September 24, 2022 – (Richmond, BC) – At Métis Nation British Columbia’s (MNBC) 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM), the first held in-person since the beginning of the COVID pandemic and the first-ever hybrid AGM, MNBC and Niwîķôwin Métis Family Services signed a joint commitment agreement.
The agreement commits to placing Métis children, youth, and families at the centre of all that both organizations do and honour the traditional concept of Awasisiwin, which means a good childhood for the future of our people.
In the agreement, MNBC will support Niwîķôwin Métis Family Services Society in achieving a delegation agreement with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD).
“One of our main objectives is to reduce the number of Métis children and youth in the care of the current system and support family preservation. We need to develop programs that help uplift our Métis children, youth and families, and this agreement is a great first-step in achieving this,” says Debra Fisher, MNBC Minister of Children and Families.
“This historic agreement will allow Niwîķôwin Métis Family Services Society to finally be brought into the Métis Nation to work collaboratively to help our Métis children, youth and families. For too long, Niwîķôwin Métis Family Services Society has done this work alone, and we are excited to partner with MNBC together,” says Evangeline Studney President of the Board, Niwîķôwin Métis Family Services Society.
The document represents a high-level commitment to work together to achieve these objectives. To this end, MNBC commits to work with Niwîķôwin Métis Family Services Society to restore the inherent rights and responsibilities to care for the safety and wellbeing of Métis children, youth and families and improve programs and services for families in the North Central Region.