Indigenous Services Canada, the Government of Yukon, Yukon First Nations and the Council of Yukon First Nations are pleased to announce the launch of the Cultural Connections Project for Yukon First Nations and Indigenous children in out-of-home care. This project will be implemented in true partnership over the next five years, to support and safeguard connection to culture and community for Yukon First Nations and Indigenous children involved in the child welfare system.
With the launch of the Cultural Connections Project, supports will be provided to connect all children in out-of-home care with their own cultures and communities. For Yukon First Nations children under the care of the Yukon Director of Family and Children's Services, this will include a mandatory cultural plan developed collaboratively with Yukon First Nations or the Council of Yukon First Nations. Cultural plans may include individual and group cultural, linguistic, traditional and on-the-land activities to support connections with their family and community.
This project aligns with the key priorities of Yukon's Trilateral Table on the Wellbeing of Yukon First Nations Children and Families, in particular the importance of reunification and maintaining connections between children and families. It also responds to some of the recommendations made by Yukon First Nations during the recent review of the Yukon's Child and Family Services Act.
By enhancing Yukon First Nations' involvement in child and family services, and by supporting children to remain connected to their communities, languages and cultures, this initiative also supports the intent and direction of the federal Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families. The Act affirms the inherent rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to exercise jurisdiction in relation to their child and family services, and establishes national guiding principles that must be applied by all who provide child and family services to Indigenous children.
The Cultural Connections Project is a reflection of governments working together to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's second point in the first Call to Action. Specifically, it addresses the over-representation of Indigenous children in care and the call to keep children in culturally appropriate environments.
The Government of Canada is supporting this initiative through its First Nations Child and Family Services Program, which focuses on early prevention and assists First Nations to assert greater control over the wellbeing of their children and families. Funding is being provided for five years starting in 2021-2022, and will provide up to $12.6 million.
