FCWCNEWSLETTER June 2013

NISICHAWAYASIHK FAMILY & COMMUNITY CREE NATION WELLNESS CENTRE

Executive Director Felix Walker.

In Retrospect:
After commissioners, the media and public heard months of testimony that pieced together a prole of Phoenix Sinclair, her caregivers and the events leading up to her death; it was Felix Walkers turn to testify. The Executive Director of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Family and Community Wellness Centre faced a tough crowd in this highly publicize case. Samantha Kematch, Phoenixs mother, and Carl McKay had already been convicted for beating the little girl to death in June 2006. That eventually led to the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry, commissioned to examine how

Executive Director talks about Child & Family Services and testifying at the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry
the Manitoba Child Welfare System failed to protect Phoenix who spent most of her life in foster care before being returned to Kematch. Now, a month after his testimony he recalls the problems with the system, including the changes made since Phoenixs death. He particularly takes issue with the Safety Determination Model which determines whether a child is in need of investigation. One of the issues that weve always had with the SDM model is that its slanted in a way that if youre Aboriginal, if youre living on reserve, you have more than two children, youre a single parent; your children are at risk. Thats racism, stereotypical responses, and thats why you see a huge number of children coming into care, particularly in Winnipeg. Manitoba has come up with a number of regulations that govern how Child and Family Services agencies interact and are involved with families. But Walker prefers a different approach, one that he spoke about at the inquiry. There are other ways and means to implement CFS on reserves and throughout Manitoba. Community-based solutions are the best ways to

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NISICHAWAYASIHK FAMILY & COMMUNITY CREE NATION WELLNESS CENTRE

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FCWCNEWSLETTER June 2013

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address some of the longstanding issues. The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Southern Chiefs Organization approached the executive director to provide testimony at the inquiry, and the FCWC was integral in demonstrating alternative ways to keep children safe. Under the new Family Enhanced Model that we are now starting to implement here at the Wellness Centre under the new funding model through INAC, we are in a much better position to provide services to prevent the number of children coming into care. Were now focused on keeping children at home with their parents as best we can. However there are circumstances where abuse has been identied and may have occurred and we have no choice but to apprehended. Many of FCWCs wards of the System who were in provincial care before 2005, are now adults. In 2005, the Centre was granted provincial jurisdiction and managed to decrease the number of children that come into care. In the last three years numbers are steady at about 200 children in care in Nelson House. About the same number is in care outside the community. Walker believes the best way to help children in the system is to bring them home. The FCWC is looking at purchasing three residential facilities in Nelson House and Thompson to transition into group homes. The four-bedroom homes would be managed by about six to 10 staff. Walker says it all comes back to the idea of taking care of our own here in the community. The FCWC and its many programs for parents and families would be that integral resource them. But now, as Walker looks back at the Phoenix Sinclair inquiry and the entire case, he hopes the correct changes will be made. Its unfortunate that the death of Phoenix Sinclair has materialized. The people responsible are in custody, they are serving life sentences for their part. But it also brings forth some of the shortfalls that weve always know have existed in the Child Welfare system in Manitoba. And were hoping that some of the recommendations that come of the Phoenix Sinclair inquiry will begin to close some of those gaps, place more emphasis on communitybased solutions to resolving some of these longstemming systemic issues facing our families and community, and that we start a process to actually start looking at all our citizens in all of our communities.

Phoenix Sinclair The ve-year-old from Fisher River First Nation spent most of her life in foster care before being returned to her mother. Her murder in 2006 sparked the longest and most intense inquiry by the province of Manitoba.

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Training the Trainer: Traditional Parenting Skills

Staff in various departments at the FCWC started their month with a three-day workshop on traditional family parenting. The workshop was developed by Janet Fox, a facilitator who believes that raising a child holistically, makes them better prepared to make positive choices. We followed the western world for too long and the statistics do not seem to be changing in terms of we still have high rates of child welfare. We do have a lot of healing programs in our communities but it still needs to have more cultural content because spirituality has always been left out. Fox, who is originally from Onion Lake Saskatchewan, has been a life skills coach for 15 years and has presented in more than 60 First Nations in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. She brought her presentation to FCWC because they have consistent contact and inuence on members of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation. Theyre working in areas where theyre able to reach the people, the clients. For example, the young mothers in Maternal Child Health, theyre able to pass these teachings now to the people that theyre working with. Fox demonstrated techniques our ancestors used when child rearing such as the importance of bonding, and using the Moss bag and swing. She says because of the historical trauma First Nations people

Janet Fox from Onion Lake Saskatchewan has been a life skills coach for 15 years and has presented in more than 60 First Nations in BC, Alberta, Manitoba and

experienced, these parenting skills were lost from generation to generation. Its something she says is vital to the way a person develops. Whatever happens to us in those early years can almost determine our future if we never go through a healing journey. At the end of the workshop staff presented ways to incorporate these techniques either within the workplace or through working with clients. Lynda Wright, Head of Public Health, suggests traditional values can be shared through modern means of communication. For

example, because youth in the community are active on social media sites like Facebook, its a great way to reach that audience. Charlene Spence of Counselling Services says ofces can initiate language learning every week. This means introducing staff to a phrase every week, teaching them the meaning and encouraging them to use it. Whatever the means, Fox says its all about raising the self esteem of people so they may heal and use those holistic approaches to raise children.

New Hire: Ashley Bobier

I was born and raised in Thompson, MB. I graduated from theUniversity College of theNorth/University of ManitobaBaccalaureate Nursing degree program in 2007. Since that time I have worked as a registered nurse invarious elds including public health, occupational health, and addictions. I have recently developed a passion for working with the older population and am looking forward to providing care to the people of NCN.

Ashley Bobier will be joining the FCWC team in the Home and Community Care Program.

FCWCNEWSLETTER June 2013

Nurses Week (May 10-16)

National Nursing Week was rst celebrated in 1985 to highlight nurses' contributions to the well-being of the Canadian public.In 1971, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) designated May 12, Florence Nightingales birthday, International Nurses Day.

Nelson House Councillor Darcy Linklater presents gifts from the Band Ofce to the nursing staff at the NCN Family and Community Wellness Centre.

Let them eat cake!

The FCWC would like to thank all the passionate, hardworking and committed nurses who dedicate their time and expertise to help the community. Thank you: Jean Johnson Lynda Wright Glenda Grey Tamara Dumas Trevor Thompson Becky North (casual) Launda Warren (casual)

FCWCNEWSLETTER

Congratulations: STARs first graduate

Kendall Spence graduated from the STAR FASD Prevention Program April 23, 2013.

NISICHAWAYASIHK FAMILY & COMMUNITY CREE NATION WELLNESS CENTRE

About
The Family and Community Wellness Centre was established to support holistic wellness by providing different opportunities to members of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation. The Centre provides services in Public Health, Child and Family Services, Counselling and other family and community needs programs. It has subofces in Winnipeg, Brandon, Thompson and South Indian Lake.

Vision
Nisichawayasihk Mithwayawin

Mission
In unity, we promote community awareness, empowerment, and a safe environment towards holistic wellness. ***For more information and resources on the FCWC visit our website ncncwellness.ca, or nd us on Facebook and Twitter.

14 Bay Road Drive Nelson House, MB R0B 1A0 Phone: (204) 484-2341 Fax: (204) 484-2351