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FORT McMURRAY — Chipewyan Prairie First Nation and the Athabasca Tribal Council have introduced what they describe as a new legal approach aimed at ensuring First Nation children remain connected to their culture, language and community when placed under private guardianship.
The organizations say a recent court proceeding resulted in a legally enforceable Cultural Plan being incorporated into a private guardianship order, setting out how a child will maintain connections to their First Nation, family, language and culture throughout their life.
The initiative was developed by Chipewyan Prairie First Nation and the Athabasca Tribal Council’s Child and Family Services department.
Chief Vern Janvier of Chipewyan Prairie First Nation said the goal is to ensure children maintain strong ties to their community and identity.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that our children know their family, hear their language, spend time on the land, and grow up knowing they are a Chipweyan Prairie First Nation community member,” Janvier said in a statement.
Athabasca Tribal Council President and Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam said the approach demonstrates how Alberta’s existing legal system can be used to help protect the cultural identity of First Nation children while First Nations continue developing their own child and family laws.
The organizations say guardians under private guardianship arrangements have historically not been legally required to maintain a child’s connection to their First Nation community or culture.
Athabasca Tribal Council chief executive officer Karla Buffalo said incorporating a Cultural Plan into a court order makes those cultural connections legally enforceable.
“It has been left to the goodwill of the guardian to maintain this connection,” Buffalo said. “This court order, now legally enforceable, requires guardians to maintain this connection, nurturing our children’s pride and identity in their home First Nation community and culture.”
The Athabasca Tribal Council said it plans to continue working with its member Nations to develop Nation-led child and family laws grounded in Cree and Dene legal traditions, values and cultures.
The council said the work is guided by the principle that every child should remain connected to their identity, family, language, culture, Nation and the places where they belong.
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