b'OP/EDREMOVING INDIGENOUS CHILDREN FROM THEIR FAMILIES, TRADITIONS, CULTURES AND LANDS IS AT THE CORE OF COLONIALISMTHE INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM, SIXTIES SCOOP AND NOW MILLENNIUM SCOOP ARE KEY EXAMPLES.number. Despite this high number, child welfare systems across the country often fail to nurture connections to family, First Nations, culture and the land during crucial developmental years. These children often do not have the opportunity to receive irreplaceable teachings, experiences of family, natural laws, rites of passage, traditional knowledge and ways of life. By depriving First Nations children of these connections, the system is withholding access to critical aspects of their identity formation, a form of cultural genocide.In British Columbia, a province seen as a role model for child welfare, the Child, Family and Community Service Act requires the Ministry of Children and Family Development to address this crisis of cultural connection. The Ministry has attempted to do so by establishing Roots workers who assist Indigenous youth in care by maintaining their community and connections, for example, by arranging visits to their First Nations. But there is only modest funding and the need is very high, with only 16in care to build and maintain their community and cultural Roots workers serving thousands of Indigenous youth in careconnections. First Nations have always known what is in the best across the province at the beginning of 2019.3 Some communities,interest of their children and will ensure their youth in care know like the Hesquiaht First Nation, are taking it upon themselvestheir language, culture, community and territory.to fill the gaps by bringing their children in care home for several days in the summer.4When First Nations assert their jurisdiction over child welfare, it should become a best practice of the federal and provincial What can be done if even the model province struggles to supportgovernments to acknowledge and support the assertion, First Nations youth in care to maintain community and culturalincluding financially, instead of pushing back or delaying connections? The most important step and best practice is toprogress. If the government underfunds First Nations who have immediately recognize the right of First Nations to care for theirasserted jurisdiction over child welfare, they will be set up to children. When the new Act respecting First Nations, Inuit andfall short of their goals. Connections to community, culture, Metis children, youth and families (the Act, formerly Bill C-92)land and language for all First Nations children and youth, comes into force on January 1, 2020, the federal and provincialespecially those in care, is priceless, and the government has governments will be legally required to recognize First Nationsno right to limit these connections using a dollar amount. All jurisdiction to care for their children, regardless of provincialchild welfare authorities must be supportive of First Nations laws.5,6 This will be the most effective way for First Nations youthwho have asserted their jurisdiction, and must do their part to support First Nations children remaining in non-Indigenous child welfare systems to maintain connections to their cultures 3 Morgan, Brielle. Roots workers help Indigenous kids in care connect with culture. and communities.Why are there so few? The Discourse, 22 Jan. 2019, https://www.thediscourse.ca/urban-nation/roots-workers. Accessed 10 Sep. 2019. The federal and provincial governments have a key, supportive 4 Plummer, Eric. Hesquiaht children in care welcomed to ancestral home. Ha-Shilth- role to play in ending the cultural genocide of First NationsSa, 29 Aug. 2017, https://hashilthsa.com/news/2017-08-29/hesquiaht-children- children and youth in care. Following best practices will care-welcomed-ancestral-home. Accessed 10 Sep. 2019. ensure First Nations children and youth build and maintain 5 An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Mtis children, youth and families, Statutesconnections to their communities, cultures, languages and lands,of Canada, c.24. Canada. Department of Justice. 2019. Department of Justice.by properly funding First Nations to care for their children. Web. 10 Sep. 2019. Most importantly, these governments need to recognize that 6 Government of Canada. The Government of Canada announces the comingFirst Nations have always known what is in the best interestinto force of an Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Mtis children, youth andof their children, and will ensure their children in care receive families. Government of Canada Press Release, 10 Sep. 2019. https://www. the best possible care through the most appropriate means. canada.ca/en/indigenous-services-canada/news/2019/09/the-government-of- Recognizing First Nations jurisdiction over child welfare is the canada-announces-the-coming-into-force-of-an-act-respecting-first-nations-inuit-and-metis-children-youth-and-families.html. Accessed 10 Sep. 2019. first step to do so.www.afn.ca 63'