The Tŝilhqot’in Nation, located near Williams Lake in BC’s Chilcotin region, has signed a landmark agreement with Canada and B.C. to take back control of child and family services. The historic Coordination Agreement marks a major step toward Indigenous self-government, giving the Nation full authority to care for its children according to its own laws, culture, and teachings.
On April 1st, the Tŝilhqot’in Nation enacted its child welfare law—Tŝilhqot’in ʔEsqax Sutsel Jeniyax, which translates to “Tŝilhqot’in children growing up in a good way.” The law forms the foundation of a new model of care that prioritizes community values and traditional child-rearing practices.
The federal government is investing $35.2 million to support governance, prevention, and youth support services in the transition. B.C. is contributing $766,222, with provincial agencies continuing to provide protection services during the interim period.
The agreement is the fifth in British Columbia and the fifteenth across Canada under the 2020 federal law recognizing the inherent right of Indigenous communities to govern child and family services. For the Tŝilhqot’in Nation, this move represents both a return to traditional responsibilities and a future focused on stronger, healthier generations.
