September 23,1999

Open House
3680 East Hastings, Vancouver
Federation of Aboriginal Foster Parents

Fostering Culture, Self-determination and
Healthy Aboriginal Communities
by Tehaliwaskénhas-Bob Kennedy

"Congratulations, this is a wonderful day!". Normally you might be tempted to dismiss the words as something a cabinet minister's speechwriter crafted because he or she thought they would 'fit' the occasion. But not today, as Lois Boone, BC's Minister for Children and Families addresses the official open house gathering of the Federation of Aboriginal Foster Parents. Minister Boone, once herself a foster mother many years ago, really means what she says.

In an important step toward rebuilding aboriginal communities and restoring the health and well being of aboriginal families, she joined community members in celebrating the official opening of the Federation's offices on Vancouver's East Hastings Street, "This new federation illustrates government's commitment to work in partnership with aboriginal communities and enhances the quality of foster care for aboriginal children in B.C., said Boone.

This Vancouver gathering was a welcome relief for the minister, especially when you consider all the flack her ministry usually receives. One of those 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' roles the government has to play, to try to do the right thing when it comes to protecting children.

In aboriginal country we refer to the 'scoop', often. Government social workers scooping our children. We don't like it, never have, whether it was residential schools or foster homes or convenience adoptions. Convenient for the non-aboriginals! For the most part, Lois Boone and her ministry staff will have to accept the thankless nature of what they do.

However, for aboriginal people times are changing.It seems to me to be a little known fact that in British Columbia, the Child, Family & Community Service Act recognizes the importance of an aboriginal child's cultural identity. It acknowledges that extended families and aboriginal communities have a central role in preserving that identity, and it provides opportunities for aboriginal communities to take greater responsibility for planning and delivering services to aboriginal families and children. The Federation of Aboriginal Foster Parents certainly is a clear manifestation of the plan to move toward the self determination of aboriginal people when it comes to their children and families.

Tom Lalonde, interim chair for the federation, and the executive director of Métis Family Services, praised the province's efforts to involve aboriginal people in a meaningful way in the implementation and development of the Federation of Aboriginal Foster Parents. "It is crucial for the well being of aboriginal families and our communities that we strive, whenever possible, to place aboriginal children in homes within the aboriginal community," said Lalonde.

Minister Boone's support for the Federation, and Lalonde's praise for her support, flow from something else that is not widely known,yet. The commitment to implement the ministry's Strategic Plan for Aboriginal Services. It's a plan to ensure aboriginal communities are involved in activities under the Act as much as possible.

"My ministry recognizes, and is committed to, ensuring that an aboriginal child's cultural identity is maintained," said Boone. "I also acknowledge that the federation plays a vital role in assisting in the recruitment and support of aboriginal foster families." The ministry is working to increase the number of aboriginal foster homes in B.C. to help strengthen the connection between children and their community.

A goal of the Strategic Plan is to strengthen the capacity and authority of Aboriginal communities to develop and deliver services for their children and families. Translated --- to me that means plenty of hard work ahead for the aboriginal community, on and off-reserve. There will be more to report in future editions.

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