APTN News
A Yukon First Nation is hoping to open a new group home where children in care will feel welcome.
Aunty’s House will be a place for youth to break down emotional walls and make themselves at home, said Kwanlin Dun First Nation Chief Doris Bill.
“In the absence of your mother who do you go to for advice? Your aunty right? So it would be a home that would be built on our values and our beliefs from a holistic point of view,” she said.
Of all Whitehorse’s kids in care, 80 per cent are First Nation. And a high percentage are from Kwanlin Dun.
Bill said she wants to change the narrative and give these kids a step up in life.
“It’s very difficult because you just when you begin to trust someone you’re moved so after a while you just don’t trust anybody and build up walls,” she said. “And those walls are really really tough to come down once they’re up.”
Last month, following allegations of physical abuse at group homes and the lack of programming for kids in care, the Yukon government announced an independent review of group homes.
Bill says the time is right for First Nation kids to have a place within their own community to access families, elders and programming.
“I think change is coming but it will take time,” she said.
A move into the right direction, and there ate many, considerate awesome plans. Youth our future and we are thier future to help build one with strong positive outcomes, bright and clear path to follow. Stay genuine.
A move into the right direction, and there ate many, considerate awesome plans. Youth our future and we are thier future to help build one with strong positive outcomes, bright and clear path to follow. Stay genuine.
Wow I really like that idea and I sure it will work, I worked in Child Welfare taking children away and placing them in non native homes is not the answer, in this type of home the children need to learn about who they are as First Nation, I have been hearing speakers talking that learning about smudging and hearing the drum was the answer to help them recover. Having family like aunties is a great idea.
Wow I really like that idea and I sure it will work, I worked in Child Welfare taking children away and placing them in non native homes is not the answer, in this type of home the children need to learn about who they are as First Nation, I have been hearing speakers talking that learning about smudging and hearing the drum was the answer to help them recover. Having family like aunties is a great idea.