Our Mandate

We work in collaboration with the family and community to ensure:

• Children are protected from harm
• To advocate for systemic change
• To plan, develop and deliver programs and services to meet the needs of the communities
• To promote supportive family and community environments for children and youth.
• To provide family support through assessment, referral and intervention
• To provide guardianship care to children based on our Values
• To provide information and programs designed to promote child safety and wellness
• To empower Tl’azt’en and Nak’azdli families
• To ensure that each Nakazdli and Tl'azt'en child will know who they are and where they come from

Mission Statement

We require Child and Family Services primarily because we recognize that there are children living outside their familial homes and they have a right to maintain family, community and cultural connections.  We recognize that some parents need support at different stages in the family life cycle.  Our history of colonization and trauma has created multiple factors that directly affect the ability and capacity of some families to provide ongoing safety and nurturing of children.  We acknowledge that parenting is a very challenging and rewarding process and we want to support this responsibility through a range of options from a cultural perspective for parents who require our services.  The needs of children and families vary in complexity; therefore, approaches to intervention must be culturally relevant, effective and flexible.  Community resources are needed to prevent family breakdown.  We believe that programs designed and delivered by our own people is the most appropriate approach for facilitating family and community health.

Our Vision

The safety and well being of our children and youth is our guiding principle.  We will build trust with the communities by working toward the restoration and support of the traditional family and ensuring that children out of the home maintain connections to their family, identity, culture, and community.  The communities will be empowered to carry forward the traditions of caring into the next generation and will be guided by the teachings of our elders.

Our Values

Children are sacred.  Families will be recognized and acknowledged as First Nations with a diverse and unique history, culture, communities and familial relationships.  We recognize that we serve two distinct Nations: Tl’azt’en and Nak’azdli.  Cultural identity must be protected, promoted and practiced.  The community’s voice must be heard and considered.  The community shares the responsibility of caring for children through traditional practices.  We believe that children belong in their communities therefore we will build capacity with our members to meet their needs.  We have an inherent right to make decisions regarding our children, our families and our communities

Dedication to Nancy Tom

In Memory of Nancy Tom 1953 -2012

“Let us remember that it takes a whole community to raise a child and that we need to always be aware that little eyes are watching and listening and that whatever you do they will do also. We need every one of you out there to make a difference in a child’s life today: perhaps just by lending a listening ear, praising your child or any other child for the little things they do, telling them it’s okay if they make a mistake, respecting them for who they are and not being judgmental, gently talking to them about the facts of life, making time to do something special just for them such as birthdays or going out for lunch, offering them a safe place if they need one, and the list could go on and on. These are the basic things we need to be aware of each and every day because it sure doesn’t cost much to tell a child they’re worth it. If each of us that are here today could do this then we are on the road to building our Nations to where we once were as strong caring families who stepped up to care for their own. Mussi Cho for listening and my prayers are with you all."

- Nancy Tom (2008)