The child welfare agency in Peguis First Nation revealed recent data indicating that the system established through a landmark 2023 agreement is functioning effectively. This contradicts the opinion of Chief Dr. Stan Bird, who has called for the termination of the arrangement citing oversight issues. Former Chief Glenn Hudson, who was in office when the agreement was signed, disagrees with Bird’s assessment and believes in the system’s success, emphasizing the importance of collaboration rather than scrapping the agreement.
In 2023, under Hudson’s leadership, Peguis became the first Indigenous community in Manitoba to enter into a coordination agreement with the federal and provincial governments, transferring child welfare authority to Peguis and establishing Peguis Child and Family Services. This was made possible by federal legislation known as Bill C-92, passed in 2019, empowering Indigenous communities to take control of local child welfare services.
Despite Chief Bird’s recent calls to terminate the agreement, Peguis CFS issued a statement affirming the system’s effectiveness, highlighting that a significant number of children have been placed in culturally appropriate environments with family members instead of traditional child welfare settings. The agency reported an 80% decrease in children entering care over the past four years, with 99% of children in care residing with family within Peguis and 97% living off-reserve in similar family-based arrangements.
Hudson stressed the significance of the agreement in asserting Indigenous sovereignty over child welfare decisions, emphasizing that the community had ample opportunities for input before finalizing the agreement. He is also pursuing legal action to challenge the outcome of the election that saw him lose to Chief Bird.
Manitoba Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine is scheduled to meet with Chief Bird to address his concerns regarding the agreement. Bird has expressed the need for renegotiation to ensure safeguards, oversight, and accountability for children and families, pointing to the lack of an independent review mechanism as a key issue. He highlighted the role of external oversight bodies, such as the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth, in ensuring the well-being of children and families.
In response to Chief Bird’s concerns, various stakeholders, including Manitoba Foster Parent Association president Jamie Pfau, have echoed the call for increased oversight while supporting kinship and customary care models. Pfau acknowledged the challenges faced by foster parents in Peguis and emphasized the importance of addressing these issues to protect children and families within the community.
