OUR STORY
A group of Nak’azdli Whut'en and Tl’azt’en Nation community members came together in 1996. Concerns due to the high number of children being removed from their communities by child welfare authorities led to the exploration of creating a Child & Family Service Agency. Over the next six years, the team collected data, information, and conducted community consultations. A needs assessment was completed. Readiness criteria was identified and worked through including the naming of the organization.
In consultation with Elders from Nak’azdli Whut’en and Tl’azt’en Nation, the name was chosen to encompass the organizations’ goal to create an agency that would “take care of their own” and be governed by Dakelh people. The Agency would ensure that children would remain connected to their families, culture, and communities when the child welfare system became involved.
A Non-Profit Society was registered, Band Council Resolutions were passed, a Board of Directors was appointed, and discussions with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (now known as Indigenous Services Canada) and the Ministry of Children and Family Development took placed. In October of 2002, a Delegation Enabling Agreement was signed and the Agency became official.
The Agency journey began with a small office located at 700 Stuart Drive West consisting of six employees. Today, the Agency Head office remains in the original location overlooking Stuart Lake on the traditional lands of Nak’azdli peoples. Authority was granted to provided voluntary services in 2007, and then later guardianship services in 2009. The Agency was on its way to assume full authority for child and family services. Operations expanded in 2010 to include a satellite office in Prince George consisting of fifteen staff who provided services to Tl’azt’en Nation and Nak’azdli Whut’en families residing in the urban center.