Tŝilhqot’in Nation extends child care agreement with B.C., Canada

The Tŝilhqot’in Nation hosted federal and provincial ministers in Williams Lake on Saturday, Sept. 27, to advance the nation's jurisdiction over its child and family services. 

The Nitsilʔin-Qi (Council of Chiefs), together with Mandy Gull-Masty, federal minister of Indigenous Services and Jodie Wickens, B.C.'s minister of Children and Family Development, announced the signing of an amendment to their coordination agreement, extending it from a one-year to a five-year agreement. 

“The child welfare system has never worked for our people. We know how to care for our families and our children. It is deep in our teachings and identity as Tŝilhqot’in people," said Tribal Chief Otis Guichon in a press release, commending their federal and provincial partners. Listen to the release in the Tŝilhqot’in language here. 

Initially signed on May 9, 2025, the coordination agreement affirms the nation's inherent right to self-government, including over its child and family services, grounded in Tŝilhqot’in law, values and traditions. Since this agreement and the April 1 enactment of the nation's children and families law, Tŝilhqot’in ʔEsqax Sutsel Jeniyax (Tŝilhqot’in children growing up in a good way), Minister Wickens said the Tŝilhqot’in have been able to prevent their children from going into government care.

"That's exactly why we're honouring jurisdiction," Wickens said in an interview with Black Press. "We know that they have better outcomes when they are connected," she added, acknowledging the importance of keeping children connected to their family, community and culture, and how this contributes to greater healing and reduced intergenerational trauma. 

In the first phase, Canada provided $35.2 million and B.C. $766,222 to support Tŝilhqot’in jurisdiction. Funds helped with the delivery of prevention, governance, dispute resolution, community navigator services, post-majority support services, and more. 

The province will continue to provide this annual sum, adjusted according to cost-of-living increases, while Canada has committed an annual base fund of $18,824,069 to support the nation's sustainable jurisdictional authority. The federal government will also be providing $132 million to support infrastructure development for child and family programming across six Tŝilhqot’in communities. 

This is the fifth coordination agreement in B.C. and the 15th in Canada, developed through the framework set out by the 2020 Federal Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families. The federal government has committed $542 million to support the implementation of the Act, including building capacity within Indigenous communities and groups to provide child and family services. 

B.C. was the first province to expressly recognize the inherent right of self-governance of Indigenous communities. There are different pathways towards fulfilling this, and each nation wishing to do so is at a different stage, Wickens said.

"The Tŝilhqot’in Nation is a leader," she said. "This is generational work...it's work chiefs and leaders have dedicated their lives to," Wickens added, recalling the very moving celebration she witnessed during her visit with elders, matriarchs, chiefs, children and youth all sharing laughter and tears. 

"This is healing for our people, and most importantly, our children and future generations,” said the Tŝilhqot’in Nation's Vice Chief Francis Laceese.