Page 59 - Six Nations Community Plan 2019

Measuring Progress

• Greater understanding of lineage and clan • More self-sustaining families free from external
family where possible intervention into child welfare
• Strong and united family units

Key Challenges And Concerns

• The effects of residential schools and generations that did not learn to parent affect families today, trauma is passed on in
terms of abuse, domestic violence, neglect, sexual assault and parents not teaching life skills
• External interference into how we parent our children has disrupted our families
• Current punishment-based approach to parents involved in crime or substance abuse losing and gaining custody has impact
on children - does not give stable, nurturing love that children need
• Families do not gather as much anymore
• By separating elders into isolated housing, we lose our best teachers

Suggested Lead Partners

• Health Services • Birthing Centre • Housing • Ogwadeni:deo
• Social Services • Ganohkwasra • Justice • Schools

Timeline

OBJECTIVES STATUS IN 2019
Expand programs which wrap Programs needed to teach life skills and how to safely and respectfully raise
around young families disciplined children. Several programs are available but young parents still in need of
greater support and role-modeling
SHORT Build supportive transitional New development in Ohsweken will merge services that families need and offer a range
(2019-2024) housing hubs of housing so families can heal together. Further land and resources required to create
more hubs throughout the community.
Expand Family Mediation Ogwadeni:deo and Justice offer mediation services, but there is limited participation
services and commitment from community members as these avenues can be more
emotionally demanding than other interventions.
Development of Ogwadenni:deo, (Taking Care of our Own) framework gives Six
MEDIUM Continue to advocate for Nations ability to have own Indigenous CAS and focus on both prevention and
legislative change that reflects
protection. Further changes needed to put care in the hands of our community.
(2025-2029) our approach to child welfare Traditional Family values central in Birthing Centre but more resources needed to
provide service to more mothers.
Need to build places where families can live more communally, care for each other,
share responsibilities of making a home. People need to be well enough to live like this
Build Family Longhouses but living like this would help healing. If a parent struggles with substances or crime,
LONG child could still have stability of broader family. Would cross generations, elder and
(2030-2039) youth living together: “Clan-dos” (see Goal: Housing).
Eventually our objective is to have our own law or standard that describes how we
Develop our own child welfare law
raise our children to keep families together and provide stability for children.

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