IICRD is working closely with Aboriginal communities across BC to develop culturally and community based systems to support children and families.
Nenan Dane_zaa Deh Zona Family Services is an organization in accordance with the BC Societies Act, with a mandate from the Treaty 8 First Nations leadership and urban Aboriginal peoples and organizations of the north-east of British Columbia to develop a new model of jurisdiction for governance, services and quality assurance. This historic endeavour will enable First Nations, Aboriginal and Métis peoples to reclaim responsibility and authority for services and resources that are presently the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD).
In order to gather insight into each community’s local context including strengths, needs, culture and traditional practices, Nenan is engaged in the River of Unity: Community Empowerment Process. Utilizing the IICRD’s Circle of Rights methodology, young people, parents, community members, Elders and service providers are engaged in an assessment of their own strengths and challenges in supporting their children and families. From there the community plays an integral role in developing services that build from their strengths to address their needs.
IICRD held over seventy sessions in communities, gathering invaluable information and teachings to guide the development of a new community-based and culturally grounded service delivery model. Next, communities will be engaged in analysing the information and developing action plans or solutions to issues that emerge. Thus, communities direct the development of services and, through their involvement, their capacity to support their families is enhanced.
Impact
• Circle of Rights and Community Development training;
• Program support implementing the Triple “A” with youth, Elders, family members and child focused professionals in 14 First Nations, Métis and Urban Aboriginal communities in the North Eastern BC, and
• Policy, service delivery system and governance structure development, guided by local communities in a strength based and culturally relevant manner
The Triple “A” uses a set of tools rooted in IICRD’s Developmental Child Rights Approach - a “bottom up” - “top down” systems change strategy to create positive
