Circle of History made with Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services

April 20, 2021
From left: The Executive Director of Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services Joanne Koehler with Head Elder Joyce Tabobundung and Ryan Tabobundung, the Board President of Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations. – Submitted photo by Shayla Brunet.

By Kelly Anne Smith

DOKIS FIRST NATION— A small ceremony was held in Parry Sound on April 1, celebrating the historical achievement of Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services receiving a children’s aid society designation.

“We are now a recognized child welfare authority in the province of Ontario,” says Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services Executive Director Joanne Koehler. “We service six First Nation communities and we service any other Indigenous people within our jurisdiction.”

All Indigenous children, youth and families in the First Nations of Dokis, Henvey Inlet, Magnetawan, Shawanaga, Wasauksing, and Wahnapitae can access culturally-centred protection, prevention, advocacy and care with Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services.

“We were issued authority from the ministry of community and social service as a child welfare protection agency within our jurisdiction of Nipissing Parry Sound,” Koehler explains. “We were a predesignated agency, and that took us four-and-half years to go through the ministry requirements.”

The five-stage process for Niijaansinaanik began in December 2016 with building the organizational capacity and infrastructure necessary to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. The head office is in Dokis First Nation.

From left: The president of the board of directors of Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services and Chief of Magnetawan First Nation, William Diablo with Chief Gerry Duquette of Dokis First Nation. -Submitted photo by Shayla Brunet.

The agency worked with each community while developing protocols; respecting values and beliefs and ways of doing things.

Koehler says the focus and progression of Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services.

“We are here to provide a service to families that are seeking any kind of preventions that will hopefully not have them involved in child welfare protection services,” she explains. “Our organization has been doing it for four-and-half years and for the last two years, we’ve been providing services as a predesignated agency.”

“When there are child protection concerns, we become involved,” Koehler adds. “But we do offer prevention services from a culturally congruent lens that is different from that of a non-native child welfare agency… Focusing on prevention is our main focus.”