Welcome Message from Chief Executive Officer

As we release the 2010/2011 Annual General Report it is important to reflect on the vision of the AJI report. This report recognized the importance of ensuring community control over child welfare services through services provided by our own people.

What is in the best interests of the child is a healthy community. Removing children, as was done in the past, cannot produce healthy communities. Solutions are needed that protect Aboriginal children, while sustaining the health of the communities. Aboriginal agencies believe it is not possible to “choose” between the best interests of the child and the best interests of the community; the one profoundly affects the other. (AJI Report, Chapter 14)

This vision underlines the tremendous changes that the child welfare system has undertaken over the past nine years with the proclamation of the Authorities Act and the complete re-organization of the child welfare system in Manitoba. As the AJI report reminds us, we all have a role in building healthy children, families and communities.

Over the past year the Northern Authority has worked towards refining and redefining the relationship between ourselves, MKO, the Province of Manitoba and Aboriginal leaders resulting in increased clarity for the Authority in its work. The Authority has also strengthened their relationship with cultural leaders through the development of an Elders Council for the ongoing development of culturally appropriate standards for Northern Agencies.

The Northern Authority has also worked towards building stronger relationships with its agencies by working with them to ensure that their agencies have the resources they need to undertake the important work that they do. This has included working with agencies to develop business plans that will eventually result in increased funding for prevention services and supporting agencies in advocating for the children in their care.

Building a strong system also includes evaluating our work on a regular basis. In the past year, the Northern Authority has completed a Quality Assurance review of AWASIS and began a review of Island Lake Child and Family Services. AWASIS is currently working on implementing the recommendations of the AWASIS report. While this is sometimes a difficult process for the agency’s that are involved, the results of these reviews will strengthen the whole system and provide better overall care for Northern First Nation Families.

In closing I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the staff for their diligent work and board of the Northern Authority and Agency Directors for their continued support and leadership.

Ekosi,
Ron Monias, Chief Executive Officer