The board of the First Nations of Northern Manitoba Child and Family Services Authority (Northern Authority) was reinstated July 28, about two-and-a-half years after administration of the organization was handed over to former Crown counsel Issie Frost in November 2014.
“One of my highest priorities when I was elected as grand chief in September 2015 was to have Manitoba lift the order of administration over the Northern Authority that had been in place since November 2014,” said Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson in a July 28 press release. “I want to acknowledge and thank [Families] Minister [Scott] Fielding for his leadership and partnership in ensuring progress along the roadmap toward MKO’s priority to reinstate the board of the Northern Authority. It is time that the Northern Authority resumes its role and authority to work toward the well-being of the children and families of the MKO First Nations. Having First Nation authority over the well-being of our children and families is fundamental to supporting healthy families and communities. We can now move forward knowing that decisions over our children in our MKO communities will be made from the perspective of northern First Nations guided by the wisdom and experience of our board members.”
“I am extremely pleased with the collaborative working relationship that has been established between MKO, the Northern Authority and my department,” Fielding said. “I think we both recognize the great progress we have achieved over the last six months working in partnership together. I would like to personally thank Grand Chief North Wilson, O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation Chief Chris Baker and all of our officials who have worked together in partnership over the last number of months to resolve issues and let us achieve our mutually shared goal of lifting the order of administration.”
The directors of the Northern Authority appointed by MKO are Denise Packo for Cree Nation Child and Family Caring Agency, William G. Lathlin for Opaskwayak Cree Nation Child and Family Services, Michael Yellowback for Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba, Dr. Sydney Garrioch for Nikan Awasisak Agency, Daisy Monias, for Kinosao Sipi Minisowin Agency and Inez Vystrcil-Spence for Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Family and Community Wellness Centre. Packo, Garrioch, Monias and Vystrcil-Spence were members of the board when the province took over administration of the Northern Authority until it was in compliance with the Child and Family Services Act and had met the recommendations of independent reports and reviews.
“I want to acknowledge and thank Dr. Sydney Garrioch, the chair-designate of the Northern Authority board, Ron Monias, the chief executive officer for the Northern Authority and all of the persons who have put themselves forward for nomination by the northern agencies as directors,” said Baker, MKO portfolio chief for children and families. “I also acknowledge and thank the many MKO and provincial officials involved for their dedication and commitment to developing and seeing through each step in the process to reinstate the Northern Authority board.”
Recently elected Assembly of Manitoba Chief (AMC) Grand Chief Arlen Dumas, who has been chief of Mathias Colomb Cree Nation in Pukatawagan since 2008, applauded the board’s reinstatement.
“I am aware of the challenges and the limitations of decision making of the Northern Authority under the administration of Manitoba,” Dumas said. “The lifting of the administration order is a step forward for the Northern Manitoba leadership to make decisions that are reflective of our traditions and ensuring that children are kept together either through kinship or in the communities. The AMC fully supports the MKO in its resolution of the administration order. I look forward to be working together with MKO on First Nations child and family matters to achieve the reunification and strengthening of First Nations families.”
The Northern Authority oversees seven agencies, including the Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba, Cree Nation Child & Family Caring Agency, Island Lake First Nations Family Services, Kinosao Sipi Minisowin Agency, Nisan Awasisak Agency Inc., Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation FCWC and Opaskwayak Cree Nation Child & Family Services.
