By Tawnya Plain Eagle

Piikani Child and Family Services (PCFS) celebrates successful first year of their new Lethbridge office with a ribbon cutting and Blackfoot naming ceremony on Dec 1.

Piikani Child and Family Services opened their Lethbridge office after changes were made to the provincial agreement between Children’s Services with Piikani Nation that allowed for the Band to have delegated responsibility for Piikani children in care who reside off reserve, in the neighboring South Region catchment area.

“This change allowed for the case management responsibility for these children to be transferred from Provincial Child Intervention case workers in South Region to employees of the Delegated First Nation Agencies and Piikani Child and Family Services,” said Debbi Eli Prevention Program Supervisor at PCFS.

Eli believes this change represents a huge step forward in the recognition of the importance for the Piikani Nation’s self-governance over its members and improved services for Indigenous children in care. 

According to Eli, On Dec 1. 2020 several files were officially transferred to Piikani Child and Family Services from the south region. 

Piikani immediately opened an office in Lethbridge to supplement the services offered from their main office located in Brocket.

“Following this initial transfer of the files of 16 children, ongoing work continues to identify children youth and families affiliated with Piikani Nation,” Eli added.