Members of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation burn a copy of Indian law during a ceremony where they held the first session of their legislature and signed a constitution after they signed the historic Maa-nulth agreement in Anacla, BC, earlier this year had implemented the morning hours of Friday, April 1, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS / Darryl Dyck
Melissa Renwick, reporter for the local journalism initiative HA-SHILTH-SA
The Huu-ay-aht First Nations have published an independent evaluation of their Social Services Project, which shows that the number of children in care is falling.
The aim of the project, which started in 2017, was to ensure that all Huu-ay-aht children grow up in safe and healthy, culturally connected homes.
When 21 percent of the country’s children were in foster care in 2018, Huu-ay-aht declared a public health emergency.
Then, over five years, the nation raised $ 4.2 million from the federal government and received $ 300,000 from the province to work on bringing their children home.
To determine the effectiveness of the project, the independent consultant Dr. Suzanne Von Der Porten collected feedback from 169 Huu-ay-aht citizens, board members, members of the child and family wellness team, and the national social services task force. Overall, she said the 2020 data indicated “many successes”.
“This mid-term review is an important step in realizing Huu-ay-aht’s vision of welcoming and keeping children in the love, care and culture of the family and community,” said Maegen Giltrow, social committee member and legal advisor. “It is very gratifying to see that 64 percent of Huu-ay-aht citizens who responded said they felt that their family’s safety was compared with the Huu-ay-aht Social Services Project has improved significantly compared to the previous year. The evaluation is also an important guide for the extensive work ahead of us. “
Amid the data collected, 32 percent of those surveyed in Huu-ay-aht said the social services project “greatly improved” their family’s safety. Another 32 percent said the project had “made some improvement” and 36 percent said there had been “no improvement”.
When respondents were asked if they felt more supported in terms of community, culture and cultural identity, 59 percent answered “yes”.
In November 2016 there were a total of 220 Huu-ay-aht children under the age of 17. Nine of them were in the extended family and 25 in an external foster family. In 2018 this number rose to 48 children in care. For comparison: In January 2021 there were a total of 271 Huu-ay-aht children. While 16 stayed in the extended family, only seven were in an external foster family – a number that varies from month to month and has dropped to one in 2020.
The success of the project was also measured by the number of Huu-ay-aht members who, on average, sought support between 79 and 94 people per month over the past three months. This has reduced the number of children in temporary care to one, according to the nation.
These supports are offered to all Huu-ay-aht citizens, regardless of where they live, and the staff work to ensure that all children being cared for have contact with family, culture and the nation.
While the interim evaluation of the project showed progress, 26 priorities were outlined. At the top of the list was securing the resources for the Oomiiqsu (mother center) in Port Alberni.
“The Oomiiqsu Mother Center is our top priority,” said Huu-ay-aht Councilor Edward R. Johnson. “And to further promote our culture among our citizens. That was a huge demand. “
Oomiiqsu, which means “mother” in Nuu-chah-nulth, emerged from one of the 30 recommendations outlined in the 2017 Social Service Project Report. Modeled on the Vancouver Aboriginal Mother Center, it will host a 12-unit residential program for mothers and their children under the age of 12.
Access to cultural leaders and elders enables families to practice their traditions and learn more about their cultural values in an environment where they are supported. By focusing on early intervention, the center will provide guidance and tools to hold families together and prevent children from being cared for, Huu-ay-aht First Nations said in a press release.
There is an over-representation of indigenous children cared for across the country. Although Indigenous children in Canada make up only 7.7 percent of all youth under the age of 14, they make up 52 percent of children in nursing homes, according to the 2016 census.
The effects of generational trauma and the aftermath of the boarding school system are some of the factors that led to this overrepresentation, Johnson said.
“It’s important that we hear what’s important to our people and those who help raise our children,” Johnson said in a press release. “We are happy to have heard from so many people and this will help us move the program forward to ensure we meet the needs of the community so that we can achieve our goal of bringing our people home and our children keep their nation safe and in touch. “
The results of the evaluation will serve as a guide for the further program and serve as a benchmark for future evaluations.
“It is encouraging to see the results of this evaluation, as they show that we are on the right track,” said Tayii Ḥaw̓ił ƛiišin, Head of the Derek Peters Estate. “We must keep moving forward with our old and modern minds as we honor our sacred principles ʔiisaak (highest respect), ʔuuʔałuk (care), and Hišuk ma c̕awak (all is one).”
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Child protection Indigenous people
