We hear the word ‘Jurisdiction’ a lot these days, but what exactly does it mean? Let Takla Nation tell you all about it!
In mid-June, our Jurisdiction team loaded up and headed to Takla Nation. Community members and CSFS staff came together in the Potlatch House under sunny skies and in good spirits.
The evening was filled with storytelling and laughter as everyone shared their ideas on the Skak ha ba bay / Nezkeh ba (For our Children) child and family law. A common theme could be heard echoing off the Potlatch House walls: children need to know who they are, where they come from, and that they are loved.
Councilor Ernie French-Downey shared, “Jurisdiction means we have the authority and the autonomy to make decisions with our children and our families. To uplift our communities and our families to come to a place of acknowledgement and recognition of who they are as a people, where they come from, and where they see themselves in the future. In our language we say Nus Wadeezuhl, focusing on the future.”
Having the authority to make decisions about child and family services is not a new concept but rather a return. A return to children growing up embraced by their culture and clans, to communities coming together to wrap around families when they are in need; it is a return to how Carrier and Sekani people lived and thrived together before colonial policies came to be.
“We can take over governing our children, child and family services, in a way where we can take back our culture, our language, our connection with the land, with the Elders and with each other,” Cindarita Alexander said.
This session was part of ongoing efforts to share information about the jurisdiction project and create opportunities for community members to make their voices heard. Every story shared and every suggestion made is added to a growing collection of community voices guiding Skak ha ba bay/Nezkeh ba (For our Children) – our journey to Nation-led child and family services.
“My dream for the next generation of Takla is for children to be children. To play and to have the opportunity to be themselves and discover this world,” Ernie shared. “And that they are empowered to understand they can live as their most authentic self, and they can contribute to the wellness of their lives and to that of their families and the greater community of Takla Nation.”
Watch the video below to hear from more Takla Nation members on what Jurisdiction means to them. You can also view it and share it to your loved ones on the CSFS Facebook, Instagram, TikTok.