Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba 25th Annual Report 2007 - 2008 AWASIS AGENCY OF NORTHERN MANITOBA Head Office Tataskweyak Cree Nation Split Lake, Manitoba Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba R0B 1P0 Shamattawa First Nation War Lake First Nation Telephone Number: (204) 342-2460 Shamattawa, Manitoba Ilford, Manitoba Fax Number: (204) 342-2449 R0B 1K0 R0B 0S0 Telephone Number: (204) 565-2569 Telephone Number: (204) 288-4315 Fax Number: (204) 565-2574 Fax Number: (204) 288-4371 Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba Barren Lands First Nation Bunibonibee First Nation Brochet, Manitoba Oxford House, Manitoba Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba R0B 0B0 R0B 1C0 York Factory First Nation 100 – 701 Thompson Drive Telephone Number: (204) 323-2300 Telephone Number: (204) 538-2622 York Landing, Manitoba Thompson, Manitoba Fax Number: (204) 323-2275 Fax Number: (204) 538-2647 R0B 2B0 R8N 2A2 Telephone Number: (204) 341-2021 Telephone Number: (204) 677-1500 Fax Number: (204) 341-2011 Fax Number: (204) 778-8428 Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba Toll Free Number: 1-800-667-4734 Cross Lake First Nation Fox Lake Cree Nation Cross Lake, Manitoba P.O. Box 239 R0B 0J0 Gillam, Manitoba Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba Telephone Number: (204) 676-3902 R0B 0L0 201 – 274 Smith Street Keewatinook Wechihiwewin Agency Fax Number: (204) 676-3251 Telephone Number: (204) 652-5684 Winnipeg, Manitoba 315 McGee Street Fax Number: (204) 652-6519 R3C 1K1 Winnipeg, Manitoba Telephone Number: (204) 987-9480 R3G 1M7 Fax Number: (204) 987-9489 Telephone Number: (204) 790-4400 Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba Fax Number: (204) 790-4410 God’s Lake Narrows First Nation Manto Sipi Cree Nation Toll Free Number: 1-877-429-2747 God’s Lake, Manitoba God’s River, Manitoba R0B 0M0 R0B 0N0 Telephone Number: (204) 335-2098 Telephone Number: (204) 366-2011 Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba Fax Number: (204) 335-2245 Fax Number: (204) 366-2282 Ka-We-Ci-Hit-To-Wak 55 Selkirk Avenue Thompson, Manitoba Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba R8N 0M5 Northlands Denesuline First Nation Sayisi Dene First Nation Telephone Number: (204) 677-1581 Lac Brochet, Manitoba Tadoule Lake, Manitoba Fax Number: (204) 677-1588 R0B 2E0 R0B 2C0 Telephone Number: (204) 337-2329 Telephone Number: (204) 684-2014 Fax Number: (204) 337-2331 Fax Number: (204) 684-2187 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chairperson’s Remarks ............................................................ Executive Director’s Remarks. ................................................ Philosophy ............................................................................... Purpose ..................................................................................... Vision and Mission Statement .................................................. Mandate .................................................................................... Executive Director – General Report ....................................... Director of Finance - Financial Report. ................................... Director of Operations - Statistical Report. .............................. Director of Administration Report ........................................... Legal Counsel – Legal Report. ................................................. On-Reserve Services – Unit Reports. ....................................... Off-Reserve Services – Unit Reports. ...................................... Program Report Children with Life Long Complex Medical Needs .............. Appendices ............................................................................... A) Board of Directors B) Staff C) Organization Structures D) First Nations-Awasis-Employee Relations E) Lines of Authority & Communication 1 Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba | 10th Annual Report 2007-2008 CHAIRPERSON’S REMARKS CHIEF GEORGE NEEPIN FOX LAKE CREE NATION Chiefs, Councilors, Elders, Youth, Staff and guests, Good morning and TANSI! I am honoured to welcome you to the Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba Annual General Meeting. As First Nations People we are reaching a most critical crossroads for our future. We have witnessed a pivotal historical moment when the Federal Government apologized for the treatment of our people by the shameful implementation of government policy that forcefully removed our children into the church run residential school system. We will continue to feel the ripples of the residential school aftermath for generations to come as the voices of the lost continue to echo from the past. The proof of this is in the increasing numbers of our children placed in our care. Overcoming the past will take a monumental effort, but is not unsurpassable. As a people we can achieve the impossible as we strive to gain equality in this nation which prides itself on a remarkable history of human rights. We want the results of this apology. First Nations children deserve our best efforts in achieving this result, the First Nations parents in our communities struggling to support their families deserve our best efforts, our youth who struggle with increasing social dysfunctions deserve our best efforts; and First Nations youth who drop out of school deserve our unwavering and committed encouragement and support to achieve their dreams. The result of this past systemic racism still prevails and touches our people. We continue daily to know the painful and lasting effects of family breakdowns, the dismal shame of poverty, suffering and human degradation. We continue to work on improving the safety, wellbeing and development of our communities, and our families. We continue to face the challenges associated with high levels of teenage pregnancy, suicidal behaviours, addictions, family violence, family breakdowns and the long term effects of fetal alcohol and mental health behavioral issues. 2 This is a challenge we will meet and overcome. We have a responsibility and obligation to those of our past, our present and our future. Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba | 10th Annual Report 2007-2008 With the words and expectations of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry – Child Welfare Initiative, we are working closer with the province to make certain no child is placed at risk. Awasis will be adapting over three hundred recommendations, the outcome of 6 reviews and inquires, these recommendations are developed with the expectation our children will receive a higher standard of care. The apology given to First Nations People by the Federal Government acknowledges a historic wrong in the creation of a system without our consultation or discussion, the AJI- CWI opened the door to a collective working arrangement to assure we as First Nations people are entitled to the provision of child and family services in a manner which honours our unique status in this province and respects our culture, language and traditions. We are developing strategic partnerships to face the legacies of the past, the irreversible pain and loss our communities have endured by the loss of generations of children, the family and social structures of our communities continue to be burdened by the residential school legacy. To address these issues, Awasis is working thoroughly, both at the individual and collective level, with the community, family and with the child or youth. We as First Nations people have been working diligently to ensure the past is acknowledged with the purpose of creating a stronger future for our children and youth so they may face the future with purpose and resilient resolve to overcome the painful legacies of the past. Such purpose and resilience will lead them to their rightful place in this nation of promise. We have developed a strong working partnership with the First Nations of Northern Manitoba Child and Family Services Authority at the Standing Committee level to clarify our position at the Standing Committee. Awasis has supported the new initiatives and policies of the Northern Authority and will continue to work in collaboration with our partner agencies in the north to oversee the development of a new policies and recommendations; to ensure they are reflective of First Nations cultural identity and honour the spirit and intent of the AJI_CWI. We must be vigilant to ensure the resolve and intent of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry is honoured and respected. This vigilance is founded upon the spirit and the intent of our ancestors, kept alive through our elders and will guide our leaders today so that the children we advocate for now will not have to do so for our grandchildren and their children tomorrow. 3 Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba | 10th Annual Report 2007-2008 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REMARKS DAVID MONIAS Chiefs, Councillors, Elders, Youth and Staff, good morning and welcome to the Annual General Meeting of Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba. I welcome the presence of our distinguished and dedicated Board of Directors and our honoured guests and dedicated staff. This morning we will review our past year of service, our successes and our ongoing and continuous efforts to ensure all children and youth in care of the Awasis Agency receive a high standard of care and protection. We perform our tasks as professionals, as compassionate caregivers, as mentors and guides to a child’s future. We are committed to developing healthy communities to ensure the development of healthy