Journey

Carrier Sekani Tribal Council began creating more programming to support the well-being of communities and families from their own values and perspectives.

Northern Native Family Services, now known as Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS), was established and mandated to restore responsibility for member Nations' social and health holistic services.

CSFS supported the First Nation Caring Society and the Assembly of First Nations in the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal complaint on the discrimination of First Nations children by the federal government.

CSFS began developing its own culturally informed child well-being model by gathering culturally relevant ways of caring for children from Carrier and Sekani Nations, and structuring their own policy approach.

C-92, An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, came into effect. This established federal backing for Nations to develop and practice child and family law their way.

CSFS centres jurisdiction around the rights of Carrier and Sekani children, the rights of the Bah’lats system, and partnership with the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy through the University of Ottawa to ensure equitable funding formula design.

The Supreme Court of Canada declares An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families constitutional. Sections 21 and 22(3) are upheld, which provides that Indigenous laws have the force of federal law and that Indigenous laws prevail over provincial laws in the event of a conflict.