The Prince Albert Grand Council is looking to recruit 50 families to participate in a one-year foster program to place First Nations and Métis children in culturally relevant homes.
“We need to have our children learning their culture, learning their language and they would do better being in First Nations and Métis homes,” said Prince Albert Grand Council Executive Director Al Ducharme.
Ducharme is not putting down current foster families.
The program was developed in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls for Action directed at child welfare reform, specifically affirming the right of First Nation governments to establish and maintain their own child welfare agencies.
“Our children are disproportionally represented in the foster care system, and we have taken it as our responsibility to ensure that our children in need have culturally similar homes,” explained Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte. “It’s a necessary step we are taking to address the disconnection and damage caused by the current system along with the intergenerational effects that stem from the Indian residential schools and 60s Scoop.”
Its estimated that approximately 300 First Nations and Metis children need foster care in the Prince Albert area.
Currently, the PAGC has recruited a few families for the pilot program.
Ducharme says it is difficult to recruit families, as other northern agencies too are recruiting.
“We hope to hit ten, and if we hit that we’ll be happy. The problem is we’re looking for foster homes the same time as La Ronge, Peter Ballantyne, Meadow Lake, Athabasca and Montreal Lake,” Ducharme said.
He said the program a success if the PAGC recruited 20 families.