Wásems ’íksduqʷia – Angelina Bowen – President

Angelina is an urban Indigenous woman from the Haisla Nation – B.C.'s Northwest Coast. Her traditional name is Wásems ’íksduqʷia. Angelina descends from the Robinson family, on her birthmother Margaret (Maggie) Robinson’s side. Her grandmother and grandfather were Lydia Robinson and Stan Shaw; and her biological great grandmother and grandfather were Elsie and Sampson Robinson. Angelina, her kids and grandchildren are from the Eagle Clan.

Angelina was an RCMP officer for 22 years, now retired, having had various roles within the Lower Mainland and the Upper Fraser Valley where she worked proactively and reactively within the Stó:lō Territory. Working alongside other agencies, Angelina felt that taking a community approach was always in the best interest of the children and families. When she had the opportunity, she would speak to youth, teens, and communities throughout Canada on topics such as youth and community wellness, acculturative stress; lateral kindness and about her life being one of the children from the Sixties Scoop. 

In September 2007, she was the first Indigenous person in Canada to receive MADD Canada’s “Terry Ryan Memorial Award;” in 2011 Angelina received the “Recognition for Going Above the Call of Duty” from the United States Corp, 49th Marines; in 2013 Angelina received the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, British Columbia, Police Community Relations Award, for her 18+ years of volunteering; and in 2014 Angelina received a “Certificate of Recognition” for Outstanding Contributions in the Promotion of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, from the First Nations Health Authority.

As a proud mother, sister, aunt and grandmother, Angelina plans to actively do her part in helping our children and youth in care, preserving families, supporting caregivers and ensuring the continued success of connecting culture. She is thankful to the members and their support, for the third time, allowing her to sit on the Board so she can be a part of the “transformation” of the needs of the society.

Joshua Bailey – Vice-President

Joshua is Kanien⁷kehá:ka (Mohawk) from Ohswé:ken, Ontario. He currently operates a consulting firm called A:kweks Ventures that specializes in Indigenous child and family welfare prevention programs and Indigenous community development. In the past, he has worked as a family and cultural connections worker and Stó:lō service line family strengthening team leader with Xyólheméylh and as executive director for an urban Indigenous non-profit. He holds a BA in Anthropology and Psychology from Kwantlen Polytechnic University and an MBA from Thompson Rivers University.

Joshua has devoted his career to working within the Indigenous child and welfare system and has more than a decade of experience as a frontline social worker that includes youth and family support services, Indigenous child welfare court programming and First Nations health and wellness projects. Joshua continues to work towards improving and changing existing systems and structures to better serve Indigenous peoples in BC and believes that being a part of this Board will provide such opportunities.

Brooke Metchewais – Treasurer

Brooke is the first generation in her family to not attend residential school, day school or have experienced the direct impact from the Sixties Scoop. Due to intergenerational trauma, like many Indigenous people, she did not have the opportunity to grow up with her culture. From first-hand experience, she understands the human need of belonging, connection and safety. She believes in fostering these needs as a priority to provide youth with the opportunity of growing up in community and staying close to family roots. She is honoured to serve on Xyólheméylh’s Board of Directors because she believes that in order to break cycles, keeping families together and children out of government care should be at the forefront of our practice.

Brooke has managed a finance department for eight years and was responsible for managing contract confidentiality, communicating with stakeholders and delivering financial information to improve client services. With her work for the North American Indigenous Games, she was able to identify gaps within communities. She is passionate about providing the best care for families and keeping traditions alive through culture and language revitalization.

Marcella Sunshine – Secretary

Marcella is the third generation of her family to have grown up and out of government care. She met her birth giver, Natasha Sunshine, for the first time in 2022 and her great grandmother in 2023. Fueled by this lived experience, Marcella is currently running a province-wide cultural revitalization project called VYPER -– Visionary Youth Peers for Equity & Revitalization  – funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada. She is also completing her BA at University of the Fraser Valley in Indigenous Peoples Knowledge and Political Science.

