Read on Twitter
We have something much bigger coming out on Weechi-it-te-win Family Services.
December 4 and 11.
I need to take the next two weeks to meet those deadlines. (Plus others)
But let's recap the first six stories that have been paving the way: https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/first-nations-youth-in-care-likely-deformed-for-life-blames-child-welfare-agency/
December 4 and 11.
I need to take the next two weeks to meet those deadlines. (Plus others)
But let's recap the first six stories that have been paving the way: https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/first-nations-youth-in-care-likely-deformed-for-life-blames-child-welfare-agency/
Daniel been "in care" all his life. We obtained his medical records that show his rare deformity wasn't considered serious.
Daniel missed years of medical appointments.
Meanwhile, his deformity locked-in under the care of Weechi.
Daniel missed years of medical appointments.
Meanwhile, his deformity locked-in under the care of Weechi.
His current caregiver of several years has pushed like hell to get him help. She also documented everything, including the longtime worker being shocked to hear Daniel has a deformity.
Norma Spencer knew. Weechi knew. Everyone knew. https://www.aptnnews.ca/featured/deformed-youth-demands-proof-child-welfare-agency-has-authority-to-keep-him-in-foster-care/
Norma Spencer knew. Weechi knew. Everyone knew. https://www.aptnnews.ca/featured/deformed-youth-demands-proof-child-welfare-agency-has-authority-to-keep-him-in-foster-care/
The story questions whether Weechi even has a legal agreement to keep the youth, 15, in care.
I can tell you now my information is they do not.
If there was a customary care agreement it expired a long time ago.
I can tell you now my information is they do not.
If there was a customary care agreement it expired a long time ago.
Daniel's deformity means it can impact his kidneys but he never had an ultrasound to confirm until a week ago. They've known since he was 3.
We don't know the results.
We do know he is in place he calls his "forever home". https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/helping-daniel-a-caregivers-two-year-journey-to-heal-her-broken-son-and-his-rare-deformity/
We don't know the results.
We do know he is in place he calls his "forever home". https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/helping-daniel-a-caregivers-two-year-journey-to-heal-her-broken-son-and-his-rare-deformity/
Daniel's "worker" for most of the summer was a secretary. She did his latest plan of care. That's insane. (fair comment)
Then we did stories and he got a new worker.
Each kid in care is supposed to go over their "rights and responsibilities in care" with a worker.
So...
Then we did stories and he got a new worker.
Each kid in care is supposed to go over their "rights and responsibilities in care" with a worker.
So...
She provided Daniel with this.
We dated it at least 13 years old based on several factors.
One: the printing is old as hell.
Second: it refers kids to a child advocacy office that predates the former provincial advocate office that opened in 2007.
It’s likely much older.
We dated it at least 13 years old based on several factors.
One: the printing is old as hell.
Second: it refers kids to a child advocacy office that predates the former provincial advocate office that opened in 2007.
It’s likely much older.
Soon after APTN emailed Weechi Daniel was provided with an updated form.
The only saving grace is the phone number has never changed, so if he called he would have been put through to the ombudsman's office that sort of investigates complaints now. SORT OF.
The only saving grace is the phone number has never changed, so if he called he would have been put through to the ombudsman's office that sort of investigates complaints now. SORT OF.
We have much more to tell you about Daniel.
Like how we have a document that proves his so-called specialist tried to rewrite history. Daniel needs help. That's the focus. But that will come out soon.
Which brings us back to customary care agreements.
Like how we have a document that proves his so-called specialist tried to rewrite history. Daniel needs help. That's the focus. But that will come out soon.
Which brings us back to customary care agreements.
We keep finding proof that children under Weechi have expired agreements. We don't know how high this goes.
But here is one that was more than two years old. https://www.aptnnews.ca/featured/first-nations-child-kept-in-care-for-two-years-after-customary-care-agreement-expired/
But here is one that was more than two years old. https://www.aptnnews.ca/featured/first-nations-child-kept-in-care-for-two-years-after-customary-care-agreement-expired/
This is a wild story for many reasons.
But I will begin with Jackie Lizotte, a real long-time worker with Weechi.
