” I’m proud of myself. I’m happy. »
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Debbie Chachai speaks softly. She is still wondering these words. Forty-year-old Atikamekw has just regained parental rights over his children. He is 11, 3 are adults.
He achieved this thanks to the progress made with social services in his community since the adoption of the first Atikamekw law on youth protection.
“I never miss an appointment,” says the mother. Her husband, father of nine of her children, died a violent death six years ago. There is no doubt that Debbie has come a long way.
His daughter Saskia is sitting next to him. The fourteen-year-old, silent, observes her mother who has agreed to confide in her The print. Her T-shirt features several family photos, including one from her parents’ wedding.
With a tender gesture, the young woman, who now lives with her mother, takes her hand. “I’m proud of her too,” she whispers.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
The teenager is proud of the path her mother took.
A blue November light illuminates the home of Debbie’s cousin, Betty-Anne Awashish, who opened her door to us. We are in the heart of Opitciwan, in Mauricie, an isolated community, reachable only by traveling hundreds of kilometers of forest roads.
It will be necessary to leave the area before nightfall to ensure good visibility. It is also preferable to rely on a radio to announce every kilometer and anticipate the encounter of heavy vehicles loaded with wood in a tight curve.
This is the daily life of the approximately 2,500 Atikamekw in the community, accustomed to spending hours to get healthcare, see a specialist or even go shopping. It is not surprising that the search for greater autonomy concerns local authorities.
Two years ago, Opitciwan became the first community in Quebec to have full control of its own child protection services. The Atikamekw Council of Opitciwan has adopted its own law to disengage from the Directorate for the Protection of Youth (DPJ).
This step towards self-determination was made possible by the young federal law C-92, which recognizes the jurisdiction of First Nations in matters of child and family services.
The Legault government disputes its constitutionality because, according to him, it invades his jurisdiction.
After being partially rejected in the Court of Appeal, Quebec’s attorney general went to the Supreme Court in March. The country’s highest court is expected to decide the matter in early 2024.
And through the band decide the future of the Atikamekw model (see other text).
“It worries us all,” admits Atikamekw’s director of social protection, Nadine Petiquay, when met in her offices.
Why the Atikamekw Social Protection Law d’Opitciwan (LPSAO) it is already bearing fruit: the insertion rate has decreased by almost 10% only among children aged 0 to 4 years, since 2022. Furthermore, there has been “almost no” insertion outside the community.
The children live with 100% Atikamekw host families, where they can speak their native language and maintain their culture, explains Ms. Petiquay. Before the entry into force of the LPSAO this rate was approximately 60%. “Children feel more listened to, more respected,” she says.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
Nadine Petiquay, director of Atikamekw social protection in Opitciwan
The interests of the child and the maintenance of Atikamekw culture. These were mainly our points of reference [lors de l’élaboration de la loi].
Nadine Petiquay, director of Atikamekw social protection in Opitciwan
At least one hundred cases were also diverted after repatriation under local law. The new model does not provide for appeal to the judge. If the parents refuse to cooperate, the matter is referred to the Atikamekw Arbitration Council. It hasn’t happened yet.
“People are less reluctant, less fearful than before because we were seen as the DPJ. We were under his direction. We had to apply what the CIUSSS said, sometimes it was confusing,” recalls Mrs Petiquay.
Child protection in Opitciwan in numbers
290
Number of Atikamekw children covered by the LPSAO
53
Number of Child Protective Services employees in Opitciwan, 37 of whom are Indigenous
90
Number of indigenous host families, including 20 in urban areas
Source: Atikamekw Council of Opitciwan
Time for family
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
Debbie’s cousin, Betty-Anne Awashish (right), cares for one of her daughters.
In Debbie’s case, none of her children are any longer under the protection of the DPJ. Atikamekw social protection now takes care of five of them. He can see them much more often, she says. One of her daughters has also been living with her cousin for several years.
“There was no contact with the former DPJ unless it was planned according to a schedule,” says Betty-Anne. With the Atikamekw law it is easier to receive visitors and even “sleep” at home, adds Debbie, sitting at the kitchen table.
This helped her in her recovery.
The approach is actually different, assures Nadine Petiquay. Contact bans “do not exist” in Aboriginal law, with rare exceptions.
“We see the difference. Families are more motivated,” she assures.
In case of sexual abuse, the Director of Social Protection retains in the Atikamekw law the responsibility to apply “the multisectoral agreement for children who are victims of sexual abuse, physical mistreatment or lack of care that threatens their physical health status” of the government of Quebec, which notably provides for police investigation mechanisms.
