Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta Annual Report 2011-12

Canada and the First Nations Historical TimelineThe Chiefs in Assembly agreed that more work and communication needed to happen before considering aTripartite MOU on CFYS. The PTO’s informed the Province and the Federal government about the concernsexpressed by the Alberta Chiefs.The Delegated First Nation Agency (DFNA) directors met with the Treaty 8 Chiefs on March 16th to provide themwith an update and recommendations to go forward on addressing the outstanding concerns on Child, Family &Youth Services. The following are some of the recommendations tabled with the Treaty 8 Chiefs in Assembly:• Band Designate to be a full-time paid position• Foster parents must acknowledge foster homes are short term placements and case workers responsibleto find First Nation family members willing to care for the First Nation Children• A Treaty 8 representative needs to be appointed to the Administrative Review & Appeal panel• An off-reserve office established to case manage off reserve First Nation Children in-care• Develop a business plan for an off-reserve office based on best practices of the DFNA’s• Band Council Resolutions to be included with Private Guardianship applications & orders• Cultural plans to be developed along with Private Guardianship applications• Band Designate to be responsible for off-reserve parent consent formsIn January 2012, the Federal and Provincial government approved Work plans and budgets for the 3 Treaty areasto conduct community information gathering sessions on CFYS. The recommendations brought forward from theCommunity sessions reiterate what the DFNA Directors are saying:• Making the Band Designate position a paid full time position• Identify children in care from the Treaty 8 First Nations who are currently residing in other Provinces.• Explore the Child & Family Services legislative Acts and policies and provide a summary of theirinvolvement with First Nations communities.• Potential to develop a First Nations Child & Family services Act• DFNA case workers should be Registered Social Workers• An off-reserve office established to ensure children in-care have kinship or community care• Repatriation of Children in-careThe Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta extends their thank you and appreciation to the Treaty 8 DFNA’s Directors fortheir support, expertise and recommendations to improve services for children in-care.Page 8