Resolution No.4/93

Moved by Chief:

Chief Philip HighEagle
Dak Lak Dakota Sioux

Seconded by:

Chief Jerry Fontaine
Sagkeeng First Nation

Adopted by Consensus

Certified copy of a resolution adopted on March 30, 1993 at Ottawa, Ontario

Ovide Mercredi National Chief

WHEREAS First Nations have a distinct legal and constitutional status, and unique needs as a result of our history; and

WHEREAS First Nations have suffered greatly as a result of past government policies such as the residential school system; and

WHEREAS the residential school system has created much of the poor parenting, child neglect and physical, emotional and sexual abuse of children; and

WHEREAS the First Nations are in serious social crisis as reflected by the large numbers of children in care of child welfare agencies such as the Dakota Ojibway Child and Family Services (DOCFS); and

WHEREAS the tragic death of a thirteen year old child in the care of this agency once again highlighted the need to address the serious social problems within our communities; and

WHEREAS the DOCFS staff are unable to provide any preventative programs and services because of high caseloads and unrelenting crisis management, and the lack of adequate funding; and

WHEREAS there are very few culturally appropriate facilities to meet the treatment needs of our children and families; and

WHEREAS those facilities that are available, such as Poundmakers Lodge, are distant and not easily accessible by our communities; and

WHEREAS there are few if any treatment centres that offer a holistic program based upon achieving balance within the physical, intellectual, emotional, sexual and spiritual dimensions of identity and well being; and

WHEREAS it has been determined that the one-dimensional services and programs that currently exist are inadequate to address the multi-dimensional situations that confront our families and communities; and

WHEREAS it has been recognized that healing is necessary if we are to be able to confront our problems and survive as a people; and

WHEREAS the Dakota and Ojibway First Nations served by DOCFS wish to establish a healing centre to meet the needs of their families and communities; and

WHEREAS DOCFS has prepared a proposal for the establishment of a holistic culturally appropriate healing centre; and

WHEREAS the Government of Canada has a responsibility to assist First Nations in overcoming the social dysfunction that exists in our communities as a result of inappropriate government policies and practices,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Special Chiefs Assembly supports the Dakota and Ojibway Chiefs in their efforts to establish a healing centre; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the National Chief request that financial support for this proposal be provided by the federal departments of Indian Affairs and Health and Welfare.