LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
The foster system and programs for troubled youth need an infusion of Dene culture, representatives from the territorial government heard last week in Fort Simpson.

Range Lake MLA Daryl Dolynny and Inuvik Boot Lake MLA Alfred Moses were in Fort Simpson last week consulting with residents about potential amendments to the Child and Family Services Act. Moses said he heard that incorporating Dene culture in dealing with troubled youth is important. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photos

A collection of GNWT staff and MLAs are touring the Northwest Territories for public feedback on Bill 47, an act to amend the Child and Family Services Act - and there was no shortage of opinions in the Deh Cho.

A priority of the approximately dozen people who came out to the meeting was seeing Dene culture better represented in the system.

"What I've heard here tonight is it's part of the Dene culture," said Alfred Moses, MLA for Inuvik Boot Lake, adding that giving the act wording that strengthened the cultural aspect is important.

Social workers flown in from the south for a few years of work experience can't relate to people of the North, Kevin Allen told the group at Wednesday's meeting.

"There's an animosity that's created," he said. "You see it everywhere."

He suggests training Northerners for these roles so that youth can identify with them.

"Somebody who's raised in Toronto, they're qualified to be a social worker or whatever, but you bring them up here, it's a pretty big culture shock," said Allen. 

"That backlashes - everybody feels it. You get people in the community who are not going to be trusting of that person or not wanting to deal with that person because you're just another person from down south who's up here to save us from ourselves."

His wife, Sharon Allen, works as a teacher at Bompas Elementary School. Sharon said students relate to her in large part because of her Northern heritage.

"It's just the reality," said Kevin. "You're more comfortable with the people who you know than the people who you don't. There's a lot of 'us' and 'them' animosity going on."

Mary Jane Cazon agreed with that sentiment.

"When they're from the outside and they don't really see the reality of how the children have been raised in their community, their home environment, it becomes very difficult," said Cazon.

"They don't really see the same view as the way we see things in our community."

Having fostered in the past, she said the key to helping youth with various challenges was going back on the land - that's how to reconnect youth with Dene culture.

"The amount of problems that are within a community, you don't feel that when you're out on the land," said Cazon. "It dissolves right in front of you."

Audience members suggested youth in foster care should have more trips on the land and in different regions than Yellowknife.

The Allens fostered and said the system needs more oversight and parents need relief.

"We felt like we weren't supported well," said Sharon.

"(Respite) is needed for foster parents. It's like having a full-time job."

As it is, a lot of youth are ending up in foster homes that are not much better than where they're coming from, said Kevin.

"The screening that goes on for the placement of these kids - they're going from a fire into a smoke-filled house," he said.

Range Lake MLA Daryl Dolynny admitted amendments to the act may not take into account every suggestion people have made.

"I don't think we're going to capture everything in this bill, I'll be totally honest," he said.

"I think it's a good step in the right direction. Better legislation, better regulations - hopefully we can tighten up some of the things you've brought forward."

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