Cultural Services

Bicultural Practice and Service

Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services provides child welfare and family support services in ways that promote the preservation of Anishinabek culture and identity, strengthen families and communities and foster the growth and development of Anishinabek children within Anishinabek families and communities.

KGCFS will be culturally responsive in its delivery of service and will appreciate cultural diversity of its member First Nations and service users and will offer bicultural services inclusive within the agency.

The use of traditional Anishinabek practices and including referrals to professional mainstream services will be offered to agency service users to assist in both traditional and / or eastern and western intervention methods and healing requirements.

Under this model of service delivery, service users can access both clinical interventions and practices and traditional cultural practices which include access to support and assistance through sessions with traditional counselors, gatherings, lodges or ceremonies, with Elders and traditional resources.

KGCFS respects and acknowledges that some families chose to embrace Anishinabek spiritual practices while others have chosen to follow other traditions. Other families may choose to not follow any one spiritual path or adopt aspects of both. Within the Anishinabek cultures served there are different traditions that have different approaches to healing, counselling and treatment and youth and families have a right to access culturally appropriate services as requested.

Cultural Supports

KGCFS understands the negative impacts that separation has on a child. We must support and help the child to cope and deal with the experiences of loss and grief that comes with separation. Children respond to separation in different ways. KGCFS will work to ensure that all children coming into care are protected and stay connected with their culture, language and community while strengthening family and community relationships.

KGCFS provides primary prevention services by striving to promote and educate upon traditional healing practices to assist individuals to correct unhealthy (learned) behaviours, influence positive changes to re-establish self-identities by reinforcing healthy behaviours, lifestyles and family unity in a therapeutic and cultural manner.

KGCFS will assist individuals by the promotion and share of traditional Anishinabek teachings, customs and coordinate a variety of required ceremonies to assist individuals in their own individual wellness in a helper capacity in child welfare. The agency recognizes that our Anishinabek practices can assist individuals on a path of wholistic wellness and we at KGCFS attempt to assist in the identification of cultural services to address the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness / health of the child, youth, family and community.

Traditional Resources

KGCFS recognizes and acknowledges that healing comes from Gzhe’ Mnidoo and that Anishinabek have the gifts to assist with the process. Traditional/Spiritual Advisors utilized by the agency include, but are not limited to:

The following cultural events and activities are coordinated by KGCFS or in collaboration with other service partners or member First Nations that are linked to primary prevention services are as following:

1. KGCFS offers weekly Lunch and Learn Sessions and evening cultural activities open to the general public that is available at 3 office locations in Wikwemikong, M’Chigeeng and Sudbury. Sessions vary from Anishinabemowin, Hand Drumming, numerous Traditional Teachings, Ribbon Skirt and Ribbon shirt making, etc. These activities allow an opportunity for individuals to come together, visit each other and share life experiences.
2. KGCFS delivers bi-annual Cultural Day Events as means to offer primary prevention that is geared to the general community. The intent and purpose of delivering the Cultural Day Events is to promote preventative and educational traditional based Anishinabek teachings and cultural activities based upon community needs. Cultural Day Events assure a safe environment to entice individuals whom are seeking help and guidance towards a path of spiritual healing and allows an opportunity to connect with traditional knowledge keepers. The workshops and sessions provided promote, educate and preserve the Anishinabek way of life.
3. KGCFS delivers a Mid-Winter Round Dance Social primarily in March annually. This event is open to the public and allows an opportunity for families to gather in remembrance of loved ones whom have passed onto the spirit world in a healthy manner to grieve their loss and to acknowledge and celebrate life with song and dance.
4. KGCFS delivers an annual Youth Conference that is open to youth (in-care) between the ages of 13 to 24 years. The Youth Conference focuses on influential and motivational role model(s) to share on appropriate youth topics and subjects, e.g. traditional teachings and values of being an Anishinabek, self-identity, understanding developmental life stages, life purpose, life skills, budgeting, social skills, healthy relationships and preventative areas to be self-reliant as they positively transition into adulthood.
5. Other preventative and cultural activities offered by KGCFS to the general public include the Winter Snow Day Event in Sudbury in partnership with the City of Greater Sudbury, Winter Carnival in collaboration with N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre in Sudbury, Indigenous Day in Sudbury and Three Fires Gathering and Fall Harvest with Maamwi Naadamadaa, Wiikwemkoong Ontario Works, and other activities as requested by communities and other collateral agencies.