Payukotayno, Tikinagan family services serving remote NAN First Nations get Ontario funding
From the Toronto Star
First Nations children's aid gets lifeline - Three communities receive emergency cash
By Tanya Talaga - Dec 10 2009
MOOSONEE–The Ontario government has thrown a $6.4 million lifeline to three struggling First Nations children's aid societies that face mass staff layoffs due to budgetary woes.
At Moosonee's Payukotayno James and Hudson Bay Family Services, staff members were ecstatic after Children and Youth Services Minister Laurel Broten announced $2.3 million in emergency funding.
The money will ensure Payukotayno can continue to care for the 115 children in Crown care and provide services to the depressed community until the end of the agency's fiscal year, March 2010. The agency's credit line is maxed out and pink slips had been sent to all 120 staff members, effective next week.
However, the emergency cash does not solve the problem of how to keep the agency afloat past March, said executive director Ernest Beck. "All we've done is prolong the service to the fiscal year end. It doesn't do much to solve long term issues and challenges."
In addition to money going to Payukotayno, Broten also announced Tikinagan in Sioux Lookout will receive $2.1 million and Pikangikum gets $2 million.
Agencies serving First Nations and remote communities have had funding problems for years, according to the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies.
Payukotayno serves the remote communities of Attawapiskat, Fort Albany and Kashechewan, up the James Bay coast. To reach a child in crisis, staff members often have to charter planes at excessive costs.