserting our inherent rights for our children and families in need of help.
"This responsibility is a part of the long-term goal of controlling our own plan to self-government based on our Inherent Rights and Treaty relationship," Delorme added. "The coordination agreement is a transition plan to assure the transfer of jurisdiction is professional and at the pace of Cowessess First Nation. The fiscal agreement confirms the investment the Government of Canada and Government of Saskatchewan takes in supporting the Cowessess First Nation."
The federal government is committing $38.7 million over the next two years to help Cowessess establish its own child and family services system.
"We have a lot of work to do. And every day we will roll up our sleeves to make sure that every child, when we call them home, that they know where home is, and that is Cowessess First Nation," Delorme said. "They will dance, they will get their education, and they will walk with their chin up and be a proud Cowessess citizen."
Trudeau said the government is working with other First Nations to reach similar agreements, and also to transfer power in areas such as education, health care and business.
