Nogdawindamin celebrates receiving official designation
By Leslie Knibbs
SERPENT RIVER FIRST NATION—At a designation celebration recognizing Nogdawindamin Family and Community Services (NOG) on May 19, Nicole True, Director of the North Region for the provincial Ministry of Child and Youth Services thanked NOG for their relentless dedication in attaining designation as the primary agency for First Nation child welfare on the North Shore.
“I have seen first-hand the need for culturally appropriate child care,” shared True in her address to the audience.
True is charged with overseeing child and youth services from James Bay to the Manitoba border and points south. She was presented with a framed limited edition print of “Man Changing into a Thunderbird” by famed Woodlands artist Norval Morrisseau.
The designation celebration was held at the Lifestyles Centre to honour the NOG’s taking over care and control of First Nation children’s well-being in the Algoma and Sudbury Districts, formerly under the umbrella of the Children’s Aid Society of Ontario.
“It’s a powerful day for me, long overdue and a milestone for the North Shore First Nations,” said NOG executive director Kerry Francis.
NOG took over the assignment of the children’s well-being authority for North Shore First Nations with official designation from the province on April 1 this year; First Nation families from Batchewana to Atikameksheng within Algoma and Sudbury Districts will now deal directly with NOG effectively ending a long and arguably troubled relationship with Algoma or Sudbury Children’s Aid Society.
NOG has now succeeded in recovering Child Welfare jurisdiction, an aspiration sought after when the agency was formed in 1990 and originally thought to be needed since concerns were raised in the early 90s.
Harvey Petahtegoose, a former Chief of Whitefish Lake, remembers being with other North Shore Chiefs including Earl Commanda 27 years ago when they started hearing concerns about the Children’s Aid Society from many families.
“We wanted to do something,” stated Petahtegoose.
“It’s good to be designated,” added Petahtegoose in reference to NOG. “There is a gradual turnover of caseloads [from the CAS] to NOG.”
A question he wonders about is whether or not the courts are automatically going to NOG (with cases previous to designation going to CAS).
Following opening prayer by SRFN Elder and poet Emma Meawasige, Dr. Roger Boyer, NOG Board President welcomed all for attending.
“We are ecstatic with the progress being made and the tremendously supportive stance our sister agencies have taken in assisting us to deliver on the promise of enlightened and culturally appropriate services,” expressed Dr. Boyer in a previous press release. “We have long known that mainstream agencies are challenged in delivering services in a manner consistent with our traditions and cultural beliefs, and it is heartening to see their willingness to embrace partnerships that will better serve the future of our people and our children.”
Local SRFN Chief Elaine Johnston welcomed everyone to her community.
“It is a good day for our families, our children and our communities,” stated Chief Johnston.
She added that over 10,000 people will be serviced by NOG with 11 offices from Sault Ste. Marie along the North Shore. Another office will open in Sudbury next month.
Elders welcomed everyone and congratulated NOG.
“There will be challenges, this is history in the making, it’s not going to be a smooth journey, there will be challenges but we will overcome [them],” stated Elder Harvey Bell from Batchewana to those who gathered. “Grand Council Chief Patrick Madhabee and Deputy Grand Chief Glen Hare recalled when the seeds were planted for a First Nations Child Welfare authority 27 years ago. Both Chiefs thanked those involved at the beginning of the process and complimented those who made ‘a major thrust over the last seven years pulling it all together’, enabling First Nations to ‘handle our own activities and our way of life’.”
Wishing NOG all the best, Chief Madhabee said, “You are resourceful and visionary.”
“This is a very amazing day for me,” noted Regional Chief Isadore Day, with his family close by, recalling the journey to this point of designation of NOG. “I have memories of this process.”
He acknowledged the original Chiefs and former NOG administrators responsible earlier in the journey to designation. Special thanks went to Earl Commanda and others. With his firm belief in nation building, Chief Day referred to the designation as “another step, a part of the nation building exercise.”
Executive Director of NOG, Kerry Francis gave a presentation acknowledging and thanking his team at NOG.
“We have arrived,” stated Francis as he received a standing ovation.
After referring to the hard work ahead to make sure services for the communities are delivered, Francis recognized the compass provided by the Elders.
For his work, Francis was given a Star Quilt, a high honour according to one of the Elders. Throughout the day, many others were gifted and acknowledged for their dedication and work towards reaching official designation. As is the case in a traditional gathering, a give-away and a drum song took place before closing with the retiring of the flags and a Travelling Song.