Indigenous Family Advocate Support Line (IFASL)
Started in 2023, the Indigenous Family Advocate Support Line (IFASL) provides free specialized family law and child protection legal advice, training, and knowledge sharing spaces to band representatives, wellness workers and frontline advocates supporting Indigenous families and communities across BC.
We hope to increase access to justice through:
a designated legal support line,
monthly training sessions and workshops (see information below), and
a weekly virtual knowledge sharing space for frontline workers (see information below).
This program is funded by the Department of Justice.
Our intention
IFASL seeks to contribute to the greater involvement of Indigenous peoples and communities in all decision-making processes that impact them as we decolonize the family law system and move toward affirming the inherent jurisdiction of the nations over child and family services. Our work is guided by the remedial mandate in Bill C-92 – An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families(“Federal Act”), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: Calls for Justice.
We believe that Indigenous voices need to be heard in our family law system
We want to help ensure that Indigenous children are fully supported in developing a strong cultural identity
We recognize that First Nations and Indigenous communities have a critical role to play in countering the overrepresentation crisis of Indigenous children in foster care, often far removed from their ancestral, cultural and territorial roots
We need to work purposively to keep Indigenous families together and to prevent the loss of connections to family, community(ies) and culture
We know that reconciliation is only possible if we work together with cultural humility, guided by Indigenous Peoples toward meaningful change
How IFASL can support you?
Legal information/advice (including resources and planning) to band representatives or frontline workers by telephone, Zoom/MS Teams and email
Information about the court process, notice, service and participating in and outside of court
Help with cultural plans, out-of-care proposals, reunification plans, and prioritizing family, community, and cultural connections
Legal support with court documents & correspondence to parties, nations and social workers
To learn more about IFASL
Contact the IFASL lawyer, Frances Rosner, Red River Valley Metis at ifasl@womenslegalcentre.ca
Join our mailing list for information, training and engagement opportunities
For any additional information, please contact Maayaa at mqadade@womenslegalcentre.ca
Indigenous Family Advocate Circle (Circles)
Circles are for advocates across BC working with Indigenous families and urban/remote communities including: First Nations band representatives/designates, community wellness workers, counsellors, family support workers, and frontline workers.
Circle discussions share knowledge and best practices and provide a sense of community for band representatives and frontline workers supporting Indigenous families and communities.
Circles are weekly 90 minutes drop-ins; feel free to drop-in for all or part of the circle discussion.
Each Circle will have a micro-training on child protection and family law topics, 15-30 minutes.
Facilitated by an Indigenous family lawyer who specializes in child protection and prioritizes Indigenous family, community and cultural connection in all areas of practice of the discussion.
Upcoming circles
Thursday, November 7, 2024, 1:30pm - 3:00pm: Why did the Assembly of First Nations reject the 47.8 billion Child Welfare Reform deal with Canada
Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 1:00pm - 2:30pm: Our children need to come home: cultural continuity undermined when decision-makers fail to understand the centrality of land-based ties to distinct Indigenous communities and employ pan-Indigenous approaches to culture
Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 12:00pm - 1:30pm: Social worker authority, oversight and accountability when working with Indigenous families and communities
Monthly Training
Upcoming webinar
3-Part Webinar Series: Understanding Pathways to Jurisdiction/Self-Government through Agreements between the MCFD/Canada and Indigenous Communities.
IFASL lawyer, Frances Rosner will be joined by guest speakers with expertise at the community level and negotiation table who will share tips, best practices and barriers to self-government agreements in the child welfare system. Stay tuned for details and dates.
Part 1 - Thursday, November 21, 2024, 12:30pm - 2:30pm: Types of Agreements between MCFD and Indigenous Communities Considering Self-Government: An introduction to Bill C-92 Coordination Agreements, Section 92.1 Agreements and Information Sharing Agreements
Part 2- December 2024 (date and time to be determined): Building Community Capacity for Greater Involvement in Child Welfare Matters: Revitalization of Indigenous laws, traditions and customs and making them known to decision-makers
Part 3 - January 2025 (date and time to be determined): Negotiating Agreements and Understanding the Process: Hearing perspectives from Indigenous community advocates and lawyers involved in negotiating agreements who will share tips and barriers in the agreement-making process
Having issues registering for the webinar or the workshop?
Email Maayaa at mqadade@womenslegalcentre.ca
Guides and reports
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