A fundamental aspect of this project will be working closely with Indigenous parents, families, Elders, and community members who have had the lived experience of having their child(ren) apprehended, in order to develop an easily understood Guide for Indigenous parents living in the Yukon. Goals include enhancing parents’ understanding of the Territory’s child protection process, and outlining their rights, their children’s rights, and the resources that are available to them. It is essential that YSWC partners with Yukon First Nations, and non-Government, and Government organizations in order to ensure that the project will result in more enhanced community understanding of the legislation, and more

fulsome knowledge of the local responses, processes, supports and resources.

Along with development of the Guide, the project will include a social-media campaign to distribute information about how ongoing anti-Indigenous racism is impacting families involved with Family and Children’s Services, as well as guides on how members of the public and community service workers can push for change. This will include some online training for community service workers, which will be a guide to walking alongside Indigenous families whose child(ren) have been apprehended.

This project will be valuable to all who work with these families, particularly in educating non-Indigenous staff about anti-Indigenous racism and how they can be allies for change. We believe that change can begin in the offices of people who encounter these families, who can then be educated to advocate for larger systemic change.

The project will be finalized with a research report that will include recommendations for legislative and/or systemic change that will improve outcomes for Indigenous families in children living in the Yukon following apprehensions.