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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Eleven years ago with almost all of their eight children grown, Yvonne and Douglas Norwegian Sr. were faced with an empty home.

Douglas Norwegian Sr., left, and Yvonne Norwegian of Jean Marie River accept a certificate of appreciation from Amy Fraser-Michaud, a social worker with the Dehcho Health and Social Services Authority, for their efforts as foster parents. The annual foster parent appreciation dinner was in Fort Simpson on Dec. 8. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

It was at that point the couple from Jean Marie River decided to become foster parents. Over the past 11 years the couple has cared for two foster children.

"There's a lot of happiness," Yvonne said.

Yvonne and Douglas were among the foster parents from Fort Simpson and Jean Marie River who were honoured for their work during a foster parent appreciation dinner held by the Dehcho Health and Social Services Authority in Fort Simpson on Dec. 8.

"We as social workers cannot do our job without you," said Abigail Thomas, the regional supervisor of social services with the authority.

Foster parents do all of the day-to-day care that comes with raising a child, from getting them off to school every morning to taking them to dentist appointments, said Thomas.

"They worry about these kids like their own," she said.

Foster parents also help social workers identify areas in the children's lives where they might need some extra support or help.

"They help us with everything. They are professionals in their own right," she said.

There are currently eight active foster homes in Fort Simpson and Jean Marie River.

Thomas said every family in a community choosing to become foster parents helps keep children in their home community so they can stay close to their extended family and friends.

During the dinner, Thomas told the foster parents that every day they spend with their foster children, they are building into those children's futures.

Yvonne said being a foster parent has been a bit of a challenge as she and her husband get older. She added, however, they've learned a lot from being foster parents and think their foster children have learned, too.

The lessons include loving, being kind-hearted and having lots of laughter, she said.

Hazel Isaiah-Tanche and Maurice Tanche are two long-time foster parents from Fort Simpson.

The couple became foster parents approximately 15 years ago and started by caring for children from their extended family, then progressed to other children from the community. The couple estimates they've cared for at least 30 children, including taking in two groups of three siblings at different times.

Maurice said he likes sharing his personal experiences and what he's learned from them with the foster children.

Hazel said both she and Maurice come from the same background the children come from so they know what it's like to be in their shoes. The couple both grew up in violent, alcoholic homes and were both alcoholics as young adults until they made the decision to stop.

Hazel said they are able to teach the children they care for how their choices can influence their lives.

"We can offer them a different way of living," she said.

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