Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services celebrates new building

By Kelly Anne Smith

NIPISSING FIRST NATION – Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services has moved into a brand new custom-built establishment equipped with the first elevator on Nipissing First Nation.

At the sunny celebratory grand opening during the Armed Forces Day air show June 19, staff joined in the gathering for speeches. Dignitaries included Elders Audrey Tabobondung from Wasauksing First Nation, Leslie Noganosh from Magnetawan First Nation, Tony Tyson from Wahnapitae First Nation, Veroncia Dokis from Dokis First Nation, Grace and Irwn Contin from Henvey Inlet First Nation, and guest Elder Doris Tabobondung from Wasauksing First Nation. Head Elder Joyce Tabobondung of Wasauksing First Nation gave her kind words before the feast.

The new building was erected by Natalie Payette-Chevrier and Doug Chevrier of Nipissing First Nation. Natalie had the opportunity to work with Joyce Tabobondung’s mother Flora when she was with the Elders Council working on a nation-building project. Flora had the vision of Niijaansinaanik many years ago.

Natalie Payette-Chevrier says she offered to construct the building according to the needs of the agency.

“They had specific things that they needed. I said, ‘You need your boardroom, you need your kitchen, and the elevator’. Joanne was ecstatic and so grateful. I was moved to keep going. This is the day that I’m excited for them. They’re all amalgamated into one building, feeling that they are being recognized and respected as people that work extremely hard for the work they do. We need those workers and we need them to stay healthy in a beautiful healthy environment and look forward to coming to work.”

Executive Director of Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services Joanne Koehler is full of appreciation for Natalie, saying, “We wouldn’t have this if it wasn’t for her.”

“When we were looking for space in the North Bay area, it was very costly. And we really wanted to be on a First Nation. We are very happy that we found our space up at the Eagle’s Nest initially. Natalie knew that we were a new agency. She really, really supported what we were doing and at the time, we were so much smaller.”

There are now 130 staff at Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services. The Executive Director acknowledged all the personnel at the grand opening.

“The great deal of staff here are our service staff. We have service staff down the 69 corridor, but this is a core part of our service staff.  We have administrative staff. We have HR staff. I’m really happy we are in a nice working space.”

Chief Lloyd Mike of Magnetawan First Nation called it an honour to sit on the board of Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services.

“I was one of the founding members and Chiefs when this was just an idea on a piece of paper at our table. To see where it’s come and where we are today with a great sense of pride inside to see what we created, what we’ve done, and where we’re going. We’re going in the right direction for our children. It’s such a great day to celebrate that and be thankful.”

Board president is Marnie Anderson of Wahnapitae First Nation.

“I don’t know if you know, but we are known for the lowest number of kids in care in the province of Ontario.”

“For us, this is a goal that is important because we know the value of keeping kids at home. But having a building like this really helps us to offer services and provide a safe roof to be able to deliver good services.”

Joanne Koehler, who is from Batchewana First Nation, explained further, saying the agency is proud of having a high number of customary care homes and children placed there with family or friends or kinship rather than kids in care.

“When we talk about the lowest number of children in care, it’s more about the alternate solutions rather than being about children in care. And I speak about customary care and kinship care. Since we’ve been designated, we’ve changed it around so that the high number of children that we have in customary care and kinship care, if they weren’t in those sorts of placements, they’d all be children in care. And when you are a child in care, there’s court that’s attached to it in a very short time frame with ministry standards that require more intrusive measures.”

The Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services code of ethics is rooted in the Anishinabek culture and the Seven Grandfather Teachings of Love, Respect, Bravery, Truth, Honesty, Humility, and Wisdom.

Perry McLeod-Shabogesic of Nipissing First Nation is the Director of Traditional Programming, what he calls a fancy title for an Oshkabewis, a traditional helper. There is a team of traditional helpers at Niijaansinaanik, which started with culture at its core, says McLeod-Shabogesic.

“Joanne gave me space to provide services which are to support families through cultural means, to bring ceremony back to the family. And helping them, in terms of those ceremonies, in things like their naming ceremonies, finding their name, finding their clan and their colours, doing ceremony circles as a part of their well-being,” says McLeod-Shabogesic. “Families will come into need through the process. We’re part of it to find out where they’re at culturally and what are some of the things they might be looking for. Maybe we can suggest things and begin to build them up in that aspect. We have other programs that build them up in other ways. Our responsibility is with the culture and so we try to make sure we accommodate that for families to grow, stay together. And for families who have sort of broken up, to bring them back together as a family using culture, tradition, and land-based activities as a means to do that. That natural process of family coming together and growing together. I like to say we walk with families. We walk with them until we are no longer needed and then we will be not too far away and continue to be there for them if they need us. The goal is for them to walk together as a family.”

Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services serves Dokis First Nation, Henvey Inlet First Nation, Magnetawan First Nation, Shawanaga First Nation, Wahnapitae First Nation, and Wasauksing First Nation.

The new building occupied by Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Service is situated at 81 Hwy 17B, North Bay, next door to Golden Harvest and Mukwa Studio. Expansion in the Chevriers’ small business park is set to continue.