Keeping children in care connected to indigenous culture critical, government panel told – Edmonton Sun
Representatives from Treaty 6 First Nations stressed the importance Monday of preserving children’s cultural ties when they end up in the child intervention system.
“We find a lot of our youth are lost because they have no sense of identity,” said Loiselle Arcand, the band designate for Alexander First Nation.
Arcand wants to make sure First Nations children don’t emerge from the foster care system as strangers to their own communities.
Eleven other designates from Treaty 6 nations were present, with most of them emphasizing the importance of culture and consultation. A band’s designate is the primary point of contact for the government after a child has been taken into the foster care system.
