Trudeau, Moe to attend signing ceremony on Cowessess First Nation

Members of the Cowessess First Nation will be joined by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Scott Moe on Tuesday as the First Nation reclaims jurisdiction over children in care.

In a letter to residents of the First Nation that he posted on Twitter and Facebook, Chief Cadmus Delorme said Trudeau and Moe would be on hand for a signing ceremony Tuesday at 2 p.m.

Cowessess First Nation asserting jurisdiction of children in care.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Scott Moe will visit Cowessess First Nation to stand beside us as we sign and celebrate. pic.twitter.com/Gj5Rc94QQH

— Cadmus (@cadmusd) July 5, 2021

Delorme wrote the First Nation had finalized co-ordination and financial agreements with the two levels of government in relation to the Miyo Pimatisowin Act.

The act was ratified in March of 2020 by Cowessess citizens “asserting our Inherent Rights for our children and families in need of help.”

“This responsibility is a part of the long-term goal of controlling our own plan to self-government based on our Inherent Rights and Treaty relationship,” Delorme wrote.

The ceremony Tuesday is to mark the transfer of jurisdiction to Cowessess First Nation, with Trudeau and Moe in attendance to show their governments’ support for the First Nation.

Cowessess has been looking for years to address the development stages of children from the First Nation, whether on or off reserve.

Last July, Delorme said the act was a way to ensure children are able to stay on track with their development “to ensure the next generation is going to be well-prepared for whatever the world brings us.”

“When you control your destiny, you have to focus on what matters most,” Delorme said at the time. “Cowessess, we are a very forward-thinking First Nation and we want to own (our child welfare system) and figure it out today.

“We own our history and we cannot sentence another generation or wait for the next generation to fix our issues.”

Delorme said the First Nation’s internal legislation addresses apprehension of children and prevention of families requiring such intervention by the child welfare system.

It also seeks to address inequality and socioeconomic conditions and implements Jordan’s Principle, which ensures all First Nations children in Canada have access to the products, services and supports they require. These include health, social and educational needs.

If children are not meeting the development stages they should be, Delorme said the band will step in to help.