Our Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation
Land Acknowledgment
We acknowledge the land known as Chatham-Kent today was established as part of Treaty #2, the McKee Purchase Treaty of 1790. At that time the land was also inhabited by the Three Fires Confederacy: the Ojibway (Chippewas), Odawa, and Potawatomi. Local Indigenous Nations, known as the Anishinaabeg and Lunaapeew, agreed to the mutual sharing of the land, with obligation and responsibilities to the environment.
Today, Chatham-Kent neighbours the Lunaapeew at Eelünaapéewi Lahkéewiit, which is part of the McKee Purchase Treaty, as well as the unceded territory of the Bkejwanong Walpole Island First Nation and Caldwell First Nation near Leamington. Chatham-Kent continues to be home to diverse First Nations Peoples and Metis Peoples.
Linck is committed to the Truth and Reconciliation process and journey to support and promote Indigenous wellbeing.
Our Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation
On June 6, 2017, the Ontario child welfare sector unanimously agreed to prioritize Reconciliation with Indigenous communities through nine key commitments. Each Children’s Aid Society (CAS) has committed to:
Reduce Children In Care
Reduce the number of Indigenous children in care.
Reduce the Number of Legal Files
Reduce the number of legal files involving Indigenous children and families.
Formal Customary Care Agreements
Increase the use of formal customary care* agreements.
Indigenous Representation and Involvement
Ensure Indigenous representation and involvement at the local Board of Directors.
Staff Training
Implement mandatory Indigenous training for staff.
Jordan’s Principle
Change their inter-agency protocol to include Jordan’s Principle** as a fundamental principle.
Develop a Unique Agency-Based Plan
In consultation with the Indigenous communities, develop a unique agency-based plan to better address the needs of the children and families from those communities.
Develop Relationships
Continue to develop relationships between their agency and the local Indigenous communities.
Historical Files
Assist those individuals wanting to see their historical files by accessing and providing the information they request.
*Customary care leaves the responsibility for the care of the child with the Indigenous community.
**Jordan’s Principle is a child-first principle aimed at ensuring that services to First Nations children are not denied, delayed, or disrupted due to jurisdictional disputes. The principle is named for Jordan River Anderson, a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba. Learn more here.
Resources
To read more about Truth and Reconciliation and the child welfare sector, please see the following resources.
