Submitted by Chelsey Archie (not verified) on Fri, 20/11/2009 - 7:35am.
My name is Chelsey, I am 24 years old. I am an ex-fosterchild & Crown Ward of Weechi-it-te-win Family Services. Sadly to say, both my sons' have also been in the care of WFS. Like Mr. Simard, I too, disagree with the "one size fits all" theory, that the government employs. I was teary-eyed after reading this article. When Mr. Simard says; “The ministry, wants a one size fits all and our elders and our chiefs and our communities have said ‘no,’ you will do this as part of your practice."
This has been a long standing issue, along with the struggle to preserve our cultural teachings and language within our communities. As well as, covering the costs of employing more anishinabe foster homes and funding for family related-placements for children in care,etc. I wouldn't have it any other way, if my children were to ever go back into care. I feel safe knowing I got WFS behind my back and supporting me and helping me get thru my own personal struggles as a result of learned behaviors from living in negative family cycles that have been passed on thru generations.Today, I am in my 2nd year of the Indigenous Wellness and Addictions Prevention program offered by Seven Generations Education Intstitute.I have both my children at home with me as a result of the support from WFS and the caring and empathetic workers that are employed at WFS. To this day, they have been a part of my life since the age of 2 years and have never stopped supporting me and helping me grow as a strong and risilient anishinabekwe.It has been a long-term dream of mine to help our anishinabe children and families.I realise now the work I caused from being a "pain in the ass" while I was growing as a teenager, being a crown ward.They did what they could to help me heal and grow into a responsible adult. I was one of those high risk kids you here about in care who run away, breaking down many foster placements, group homes, and treatment centers.I once counted over 50 placements I've been through at the age of 14. I was a very hurt & angry child. At the age of 11-12yrs old, I walked around with so much shame & anger, I wore my hair to cover my face. Without the services offered from WFS, Where would I be now had they left me without the programs they sent me to?
I was placed in the Roberts/Smart Secure Treatment Center in Ottawa, Ontario for a period of 12 months. I remember like it was yesterday, I wanted to continue on and re-integrate myself into the community (as suggested by my psychologist at the Roberts/Smart Center) by accessing a group home that was offered through the Roberts/Smart Center. I was in a secure setting for a period of 16 months in total. At the Roberts/Smart Secure Treatment Center, I am proud to say that I was one of the first kids to attend a public highschool and join a community volleyball league. I thrived as a result of this placement. In the end, I knew that I wasn't ready to go back to a place where I spent many years struggling. I wasn't allowed to access the services of this group home because of the lack of funding for me to continue with my healing in a structured setting. When I finished my treatment at the Roberts/Smart Center, I was sent back to Thunder Bay to live with my aunt. Though I was happy not to be locked up, I was scared and feared my new found freedom, that was taken as a result of my high risk & self-defeating behaviours.I didn't know how to cope with my worries and fears, this was something hardly practiced out in the community. I ended up dealing with my fears and worries the best way I knew how. I began using alcohol again, one month after I came home. Three months later I was bingeing and found a new high using prescription drugs.I was barely ever home. Four months after I got home, it was 1 month from my 18th birthday and it was time for me to learn how to be a responsible and productive adult in society and to survive without the structure that I yearned for. I had, just found out that I was also, pregnant. This was May 2002, because of lack of funding, what will happen to the futures' of our Anishinabe children who have shared the same fate as I have? I am deeply worried about the services and programs that are offered through WFS.
Stop robbing our agencies, at the benefit of our suffering anishinabe children, when they are in desperate need of love and healing!
-Awesome article Rose and George!
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My name is Chelsey, I am 24 years old. I am an ex-fosterchild & Crown Ward of Weechi-it-te-win Family Services. Sadly to say, both my sons' have also been in the care of WFS. Like Mr. Simard, I too, disagree with the "one size fits all" theory, that the government employs. I was teary-eyed after reading this article. When Mr. Simard says; “The ministry, wants a one size fits all and our elders and our chiefs and our communities have said ‘no,’ you will do this as part of your practice."
This has been a long standing issue, along with the struggle to preserve our cultural teachings and language within our communities. As well as, covering the costs of employing more anishinabe foster homes and funding for family related-placements for children in care,etc. I wouldn't have it any other way, if my children were to ever go back into care. I feel safe knowing I got WFS behind my back and supporting me and helping me get thru my own personal struggles as a result of learned behaviors from living in negative family cycles that have been passed on thru generations.Today, I am in my 2nd year of the Indigenous Wellness and Addictions Prevention program offered by Seven Generations Education Intstitute.I have both my children at home with me as a result of the support from WFS and the caring and empathetic workers that are employed at WFS. To this day, they have been a part of my life since the age of 2 years and have never stopped supporting me and helping me grow as a strong and risilient anishinabekwe.It has been a long-term dream of mine to help our anishinabe children and families.I realise now the work I caused from being a "pain in the ass" while I was growing as a teenager, being a crown ward.They did what they could to help me heal and grow into a responsible adult. I was one of those high risk kids you here about in care who run away, breaking down many foster placements, group homes, and treatment centers.I once counted over 50 placements I've been through at the age of 14. I was a very hurt & angry child. At the age of 11-12yrs old, I walked around with so much shame & anger, I wore my hair to cover my face. Without the services offered from WFS, Where would I be now had they left me without the programs they sent me to?
I was placed in the Roberts/Smart Secure Treatment Center in Ottawa, Ontario for a period of 12 months. I remember like it was yesterday, I wanted to continue on and re-integrate myself into the community (as suggested by my psychologist at the Roberts/Smart Center) by accessing a group home that was offered through the Roberts/Smart Center. I was in a secure setting for a period of 16 months in total. At the Roberts/Smart Secure Treatment Center, I am proud to say that I was one of the first kids to attend a public highschool and join a community volleyball league. I thrived as a result of this placement. In the end, I knew that I wasn't ready to go back to a place where I spent many years struggling. I wasn't allowed to access the services of this group home because of the lack of funding for me to continue with my healing in a structured setting. When I finished my treatment at the Roberts/Smart Center, I was sent back to Thunder Bay to live with my aunt. Though I was happy not to be locked up, I was scared and feared my new found freedom, that was taken as a result of my high risk & self-defeating behaviours.I didn't know how to cope with my worries and fears, this was something hardly practiced out in the community. I ended up dealing with my fears and worries the best way I knew how. I began using alcohol again, one month after I came home. Three months later I was bingeing and found a new high using prescription drugs.I was barely ever home. Four months after I got home, it was 1 month from my 18th birthday and it was time for me to learn how to be a responsible and productive adult in society and to survive without the structure that I yearned for. I had, just found out that I was also, pregnant. This was May 2002, because of lack of funding, what will happen to the futures' of our Anishinabe children who have shared the same fate as I have? I am deeply worried about the services and programs that are offered through WFS.
Stop robbing our agencies, at the benefit of our suffering anishinabe children, when they are in desperate need of love and healing!
-Awesome article Rose and George!