QBOW Board Chair Keith Pratt receives a Star Blanket during Thursday's grand opening celebration. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Child welfare

Wahpeton Dakota Nation celebrates opening of new on-reserve building for child and family services

Feb 8, 2024 | 5:00 PM

A first-of-its kind home for child and family services (CFS), is now officially open at Wahpeton Dakota Nation, north of Prince Albert.

Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for QBOW’s new sub-office, marked the completion of discussions that date back to the fall of 2021. Carmen Fourstar is the non-profit organization’s Executive Director and fought back tears when asked by paNOW what the day meant for her.

“It’s a real big day for us because we always just want to be in our own nations when we are able to provide those services that are required and it feels good to be able to have that space now,” she said.

QBOW has been operating out of Wahpeton since 2016, and staff have essentially been forced to work out of a cramped space at the back at the community’s communiplex.

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Noting QBOW serves a number of other communities across the province including Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation and Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation, Fourstar explained all their other offices, including their head office in Fort Qu’appelle are all leased.

“Within the 10 years of QBOW, this is actually our very first building for QBOW Child and Family Services so it’s a big thing for us,” she explained.

Bill C-92, which provides Indigenous communities jurisdiction over child and family services, has been in effect since January 2020. Chief John Waditaka noted the community’s current capacity does not suit C-92 so the best thing for them at this time is the CFS program with QBOW.

“There are a lot of unknowns and uncertainties, but at the end of the day, our children are being looked after,” he said.

The Round Plain Drummers perform during Thursday’s celebration. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

A large crowd gathered for Thursday’s celebration and during his opening remarks, Chief Waditaka noted the advantages of looking after their own children, citing difficulties in the past when the province had jurisdiction.

Chief Roger Redman from Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation, spoke candidly about the challenges related to childre, and explained it’s common for children coming to school to be coming from homes where alcohol is a part of daily life and even experiencing their own thoughts of suicide.

“We have to be there for our children,” he said, adding the programs must come within the communities and not Regina.

Also among Thursday’s speakers was FSIN male youth Chief Brock McLeod-Waditaka, who sang a tribute song to QBOW. And noting a recent trip to Wollaston Lake, in which he spoke about youth suicides, he also called on all elected leaders to do more to support youth.

As it happens, QBOW’s new sub-office is located right beside the community’s new youth center, and Chief Waditaka said he envisioned that the programs run at the two buildings can overlap and work collaboratively with one another.

The new sub-office can accomodate over 100 staff and children. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com.

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