Lizotte told this mother five times there was an agreement in a recorded telephone conversation.
And got madder as the call went on.
But I will begin with Jackie Lizotte, a real long-time worker with Weechi.
Lizotte told this mother five times there was an agreement in a recorded telephone conversation.
And got madder as the call went on.
Three days later the mother had her kid back and Weechi closed her file. Two years later.
And because the mother refused to give up. She educated herself on the law and used it.
We see mothers jump through hoops. They'll do anything asked and too often more is needed.
And because the mother refused to give up. She educated herself on the law and used it.
We see mothers jump through hoops. They'll do anything asked and too often more is needed.
There is much more to this story and we will tell it soon.
One thing is certain: Jackie Lizotte's name keeps coming up.
But Weechi is devolved they say. So let's look at that.
One thing is certain: Jackie Lizotte's name keeps coming up.
But Weechi is devolved they say. So let's look at that.
Weechi is licensed by the province of Ontario as a children's aid society, which is what we call child and family services.
So picture a chart with Weechi at the top.
Below them are 10 First Nations in and around the Fort Frances area of northwestern Ontario.
So picture a chart with Weechi at the top.
Below them are 10 First Nations in and around the Fort Frances area of northwestern Ontario.
Each First Nation has what's known as a community care program, a child protection team.
They handle the on-the-ground child welfare for each of their nations.
While Weechi provides them their authority to so, but does a lot more than that.
They handle the on-the-ground child welfare for each of their nations.
While Weechi provides them their authority to so, but does a lot more than that.
That's because Weechi's executive director, Laurie Rose, is the legal guardian for every kid in care across the nations.
A worker needs medical records? Laurie has to sign-off on it.
I have been told she holds the keys to many things.
A worker needs medical records? Laurie has to sign-off on it.
I have been told she holds the keys to many things.
Weechi's head office in Fort Frances is a unionized shop that provides support to the 10 teams.
They can also step in and take over like it did with Big Grassy a few years ago.
Service agreements are signed between the nation and Weechi.
They can also step in and take over like it did with Big Grassy a few years ago.
Service agreements are signed between the nation and Weechi.
So we began looking at one CCP team and it was Rainy River First Nations (or Manitou).
This is what we found. https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/runaway-in-barrie-breakdown-in-weechi-foster-home-sends-youth-1600km-away/
This is what we found. https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/runaway-in-barrie-breakdown-in-weechi-foster-home-sends-youth-1600km-away/
It begins with a runaway youth in Barrie but it's about much more than that.
We tied that runaway to a breakdown in the CCP team at RRFN.
The story shows a lack of support for staff and caregivers.
We tied that runaway to a breakdown in the CCP team at RRFN.
The story shows a lack of support for staff and caregivers.
We did so through an internal report into Coun. Leona McGinnis, who is the aunt of Chief Robin McGinnis.
The report confirmed the toxic office, but it doesn't talk about the impact on kids. The very meaning of the work.
So we did because that's all we are doing.
The report confirmed the toxic office, but it doesn't talk about the impact on kids. The very meaning of the work.
So we did because that's all we are doing.
So you may think they reacted by helping the runaway teen or connected her with her loving aunt.
No.
After the story came out on Nov. 12 we learned RRFN/Weechi was more concerned with a source of ours - Shannon Stone.
But what about the aunt?
No. Just Stone.
No.
After the story came out on Nov. 12 we learned RRFN/Weechi was more concerned with a source of ours - Shannon Stone.
But what about the aunt?
No. Just Stone.
That night we learned they were removing a foster youth from Stone's home. A high-risk youth who found love in the home after 16 different placements.
Then Tracy Hoey, supervisor of the RRFN team, called Stone.
Suddenly there was no agreement to have the youth in her home.
Then Tracy Hoey, supervisor of the RRFN team, called Stone.
Suddenly there was no agreement to have the youth in her home.
They youth had been in the home since January.
Then it gets weird(er).
Her home was now "closed" too, but not by RRFN, rather a different nation under Weechi, Big Island First Nation.
Then it gets weird(er).
Her home was now "closed" too, but not by RRFN, rather a different nation under Weechi, Big Island First Nation.
