Protecting and Strengthening Families

Caring for Our Relatives (formerly “Children In Care Programs”)

The Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre cares for families,  community, and each other by honouring Indigenous knowledge. We focus on building our programs and services on a strong foundation of Indigenous values and practices. The goal of Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre’s Caring for Our Relatives program is to protect and strengthen families.

Indigenous Knowledge Keepers emphasize returning to our Seven Sacred Teachings: Love, Respect, Courage, Honesty, Wisdom, Humility and Truth to restore the balance within our families and our communities.

Our Buffalo Teachings instill a sense of responsibility to protect the vulnerable by placing them at the center of the circle, surrounded by the stronger who face outwards to protect them from danger. The circle is only opened to let them out when it is safe to do so, knowing they will remain protected. Our Turtle Teachings remind us of the past, present and future; restoring the sacred bond within families means we need to understand where we learned to become parents and how this affects us today. Most importantly, we must be aware of how we embrace our role as caregivers in our family and community. The Starblanket represents our teachings about interconnections, and at the centre of the star is Creator’s eye, making sacred everything it covers and forever keeps safe. Each program within Caring for our Relatives does this in an unique way.

INDIGENOUS CARE HOMES

3 Care Home Programs (foster care)

  • CLOUT (EPR): Short-term placement (6-12 months) for children 0- 8 years of age
  • Eagle Horse Society (EPR): Short-term placement (90 days) for children 0-10 years of age
  • Ozosunon: On-going care for children and youth to 0-21 years of age

5 Youth Care Homes (group care)

  • Luke’s Place:
    • Residential youth group care initiative for boys 11 – 14 years of age.
  • Isobel’s Place:
    • Residential learning youth group care home for pre and post-natal teen mothers that uses an Indigenous-led Family Group Conferencing model to work with maternal and paternal families. sobel’s Place is a Level 3, 12-bed provincially licensed residential care facility for folks 12-17 years of age who are pregnant, for a minimum of three moths to a maximum of 6 months.
  • Circle of Care:
    • 6 short-term beds for girls, boys, and gender-diverse youth 0-12 years of age
  • Honouring the Spirit of our Little Sisters:
    • Youth care home for sexually exploited girls and transgender youth 13-17 years of age who require specialized care to support their healing journey from sexual exploitation.
  • Hands of Mother Earth:
    • Rural healing lodge for sexually exploited girls and transgender teens 13 – 17 year of age who require ongoing specialized care to support their healing journey from sexual exploitation.

 

YOUTH HOUSING (youth aging out)

  • Yellow Shawl:
    • Mentorship housing for youth 16-21 years of age

 

HONORING THE SACRED BOND (family reunification)

  • Family Group Conferencing:
    • Indigenous-led family group decision-making for the care and protection of children. It’s a highly successful way to maintain and reunify Indigenous families and strengthen Indigenous communities through relationships, support, guidance, challenge, and advocacy.
    • For more information on Family Group Conferencing, see below for the FGC Evaluation.

Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre develops resources directly with CFS Agencies to meet specific agency needs. 

For more information please contact:

Phone: 204-925-6818

Email: caring-for-our-relatives@mamawi.com