Marcella’s great grandmother watched all of her children get taken away during the Sixties Scoop and told her that she wanted a different life for her kids. Being a Board member is a commitment to Marcella because it captures her grandmother’s wish to see all Indigenous children free from cultural and familial poverty.

Marion Mussell

Marion is a member of the Sqwá First Nation. She was born and raised at Oneida of the Thames in Ontario and has lived in Stó:lō Territory for over 50 years. During her two previous Board terms she  served in executive positions and participated in committee work. She is pleased to return to the Board because she enjoys the work and the opportunity to contribute in positive ways to the service delivery. Collaborative teamwork is her preferred work style, as she believes teamwork allows for creative and positive results to Board work and decisions. This is important to her because the work of Xyólheméylh impacts people’s lives.

From the Board perspective of governance and oversight she believes it is important to not only meet standards and requirements but to work to exceed standards and requirements on all levels to provide the best services possible to families and communities in a “good way.” Marion works from the belief that the child must be at the center of our work, and their families must have the opportunity to be included in the process. Our identity, values, belief systems and sense of well-being come from our family and community. She feels good to be back on the Board and looks forward to working with her board colleagues.

XaXa Moqw – Peter John

Peter is a member of the Chawathil First Nation. His name is XaXa Moqw that roughly translates to Holy-bird/thunderbird. He has over nine years of experience as a Band Councilor, a member of the Chawathil Care Committee and has served a number of terms for the Board of Directors for the First Nation Health Directors Association. He has also been trained in traditional plant medicine for healing and wellness and continues to practice and learn. He has also taken courses in Halqemeylem language for four years.

His work within his community has taught him that there is a great need for awareness and readiness to work in a collaborative way with his people to meet the needs of children, youth and families. He believes that the people in his community and surrounding communities have been through much history in such a short time and are landing solidly on their feet to assert their existence. People need to recover and have time to have good healing and family connections.

Peter wanted to be a part of the Xyólheméylh Board of Directors in order to have a voice in the guiding principles for how Xyólheméylh delivers services to our communities. He would like to continue the work with the Board of Directors in completing numerous policy and working manuals that benefit  Board members in the work that they do on behalf of the members of the society.

He believes that Indigenous rights must be protected. Keeping children with their families is the most important work that we do.

Wab’shkaan E’quet E’kway – Kelowa Edel

Kelowa was one of the first Xyólheméylh employees hired with the agency back in 1993. She was a Family Support Worker, Team Lead, Social Worker, and Ed of Quality Assurance. She then went on to the  Stó:lō Service Agency Health Services as a Community Engagement Coordinator and then on nurturing and developing the health department as the Health Director. The goal was to create a “Culture of Healing,” understanding that as service providers they needed to be on their own healing journey if they were to help people on theirs.

Over the past 32 years she has served on many boards. She was Xyólheméylh’s representative at the BC First Nations Directors table for child and family services. She was also on the board with Cindy Blackstock as an ED for the Caring for First Nations Children Society and then as BC rep for the National board with Cindy in Ottawa.

Salacy-a-til – Phil Hall

Phil is from Skowkale First Nation and has almost 50 years experience working for Indigenous people, including as Chief of his First Nation, Manager of the Chilliwack Area Indian Council, two terms as an Alderman with the City of Chilliwack and as a health worker for the Assembly of First Nations. He wanted to be on Xyólheméylh’s board of directors to be part of the positive changes taking place and to move forward in a positive way to serve Indigenous families in the Fraser Valley and to keep Indigenous children with their families.

Che’lotsowe’t – Glenda Campbell

Glenda is from the Ch’iyaqtel (Tzeachten) First Nation and has two children and was blessed with eight grandchildren. Glenda has experience with boards such as the Xholemet Society, which now goes by Wilma’s Transition House. She also sat on the Coqualeetza Board for a couple of terms, was a member of the Executive for the Stó:lō Nation Chiefs, and served on the Women’s Council for British Columbia. She also has 30 years of experience as a Band Councilor and 6 years as a Chief. She also assisted with cross-border children to ensure Canadian children returned home.

