By SooToday.com Staff
SooToday.com
Monday, November 02, 2009

NEWS RELEASE

UNION OF
ONTARIO INDIANS

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New law being developed will protect Anishinabek children

UOI OFFICES - (November 2, 2009) - The Anishinabek Nation is taking the first step in developing an Anishinabek Nation Child Welfare Law.

Union of Ontario Indians’ Social Services Director Adrienne Pelletier says that she encourages all Anishinabek to become part of the creation of a child welfare law.

“It’s important that we get as many people as possible to these consultation sessions,” says Pelletier. “Everyone has experience with or knows about child welfare in their community. It’s time to get involved and participate in our children’s future.”

Currently, child welfare in Ontario is governed by provincial law under the Child and Family Services Act.

“Adequate standards of care” established by Ontario is primarily based on mainstream society standards only, with little or no consideration or notions of the importance of extended family and the whole community to Anishinabek.

This is the seventh in a series of consultations sessions across the Anishinabek Territory.

The last session will be in Toronto on November 18 and 19.

What

Anishinabek Nation child welfare law development session

Who

Deputy Grand Council Chief Glen Hare, Union of Ontario Indians, community members.

Where

Ojibways of Garden River First Nation, Community Centre, 6 Shingwauk Street, Garden River First Nation

When

November 4 and 5, 9 a.m.

The Anishinabek Nation formed the Union of Ontario Indians as its secretariat in 1949.

The UOI is a political advocate for 41 member First Nations across Ontario.

The Union of Ontario Indians is the oldest political organization in Ontario and can trace its roots back to the Confederacy of Three Fires, which existed long before European contact.

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