At the start of the Family Day weekend, the Sts香蕉视频直播檃iles First Nation took a stand for their most precious resource 香蕉视频直播� their children.

On Friday (Feb. 16), the Sts香蕉视频直播檃iles community and their guests gathered at the Charlie Longhouse to celebrate and assert the nation香蕉视频直播檚 jurisdiction over child and family services despite the lack of support from Canada香蕉视频直播檚 government.

Today, after more than a century of historic disruption, Sts香蕉视频直播檃iles is asserting its unbroken and inherent right to care for our children and families according to our own laws and cultural practices,香蕉视频直播� Sts香蕉视频直播檃iles Chief Ralph Leon (Sah-ahkw) stated on Friday. 香蕉视频直播淥ur children are our most precious resource, and by assuming responsibility for their care, we are ensuring that they grow up with the love, support and connection to their culture that they deserve.香蕉视频直播�

RELATED:

After three years of negotiation, the ceremony was initially intended to be a ceremonial signing of a coordination agreement with the Sts香蕉视频直播檃iles nation and the federal and provincial governments. However, the month before this ceremony, the federal government reneged on the commitment to meet their deadlines for finalizing the agreement.

Sts香蕉视频直播檃iles Grand Chief Chasta Willie Charlie (Cha香蕉视频直播檘ua香蕉视频直播檞et) 香蕉视频直播� the chief negotiator for the community 香蕉视频直播� said the community is 香蕉视频直播渆xtremely disappointed香蕉视频直播� in the government香蕉视频直播檚 decision.

香蕉视频直播淭his leaves Sts香蕉视频直播檃iles drastically underfunded and forces us to self-fund our child and family services without federal government support,香蕉视频直播� Charlie stated.

Last April, the Sts香蕉视频直播檃iles officials brought into force Snowoyelh te Emi:melh te Sts香蕉视频直播檃iles, or 香蕉视频直播淪ts香蕉视频直播檃iles Child and Family Services Law,香蕉视频直播� which covered Sts香蕉视频直播檃iles children living on reserve. Following Friday香蕉视频直播檚 ceremony, the Sts香蕉视频直播檃iles law extends coverage to all Sts香蕉视频直播檃iles children across the province, effective April 1.

Jenny Lloyd, executive director of Indigenous Agreements with the Ministry of Child and Family Development said the province is fully committed to supporting Sts香蕉视频直播檃iles in their efforts.

RELATED:

香蕉视频直播淚 liked that we were challenged, especially by the youth council, to work harder and to put everything we香蕉视频直播檝e got into this,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd that香蕉视频直播檚 the commitment of MCFD.香蕉视频直播�

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak delivered a video address congratulating the Sts香蕉视频直播檃iles community.

香蕉视频直播淎lthough we香蕉视频直播檝e never given up jurisdiction over our children, other colonial systems have always tried to suppress our people and tried to suppress our ways of keeping our families together,香蕉视频直播� Nepinak said. 香蕉视频直播淎ll levels of government have to work with First Nations people if they香蕉视频直播檙e going to get this right. I look forward to all of you being a driving force and showing the rest of the country how to do child welfare laws, how to bring your children home, how to put broken families back together again.香蕉视频直播�

Representatives from the Seabird Island and Sq香蕉视频直播櫭﹚lets First Nations were also present at the ceremony.