Glenda has dedicated her life to working with the communities. If children must be in care, she believes that children should be placed with their families, grandparents and aunties and uncles and siblings. This retains their culture and is less traumatic for the child. Glenda wanted to be on Xyólheméylh’s Board because her goal and desire is to see the number of children in care reduced and have children brought back to their home communities. She has served on the Board for  5 years. Seeing more preventative dollars come to the agency is also a priority for Glenda. She wants to be a voice for all children to ensure that the agency is doing all they can do to assist families.

On September 12, Xyólheméylh staff held a celebration in an Abbotsford park to honour Terri-Jo Shouting and her family. Terri-Jo has two biological girls, Teaghan, age 17and Hazell, 14; one boy Taysen who is 15; and three foster children – two nephews, Thomas age 16 and Zachary, 13 and a niece, Linda who is 11. The family was joined by social workers Sandy Atkin, Desiree Schellenberg, Mikeayla Popowich and Lenore Unraw, who is on the administrative team – all of whom played a role in supporting the family through the process. 

The occasion for the celebration was a 54.01 court order, which means a decision was  made that a child or youth cannot return to their parent’s care and a more permanent plan is created for stability. When a permanent order is granted, the care provider becomes the child’s permanent legal guardian. Thomas and Zachary, her nephews, are now under the permanent care of Terri-Jo, and pictured with her in the photo above.

We were also celebrating the return of the niece, Linda, to her bio father, Frank, who also attended the celebration. The situation was extremely complicated and had been going through the courts for years. Terri-Jo describes the last few years and especially the last nine months as “chaotic.” She says the decision to grant her custody had provided a sense of stability for the kids and a sense of permanency. She noticed the change in the kids immediately once the decision was made. She says they were less anxious and much happier, and her own kids are very welcoming of the additions to the family.

Terri-Jo is from the Blackfoot First Nation in Alberta, but she was raised by her German/Russian mother so did not have much exposure to her Indigenous culture until much later. Her father was a spiritual healer on the Blackfoot reserve and gave Terri-Jo her first teaching before he passed. Since then it’s been a journey of self-discovery. Terrie-Jo is all about helping and uplifting people and is currently working at Fraser Valley Aboriginal Friendship Centre as the early childhood development coordinator.

“This is an amazing family,” says Xyólheméylh Elder, Maria Reed. “They have gone through so many trials and tribulations, they all have had different journeys, but when I see them all together, they are a strong team. I am so proud of all of you,” Maria told the family.

“Terri-Jo is a strong warrior woman spirit, she’s always learning and taking courses, but when the kids show up at her house, she makes room for them.” Terri-Jo never turns away children and youth who need a home and has cared for many other children over the years.

Staff and the family shared Chinese takeout at picnic tables, Maria blanketed the family and Xyólheméylh staff gave the family presents of drum making kits and smudging kits. “The blanketing is to wrap them up with love,” says Maria.

At the end of the blanketing, Terri-Jo thanked the Xyólheméylh staff for their support. “I felt very supported by Xyólheméylh and I’m so grateful.”

Terri-Jo and Maria run a support/cultural circle for Xyólheméylh caregivers every second Thursday. The circles are mostly virtual but sometimes in person and involve cultural teachings such as medicine walks. The goal of the circle is to create a community while supporting children in care to grow with cultural and spiritual balance.

We lift our hands to Terri-Jo and other caregivers who provide loving and safe homes for children and youth. If you are interested in becoming a caregiver, please contact Norma Commodore at [email protected].

From September 8–11, 2024, a select few Xyólheméylh staff members had the privilege of attending the inaugural Loving Justice: Breathing Life into Our Own Laws national conference. Hosted on the unceded and ancestral territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, and Səlilwətaɬ Nations, this groundbreaking event provided an opportunity to explore critical jurisdictional questions and emerging challenges through a series of insightful presentations and workshops led by Indigenous community experts and legal scholars. The conference focused on building a community of practice centered on the resumption of jurisdiction over child welfare by First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and Urban Indigenous communities.

