On a pathway to jurisdiction over our children and families, Huu-ay-aht First Nations Child and Family Wellness department recently wrapped up a vital series of community engagements spanning from Anacla to Vancouver.
Held during the final week of June, the five distinct engagement sessions provided Huu-ay-aht families and citizens with critical updates on the nation’s independent legislative path and milestones achieved alongside federal and provincial partners. The focus was on the Yaaʔak̕ap (to embrace) Child and Family Wellness Act, Huu-ay-aht’s own foundational child welfare legislation, as well as the historic yaaʔak̓apʷin (we are embracing) shared interest agreement.
A Proven Model: “Bring Our Children Home”
These recent community updates represent a journey that began nearly a decade ago. In 2016, after years of systemic challenges under federal and provincial family services, Huu-ay-aht’s Executive Council appointed an independent Social Services Panel. The panel’s 2017 report outlined 30 comprehensive recommendations aimed at prevention, healing, and keeping families together instead of separating them.
In 2018, the Nation declared a public health emergency due to the high number of children in provincial care. Following this, it secured essential funding from both Canada and British Columbia to implement its practice framework developed from the 30 recommendations.
The shift from a reactive child protection model to the Huu-ay-aht community-driven, life-span prevention approach has shown remarkable results. With the specialized “Bring Our Children Home” model, 72% of Huu-ay-aht First Nations children in care have been successfully reunited with their families and community. This achievement has been further supported by the opening of the ʔumʔiiqsu Centre and Childcare Centre in Port Alberni in 2025. This innovation was based on recommendation 26 out of the 30 recommendations made in 2017. The Indigenous-led residential and childcare facility is designed to provide comprehensive support, allowing families to thrive and heal together.
The yaaʔak̓apʷin Agreement and Provincial Education Tour
A significant milestone on the path to sovereignty was achieved on December 16, 2025, when the Huu-ay-aht First Nations and the British Columbia Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) signed the yaaʔak̓apʷin agreement. This agreement officially came into effect on March 16, 2026, and ensures that the Nation has a greater role and genuine involvement in child welfare planning and decision-making.
Following its implementation in March, Huu-ay-aht First Nations launched an extensive educational campaign, delivering nearly 10 presentations between March and June to MCFD Directors of Child Wellness Operations and frontline social workers across the province. Designed to educate the ministry on best government-to-government practices and define exactly how to work with Huu-ay-aht children and families, the presentations saw immense engagement, with the largest session drawing over 130 attendees.
With this crucial educational phase successfully completed, MCFD and Huu-ay-aht leadership have officially returned to the negotiating table to map out Phase 2 of the agreement. This next phase aims to further align operations and structural planning, with completion projected by the end of summer 2026.
Activating the Yaaʔak̕ap Act: Concurrency and Accountability
As Huu-ay-aht navigates these provincial alignments, the Nation is preparing to fully activate its own legal framework. While passed by the Huu-ay-aht Legislature in May 2023 under then-Chief Councillor Robert Dennis, the Yaaʔak̕ap Child and Family Wellness Act includes a specific activation protocol: it is not formally in force until the Executive Council passes a resolution bringing it into effect. To prepare for this operational transition, the government enacted the Huu-ay-aht General Legislation Amendment Act, 2026, on March 31, 2026, signed by Chief Councillor John Jack and ḥaw̓iiḥ Councillor Theresa Nookemus.
Once fully brought into force, the Yaaʔak̕ap Act will operate concurrently with provincial and federal child welfare laws throughout British Columbia, applying to Huu-ay-aht children both on and off treaty lands. To support this wide-reaching implementation and permanently resolve existing geographic limitations, the Nation is actively pursuing key treaty amendments with Canada and British Columbia. All service providers, including provincial social workers, will then be legally bound to comply with the Act’s strict provisions.
A central priority of the legislation is shifting authority away from sudden apprehensions toward strict court-ordered accountability. Except in situations of immediate danger, provincial agencies must secure a court order before removing a child from their home, providing the Huu-ay-aht government with advance notice and a formal legal right to intervene, respond, and offer family support services first.
Furthermore, the Act sets strict standards for cultural continuity. Huu-ay-aht children in care will have legally protected rights to access traditional foods and cultural community events. Non-Huu-ay-aht foster families and social workers will be required to demonstrate verified cultural competency and knowledge of Huu-ay-aht values, with the Nation retaining the legal right to petition the courts to change a child’s placement if these cultural standards are not met. To ensure institutional accountability, the Act establishes an independent, non-administrative Child Services Officer who will provide oversight and report directly to the Executive Council.
Navigating the Next Five Years
The June community engagements mark an important milestone for Huu-ay-aht as it embarks on the next significant phase of self-determination. Leadership and staff are currently collaborating with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) on a comprehensive five-year federal legislative review of Bill C-92, which is titled “An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children, youth, and families.” This bill, passed in 2019, affirmed the inherent jurisdiction of Indigenous communities over child welfare.
Ensuring that citizens are well-informed through these conversations allows community voices to influence upcoming relationships directly, coordination table agreements, and the broader prevention strategy for 2026–2031 by grounding modern legislative pathways in ancient sacred principles, ʔiisaak (greater respect), ʔuʔaałuk (taking care of), and Hišukma c̕awak (everything is one). Huu-ay-aht citizens and staff continue to build a sovereign system of care. This system aims to provide a safe and healthy environment for the next generation, fostering a deep connection to their culture.
Timeline of Key Milestones:
- 2011: Huu-ay-aht becomes a Modern Treaty Nation under the Maa-nulth Final Agreement, establishing the right to self-government.
- 2015: Huu-ay-aht and Usma signed Protocol Agreement
- 2016–2017: The Independent Social Services Panel is formed, delivering 30 recommendations focused on prevention and family unity.
- 2018: Huu-ay-aht secures $4.2M in federal funding alongside provincial support to launch its proactive Social Services Project.
- 2018: Huu-ay-aht & BC Housing begin conversations regarding ʔumʔiiqsu Centre
- 2020: Federal Bill C-92 comes into effect, legally recognizing Indigenous jurisdiction over child and family services across Canada.
- 2022: B.C. passes Bill 38, the Indigenous Self-Government in Child and Family Services Amendment Act. This Act, along with Bill C-92, upholds the inherent rights of Indigenous communities to provide their own child and family services. B.C. became the first province in Canada to recognize an inherent right of self-government specifically in provincial legislation.
- 2023: The Yaaʔak̕ap Child and Family Wellness Act is officially passed by the Huu-ay-aht legislature.
- 2025: The ʔumʔiiqsu Mother Centre opens its doors. In December, the historic yaaʔak̓apʷin agreement is signed with MCFD.
- 2026: The yaaʔak̓apʷin agreement takes effect. Huu-ay-aht launches a province-wide government-to-government training tour for MCFD staff members.
- 2026 (Current): June multi-community engagements wrap up as leadership enters Phase 2 negotiations with MCFD, targeting operational alignment by the end of summer.