Huu-ay-aht aim to keep foster children in their community

The Huu-ay-aht First Nation on Vancouver Island is hoping a new care model will help their foster kids stay with with families within the community.

The council has just created a panel to review strategies around the care of vulnerable children. Elected Chief Councillor Robert J. Dennis Sr. hopes it will lead to new ideas for achieving the goal of keeping foster kids in the community.

"They're removed from their culture, they're removed from their homeland and in some instances the situations they're in aren't in the best of their interests," Dennis told All Points West host Robyn Burns.

"In order for our children to live a strong, vibrant life, the Huu-ay-aht culture has to be a major part of their life."

• 19-year-old found dead in Surrey B.C. tent 'popped up' in Alex Gervais investigation
• B.C. First Nation celebrates return of artifacts from Royal B.C. Museum
• Hundreds of B.C. foster children victims of sexualized violence

Currently, 34 Huu-ay-aht children are in foster care. Nine are in homes with Huu-ay-aht families, the rest are in non-Indigenous homes mostly on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, Dennis says.

He says many years ago, Huu-ay-aht children who would normally go into foster care would stay within the community instead of leaving.

After his mother died, he became one of those children, and he says he and many others cared for in that way went on to lead successful lives.

"But, unfortunately, a new system came in and they thought they could do a better job than what we had in place," he said.

Dennis says he believes the panel will come forward with recommendations for the First Nation and other levels of government in early 2017.

With files from CBC Radio One's All Points West

To hear the full story, click the audio labelled:Huu-ay-aht wants more of its foster kids to stay in community