Keeping Huu-ay-aht children connected to their families

Press Release

Dec. 16, 2025

PORT ALBERNI –

Summary:

• Huu-ay-aht and the Province signed a child and family services agreement on Dec. 16, 2025, which will come into force on March 16, 2026
• This agreement helps keep Huu-ay-aht children and youth connected to their culture and community, and ensures the Nation has real involvement in planning for their children and families
• British Columbia has committed $30,000 to support this agreement

Members of Huu-ay-aht First Nations celebrated a significant milestone on Dec. 16, 2025, by signing a child and family services agreement, known as the yaaʔak̓apʷin (we are embracing) agreement, with the B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development.

“This agreement is an important step forward for Huu-ay-aht First Nations and for the Province,” said Jodie Wickens, Minister of Children and Family Development. “Children and youth flourish when the care and support around them are grounded in their own culture, traditions and identity, and that strengthens families and communities as a whole. This is meaningful progress on our shared journey toward reconciliation and I’m grateful to stand with the Huu-ay-aht people in marking this moment.”

Keeping children connected to culture

The agreement, whch will come into force March 16, 2026, will help guide interactions, planning and decision-making specific to child-welfare decisions, and support Huu-ay-aht children and youth to remain safely connected to their families, culture and community. It is an important milestone toward Huu-ay-aht’s full exercise of jurisdiction over child and family services, and reflects the unique traditions, language, history, values and guiding principles of Huu-ay-aht First Nations.

“This shared agreement marks a commitment to making decisions and delivering services that keep Huu-ay-aht children connected to their families and community,” said John Jack, Huu-ay-aht Chief Councillor. “Guided by Huu-ay-aht’s three sacred principles, ʔiisaak (Greater Respect), ʔuʔaałuk (Taking Care Of) and Hišukma c̕awaak (Everything is One), we work toward the same shared goal of ensuring families and children are safe, healthy and supported.”

Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, said: “We know all children and youth do better when they remain connected to family, community, and culture. This important agreement is another step toward Huu-ay-aht First Nations exercising jurisdiction over child and family services where kids and communities can thrive. Congratulations to all those involved for getting us where we are today.”

Outlining a path toward jurisdiction

British Columbia has committed to provide $30,000 to support Huu-ay-aht jurisdiction.

The shared interests that guided the co-development of this agreement include:

• Huu-ay-aht First Nations’ values, culture and traditions
• supporting Huu-ay-aht’s enhanced involvement in decision-making regarding their children
• a focus on prevention to ensure a child stays at home whenever possible, while also ensuring their safety
• providing culturally appropriate services

The agreement establishes a path forward that recognizes past, present and future generations of Huu-ay-aht First Nations, for whom raising healthy and thriving children is a fundamental right and core of their identity, responsibilities and law as Huu-ay-aht people.

Quick Facts:

• In November 2022, the Indigenous Self-Government in Child and Family Services Amendment Act (Bill 38) was passed and removed obstacles on the path toward jurisdiction for First Nation communities in B.C.
• B.C. is the first province in Canada to pass legislation recognizing that Indigenous Peoples have an inherent right of self-government, including providing child and family services under their own laws.

Learn More:

• Find out more about Huu-ay-aht First Nations here:
  https://huuayaht.org/
• Learn more about Indigenous child and family development here:
  https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/indigenous-people/supporting-communities/child-family-development
• Learn about Pathways to Indigenous jurisdiction here:
  https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/indigenous-people/supporting-communities/child-family-development/pathways-to-indigenous-jurisdiction

Contacts:

Corinna Filion
Media Relations
Ministry of Children and Family Development
Corinna.Filion@gov.bc.ca
250-882-0918

Amanda-Lee Cunningham
Communications Manager
Huu-ay-aht First Nations
amanda.c@huuayaht.org
250-720-7776

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