THUNDER BAY — Tikinagan Child & Family Services has hired dozens of staff to deliver care to clients in the city of Thunder Bay formerly looked after by Dilico Anishinabek Family Care.
To date, 70 new positions have been established, and additional hiring is underway.
Tikinagan is also recruiting and opening Indigenous foster homes in the city.
Its expansion follows Ontario's intervention in a longstanding jurisdictional dispute between Tikinagan and Dilico.
However, the squabble isn't quite yet finished.
Sioux Lookout-based Tikinagan, which was incorporated by First Nations belonging to NAN in 1984, sought to enlarge its jurisdiction to include Thunder Bay.
It was able to convince the Ministry of Children & Youth Services to give it responsibility for the welfare of children from Nishnawbe Aski Nation member communities, whether they live on-reserve or in Thunder Bay.
Dilico was established in 1986 by the Fort William First Nation, and 11 other signatories to the Robinson Superior Treaty.
It argued, among other things, that having two agencies caring for Indigenous children in the same geographic area would create confusion.
Fort William First Nation further maintained that Ontario was infringing on its exclusive jurisdiction over the welfare of Indigenous children in its traditional territory.
The ministry sided with Tikinagan, issuing a directive that allows Tikinagan to provide full services to families connected to NAN First Nations in the city and district for any new referrals.
The province also instructed Dilico to transfer to Tikinagan the files of its Tikinagan-affiliated clients starting May 1, and to complete all transfers by September 15, 2020.
Because of restrictions related to COVID-19, the transfers have been postponed, but Tikinagan's expansion is proceeding.
"We thank the ministry for listening to the voices of Tikinagan's 30 First Nations and recognizing that we are the agency that should be serving our own people no matter where they are," said Chris Kakegamic, former Chief of Keewaywin First Nation, said earlier this year.
Tikinagan has said its delivery model ensures that its clients receive culturally appropriate services.
Dilico continues to contest Ontario's decision, however.
"We are currently pursuing remedies before the courts to ensure Indigenous children and youth in Thunder Bay receive safe child welfare services," Dilico said in a brief response to an inquiry from Tbnewswatch.
"Because this matter is before the courts we cannot comment further," it added.
Dilico requested a judicial review of the ministry's orders earlier this year, but no court date has been scheduled.
The agency and Fort William First Nation previously sought a stay of the orders pending a judicial review, but a Superior Court judge ruled against the application in February.
He also awarded Tikinagan court costs of $50,000, to be split evenly between Fort William FIrst Nation and Dilico.
