History of Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Child & Family Service Society
In 1989, the Ktunaxa grandmothers & mothers advocated for the Federal and Provincial government to reestablish the Ktunaxa Nation’s rights to providing family services. The Ktunaxa Kinbasket Child and Family Service Society program was established in 1992 after all five Bands of the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Tribal Council decided to conduct pre-planning work on the transfer of family support and child protection services mandate from the Provincial Government, at the time under the Ministry of Social Services.
The pre-planning work was completed in July 1993, and the Planning phase began in August with funding through the First Nations Child and Family Services Program of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). In December 1996, KKCFSS was established with the support of the five communities on the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Tribal Council – now the Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC).
In 1999, negotiations were completed with Ministry of Child and Family Development (MCFD) and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) – now Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) – for a “Delegation Enabling Agreement” which would allow KKCFSS to phase in the Family Support and Child Protection Services over a four-year period.
The Family Violence Prevention Program merged with KKCFSS in 1997.
We honor the many women who had a dream in their heart and a meaningful purpose: keeping families together to work towards empowering, giving strength and restoring the Ktunaxa language, culture and traditions in their children, youth, and community members.
Through all their efforts of self-determination, perseverance, and dedication, in 2000 the movement began negotiations to develop their own Service Delivery Agency with the Provincial & Federal Governments.
In 2002, a Protocol Agreement was entered into between KKCFSS and the Kootenay Region Métis Association – now the Métis Nation BC – for KKCFSS to deliver services to Métis children and families.
Over the next 10 years KKCFSS experienced significant expansion in service provision to children and families:
In 2002, KKCFSS became delegated to provide Voluntary Services and the following year, Guardianship Services. In 2005, the ʔaq̓am (Cranbrook) office began delivery of delegated Child Protection Services. In 2006, the Lower Kootenay (Creston) office commenced delivery of delegated Child Protection Services. In 2007, the ʔakisq̓nuk (Windermere) office began delivery of delegated Child Protection Services which provides services to both ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation and Shuswap Indian Band. In 2012, the ʔaq̓am office expanded and began delivery of delegated Child Protection Services in Tobacco Plains (Grasmere). In 2011, KKCFSS began the implementation of the Reconnection program and opened an Urban Office in Cranbrook.
Geographic Service Region
KKCFSS provides services to Ktunaxa, First Nations, Inuit and Métis urban and on-reserve populations within the ʔamakʔis Ktunaxa (land of the Ktunaxa), including:
- ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation (Windermere, BC)
- ʔaq̓am
- ʔa·kisk̓aqⱡiʔit (Cranbrook, BC)
- yaqan nuʔkiy – Lower Kootenay Indian Band (Creston, BC)
- ʔakink̓umǂasnuqǂiʔit – Tobacco Plains Indian Band (Grasmere, BC)
- kyaknuqǂiʔit – Shuswap Indian Band (Invermere, BC)
- Métis Nation British Columbia
These services are provided at five KKCFSS locations in ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation, ʔaq̓am, yaqan nuʔkiy Lower Kootenay Indian Band, ʔakink̓umǂasnuqǂiʔit – Tobacco Plains Indian Band and ʔa·kisk̓aqⱡiʔit – Cranbrook (Chief Joseph Centre).