At the start of the Family Day weekend, the Sts91裸聊视频檃iles First Nation took a stand for their most precious resource 91裸聊视频� their children.

On Friday (Feb. 16), the Sts91裸聊视频檃iles community and their guests gathered at the Charlie Longhouse to celebrate and assert the nation91裸聊视频檚 jurisdiction over child and family services despite the lack of support from Canada91裸聊视频檚 government.

Today, after more than a century of historic disruption, Sts91裸聊视频檃iles is asserting its unbroken and inherent right to care for our children and families according to our own laws and cultural practices,91裸聊视频� Sts91裸聊视频檃iles Chief Ralph Leon (Sah-ahkw) stated on Friday. 91裸聊视频淥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.91裸聊视频�

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After three years of negotiation, the ceremony was initially intended to be a ceremonial signing of a coordination agreement with the Sts91裸聊视频檃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.

Sts91裸聊视频檃iles Grand Chief Chasta Willie Charlie (Cha91裸聊视频檘ua91裸聊视频檞et) 91裸聊视频� the chief negotiator for the community 91裸聊视频� said the community is 91裸聊视频渆xtremely disappointed91裸聊视频� in the government91裸聊视频檚 decision.

91裸聊视频淭his leaves Sts91裸聊视频檃iles drastically underfunded and forces us to self-fund our child and family services without federal government support,91裸聊视频� Charlie stated.

Last April, the Sts91裸聊视频檃iles officials brought into force Snowoyelh te Emi:melh te Sts91裸聊视频檃iles, or 91裸聊视频淪ts91裸聊视频檃iles Child and Family Services Law,91裸聊视频� which covered Sts91裸聊视频檃iles children living on reserve. Following Friday91裸聊视频檚 ceremony, the Sts91裸聊视频檃iles law extends coverage to all Sts91裸聊视频檃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 Sts91裸聊视频檃iles in their efforts.

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91裸聊视频淚 liked that we were challenged, especially by the youth council, to work harder and to put everything we91裸聊视频檝e got into this,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淎nd that91裸聊视频檚 the commitment of MCFD.91裸聊视频�

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak delivered a video address congratulating the Sts91裸聊视频檃iles community.

91裸聊视频淎lthough we91裸聊视频檝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,91裸聊视频� Nepinak said. 91裸聊视频淎ll levels of government have to work with First Nations people if they91裸聊视频檙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.91裸聊视频�

Representatives from the Seabird Island and Sq91裸聊视频櫭﹚lets First Nations were also present at the ceremony.