First Nations moving forward with infrastructure for child and family services – The Spec
March 26, 2025
By Pearl Lorentzen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Lakeside Leader
Three ‘back lakes’ First Nations are moving forward with the infrastructure stage of protecting children under a child and family law created by the First Nations. On April 11, 2023, Loon River First Nation, Lubicon Lake Band, and Peerless Trout First Nation (PTFN) signed an agreement with the governments of Canada and Alberta for these three nations to protect children under their own laws. These are three of the First Nations within the Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council (KTC). On May 12, 2023, KTC Child and Family Services (KTCCFS) started protecting children under that law, which is called Awas’ak Wiyasiwewin Child Law. This included re-branding KTCCFS as Awas’ak Family Services and setting up temporary offices on and off-reserve. Part of the agreement is a seven-year commitment from the Government of Canada to provide the infrastructure needed to run the programs laid out in the Awas’ak Wiyasiwewin Child Law, which has a much broader focus than provincial or federal child safety laws. Awas’ak protects children who are members of the three First Nations on and off reserve. In communities, with a high population of members, Awas’ak has offices, and is working on adding more infrastructure. Gladys Okemow is the onikanew, which is similar to the government minister in chrge of the program. Onikanew is Cree for ‘a leader,’ says Okemow. “Me and Mona (Auger, Awas’ak executive director) work side by side,” says Okemow. “She’s the agency that we signed a service agreement with, so she does the day to day. I’m also the children’s advocate.” The Awas’ak Wiyasiwewin Infrastructure Project has several phases. It is in the feasibility stage. This includes community engagements with members of the three nations to find out what communities want.