Key Takeaways from the Conference:

1. Well-being of Indigenous Children and Youth: The conference spotlighted the necessity of sharing knowledge and best practices for ensuring the well-being of Indigenous children and youth. Participants engaged in meaningful discussions around child welfare resumption, reflecting on the importance of Indigenous governance and the continuation of traditional laws to support the next generations.
2. Legal and Jurisdictional Challenges: A major theme of the conference was identifying and addressing the pressing legal and jurisdictional questions that Indigenous communities face today, including issues surrounding advocacy, governance, and resource allocation. The dialogue helped build a clearer understanding of the legal framework required to support community rights and effective child welfare practices.
3. Community of Practice: One of the most impactful outcomes was the co-creation of a community of practice designed to foster ongoing learning, knowledge exchange, and capacity building. This initiative ensures that Indigenous communities can continue to collaborate on child welfare jurisdiction and improve their systems in a way that respects their cultures and traditions.

A highlight of the conference was hearing from distinguished speakers such as Cindy Blackstock and Mary Teegee, both of whom have made significant contributions to Indigenous child welfare and advocacy.

• Cindy Blackstock, a member of the Gitxsan First Nation and Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada (FNCFCS), is a renowned advocate for Indigenous children’s rights. She has played a central role in the fight for equity in child welfare, most notably in the landmark human rights case that found the Canadian government guilty of systemic discrimination against First Nations children. Blackstock was also instrumental in the development and implementation of Jordan’s Principle, which ensures First Nations children have access to public services without jurisdictional disputes. Her dedication to social justice and equality has led to important changes in how Indigenous children are cared for in Canada.
• Mary Teegee, a member of the Takla Lake First Nation and Executive Director of Child and Family Services at Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS), has been a leading voice in the reclamation of Indigenous jurisdiction over child welfare. Under her leadership, CSFS has developed and implemented culturally informed child welfare systems that reflect Carrier Sekani values. Teegee has been an advocate for the use of Bill C-92, which supports Indigenous communities’ inherent rights to govern their own child welfare systems. Her work in Carrier Sekani has demonstrated how Indigenous-led services can prioritize family preservation and community well-being.

Their insights into the continuing developments in Indigenous child and family services within the framework of Indigenous jurisdiction were invaluable. The speakers emphasized the need for Indigenous governance and cultural integrity in child welfare, providing attendees with critical reflections on how communities can approach governance, advocacy, and systemic reform.

A major topic of discussion at the conference was the upcoming Final Settlement Agreement (FSA), which will be signed by Chiefs across Canada. The FSA is part of the resolution process following the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) rulings that found the Canadian government had discriminated against First Nations children by underfunding child welfare services. This agreement is an essential step in addressing the harm done to Indigenous children and families and includes provisions for compensation.

The FSA also represents a crucial move towards restoring jurisdiction over child welfare services to First Nations communities. This aligns with Bill C-92, which recognizes the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples to govern their own child welfare systems. The signing of the FSA will have significant implications for Indigenous child welfare governance, and Chiefs are encouraged to fully understand the terms of the agreement before signing. It has been emphasized that legal experts and trusted advisors should be consulted to present abridged versions of the lengthy document to ensure informed decision-making for the benefit of future generations.

The agreement includes both financial compensation for past harm and commitments to reform systems moving forward, with a strong focus on ensuring culturally appropriate, community-based child welfare services.

Among the many enriching breakout sessions, the Carrier Sekani session stood out for its depth of insight into how their jurisdiction was developed and implemented. The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) and Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) have been leaders in asserting control over child welfare services in alignment with their traditional laws and governance. Their efforts are centered on reducing the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in foster care by keeping them within their communities, ensuring family and cultural continuity.

Through the framework of Bill C-92, CSFS is actively reclaiming jurisdiction over child and family services, they are working to integrate Carrier Sekani cultural practices into child welfare, emphasizing traditional governance and local capacity-building. This transition includes negotiating with federal and provincial governments, securing funding, and advocating for systems that reflect Carrier Sekani customs and values.

As someone with a legal background and a personal interest in pursuing jurisdiction in Indigenous children and family services, I feel honored to have been a part of this important conference and hope to be part of the change to come. The conference provided crucial insights into how legal frameworks and traditional governance intersect in the realm of Indigenous child welfare.