METIS CHILD & FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES

PRIORITIES

  • Reduce the number of Metis children in care.
  • Assist families whose children are in care.
  • To prevent children coming into care.
  • To assist in the reunification of children and families.
  • To support extended families.
  • To promote and enable Metis families in becoming foster and adoptive parents.
  • To refer and advocate appropriate services for Metis people.
  • To assist and support individuals and families.

PROGRAM AREAS

  • Reunification: Working with children and families who are wishing to re-establish their
    family unit.
  • Client & Family Support: Working with individuals and families on a variety of issues. Including but not limited to issues relating to: teen and elder issues, income security, housing, court issues, family violence, health, and parenting issues.
  • Foster Care & Adoption services: Working with individuals and families that are interested in either becoming Foster or Adoptive parents.
  • Referral & Advocacy: Assisting individuals and families accessing and utilizing assorted services.

MISSION STATEMENT

  • To support in a culturally appropriate manner, the well being of Metis families of Manitoba and to assist in the development of self-determination of the Metis nation in Manitoba in the area of child and family services.

GOALS

  • To reduce the number of Metis children in care.
  • To work with communities and service organizations on social issues that strive to improve conditions for Metis children and families.

OBJECTIVES

  • Identifying issues relating to the delivery of services under the Child and Family Services Act to Metis people and communities.
  • Assist Metis people and communities in exercising their individual and collective right to culturally appropriate prevention and support services.
  • Empower Metis people and communities to participate in discussions affecting their lives and develop innovative solutions to assist families and protect children.
  • Facilitate communication between Metis people and service providers to prevent misunderstandings and to resolve disputes in the best interest of Metis children.
  • Recruit Metis foster and adoption homes and other Metis specific resources for Metis children and their families.
  • Assist agencies in the development of cultural identity programs for Metis children in care.
  • Facilitate the repatriation of Metis children and adults who were placed for adoption and who wish to reunite with their families of origin, as resources allow.
  • Implement programs with existing service concerning Metis children in care and their families.
  • Monitor Metis children and families receiving services and Metis children in the care of agencies.

REPATRIATION

  • In early 1982, information was made public revealing the significant number of Aboriginal children being placed into the United States for adoption into non-aboriginal families. The Manitoba Metis Federation Inc. successfully lobbied the Province of Manitoba to establish a moratorium to cease the exportation of Metis children. Some of these children are searching for their biological roots, some are searching for a sense of their identity. Many members from the biological family (parents, siblings, grandparents) are searching also. As there continues to be no funding or resources available to assist individuals who wish to connect to their homeland and families we have begun the process to fundraise and promote this issue in other respects.

The "Lost Moccasin" campaign is the significant step in this initiative in addressing the need for awareness and providing initial resources to the plight of these individuals and families.
The "Lost Moccasins" campaign utilizes a crafted miniature model to be worn on lapels and blouses.
The Moccasin represents the hope of children and adults wishing to reestablish or discover the ties to their natural family and communities.

A Heart for Children
One hundred years from now
it will not matter
what kind of car I drove
what kind of house I lived in
how much I had in the bank
nor what my clothes looked like.

One hundred years from now
it will not matter
what kind of school I attended
what kind of typewriter I used
how large or small my church

But the world may be
...a little better because...
I was important in
the life of a child.

Source unknown

 

For more information contact Penny Fleming
at our Interlake Regional Office at (204) 646-2706.