Reasserting Inherent Jurisdiction over our Children
Saugeen has always worked to meet its obligations towards our children and families, despite the attempts by Ontario and Canada to erode and ignore Saugeen’s law.
In 2020, the Federal government passed An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families which created a recognition mechanism for Indigenous child and family wellbeing law. In October 2021, Saugeen decided to proceed with consultation and engagement to codify and write down its child and family wellbeing law to allow Saugeen once again to look after Saugeen children and families. The name Zaag’idiwin was gifted by Elder Shirley John and clarified and confirmed in a Jiisakaan in February of 2022. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and other challenges, a Working Group has been speaking with and learning from elders, community members, and knowledge keepers.
On March 8, 2023, Chief and Council took the next step towards the reassertion of Saugeen’s inherent jurisdiction over child and family wellbeing by creating Zaag’idiwin Child and Family Services, an independent agency, which will be authorized by Zaag’idiwin, once it has been ratified and which will provide an organizational home for Anishinabek Child and Youth Prevention Services and Saugeen’s Band Representative Program until then.
We are seeking expressions of interest from community members for the inaugural Board of Directors for Zaag’idiwin Child and Family Services. If you think this might be you, please forward your letter of interest not later than Thursday, May 29, 2025 to:
Candice Ruhl Director of Human Resource
Saugeen First Nation
6 Cameron Drive
Southampton, ON N0H 2L0
E-mail: candice.ruhl@saugeen.org
Reasserting Inherent Jurisdiction over our Children
Saugeen has always worked to meet its obligations towards our children and families, despite the attempts by Ontario and Canada to erode and ignore Saugeen’s law.
In 2020, the Federal government passed An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families which created a recognition mechanism for Indigenous child and family wellbeing law. In October 2021, Saugeen decided to proceed with consultation and engagement to codify and write down its child and family wellbeing law to allow Saugeen once again to look after Saugeen children and families. The name Zaag’idiwin was gifted by Elder Shirley John and clarified and confirmed in a Jiisakaan in February of 2022. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and other challenges, a Working Group has been speaking with and learning from elders, community members, and knowledge keepers.
On March 8, 2023, Chief and Council took the next step towards the reassertion of Saugeen’s inherent jurisdiction over child and family wellbeing by creating Zaag’idiwin Child and Family Services, an independent agency, which will be authorized by Zaag’idiwin, once it has been ratified and which will provide an organizational home for Anishinabek Child and Youth Prevention Services and Saugeen’s Band Representative Program until then.
We are seeking expressions of interest from community members for the inaugural Board of Directors for Zaag’idiwin Child and Family Services. If you think this might be you, please forward your letter of interest not later than Thursday, May 29, 2025 to:
Candice Ruhl Director of Human Resource
Saugeen First Nation
6 Cameron Drive
Southampton, ON N0H 2L0
E-mail: candice.ruhl@saugeen.org
Other notices