We will also try to move the child within the extended family, rather than uprooting them completely, explains Ms Petiquay. “We have already had some cases and we have managed to keep the child in his environment, whether with a parent, an uncle or an aunt. With all of this, they know that we are there with them throughout the process [d’enquête] “, points out. We ensure the presence of an interpreter and also accompany loved ones.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
Lisa Ellington, researcher and assistant professor at Laval University’s School of Social Work and Criminology
Lisa Ellington, a researcher and assistant professor at Laval University’s School of Social Work and Criminology, has documented the repercussions of the LPSAO since it went into effect in January 2022.
“The law is based on the involvement and active participation of families and allows the child to express his point of view,” he explains. “Safety is important, there will be no contact if the child is in danger, but if this is not the case, everything will be put in place to ensure relationships continue”, adds the researcher.
According to her, one of the “great strengths of the model” is that of centralizing requests for intervention in a single desk.
Therefore, a parent who needs help will go through the same place as a loved one who would like to make a complaint. Furthermore, the notion of “report” has been replaced by that of “service request”. The dossier will then proceed towards prevention or protection (see other text).
One in two requests for help (52%) are now directed to prevention services, for example when a parent is in a situation of domestic violence, abuse or has mental health or excessive drinking problems.
Before the Atikamekw Law came into force, these reasons considered “risk of negligence” accounted for more than a quarter (27%) of reports to the DPJ.
“In the medium or long term I have the impression that there will probably be fewer and fewer situations reported, but perhaps more and more requests for help from prevention services because they will be better known, people will be less suspicious,” says Ms. Ellington.
Reasons for intervention since the entry into force of the Atikamekw law
- Serious neglect (when the child does not receive the care necessary for his physical and mental health): 28%
- Sexual violence: 22%
- Youth behavior problems: 15%
Source: Atikamekw Council of Opitciwan
“Around the child”
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
Maxime Dubé is a prevention operator.
Maxime Dubé is a prevention operator. For two years he says he has noticed the positive effects of the new law.
“It’s always been the same. [La DPJ] it did not take the environment into account. They were just the parents and we completely ignored the family environment, which nevertheless plays an important role,” she explains.
“Now it’s based on the family unit. We take into account what grandparents can provide. They know their history, the problems, they intervene. They are there,” she explains.
Customary adoption is also included in the new law. This practice specific to First Nations has also been recognized in the Civil Code of Quebec since 2018.
Mr. Dubé points out that due to the isolated nature of the community, its people still talk a lot about Atikamekw. “ [Les parents] when they are caught speaking in French, they search for their words. And when they talk about something stressful, they are more fluent in Atikamekw,” the speaker says. He also sees effects on the child: “Since we are Atikamekw, this makes him feel comfortable,” he says.
One of the particularities of the model is the involvement in the decision-making process of a “family council”, made up of people significant to the child. “We rally people around the child,” explains Nadine Petiquay. “If the parent needs a respite, we can find it in the family [quelqu’un pour accueillir les enfants] without there being any question of placement of the child,” adds the director of social protection of Atikamekw.
Hope for the future
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
Struggling with addiction issues, Debbie Chachai has been sober for three years.
Back at Betty-Anne’s house. Debbie pours herself a hot coffee. “My new drug,” she jokes.
“I’ve been sober for three years,” Atikamekw then explains. Debbie still remembers the day the DPJ came into her life, about fifteen years ago. She and her late husband struggled with substance abuse problems. A tortuous path followed.
Recently the horizon has brightened. He gives us a letter received the same day. This is the response from the Atikamekw Council of Opitciwan informing him that his accommodation application is under review. «It’s the first time, before it was a refusal», he confides.
Today he speaks “to tell others to maintain hope”. And for the future she wants “a bigger house” to accommodate her 11 children.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
The Atikamekw community of Opitciwan has just over 3,200 members.
Opitciwan in numbers
Population: 3,216 members, including 621 off-reserve residents*
*Adjusted number to account for under-registration of young children. Data provided by Opitciwan Atikamekw Council, 2018.
Average age: 22 years
35% of the population is between 0 and 14 years old.
61% of the population is aged between 15 and 64
4% of the population is 65 years and older
Active population (over 15 years): 43.4%
6.3 people on average per accommodation
From 80 to 100 people are “permanently” on the waiting list to have access to new homes
Sources: Statistics Canada (2016) and Conseil des Atikamekw d’Opitciwan (2018)
2024-01-13 10:00:00
#Children #feel #listened #respected