Tamara's Next Project

Tamara's Next Project This is the place where I will workout the issues in my head about the dysfunction of child welfare in Manitoba. Oh & maybe finish a project here and there.

Taking an honest look at the effects on the children & families...birth, foster & extended.

So from what I understand, the Link is ceasing 3rd party foster homes in Thompson and foster parents are having to figur...
05/28/2026

So from what I understand, the Link is ceasing 3rd party foster homes in Thompson and foster parents are having to figure out how to supplement the cost of raising children the government is responsible for in a northern community.

No matter where you fall on the spectrum of support, love or loathing of foster parents, the fact is, living costs money.

Fuel, groceries, hydro, all of it costs money and to have your ability to pay for those things for your household to function removed while the responsibility of care for vulnerable children remains is beyond cruel.

No one seems to care about the impact on the kids or the homes these children are receiving care in.

You can't build a strong foundation when someone is always kicking it out from under you.

They want foster parents to be financially independent to be able to provide care for the kids as it "isn’t a job", but then when we try to have a job to supplement there is no support either.

So basically they want only financially independent Indigenous foster parents to come to the table to provide care.

The same demographic that has faced challenges to get those higher paying jobs that could help them be able to provide service.

The same women who are belittled for raising their voice, for being emotional when advocating and standing up children. The same ones who are labeled as angry, difficult, unstable and contemptuous. Or are they not the right kind of indigenous women.

Ya I've been at the table. I hear how you talk to and about the biological families. Indigenous families.

No disrespect but Nahanni, I'm sure have a big house. I'm sure you must have an extra room and if not, why don't you put on an addition out of pocket like we did?

Come on, be a good woman and take some kids in.

Don't forget, you must be able to attend all of their appointments, doctor, therapy, pickups for bad days at school, family visits, social skills groups, physio and on and on. Oh and dont expect reimbursement for the miles you put on. Just be a good person.

And keep that well paying government job so you can continue to be able to be supplement out of pocket for the children's basic needs because this "isn't a job"

Believe me, we know its not, because then we would have rights.

05/13/2026

Court Finds That Canada and Manitoba Created a Crisis by Trampling First Nations’ Right to Govern Their Own Child Welfare

Treaty One Territory, Winnipeg, Manitoba — Chief Justice Glenn Joyal of the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench has handed down judgment in a class action challenging the federal and provincial governments’ longstanding mismanagement of First Nations child welfare. The Court found that both levels of government serially breached First Nations’ constitutionally protected right to self-governance in the domain of child welfare. These breaches contributed to the gross overrepresentation of First Nations children in care and needlessly severed First Nations’ ties with another generation of their people. This historic decision is the first of its kind in Canada and an important step along the path toward reconciliation.

The action was led by Chief Heidi Cook of Misipawistik Cree Nation, Chief David Monias of Pimicikamak Cree Nation, and Chief Sheldon Kent of Black River First Nation, as well as the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (together, the “Plaintiffs”). The Plaintiffs argued their case in April 2025, followed by several rounds of further written submissions, and the Court released its 385-page decision Monday evening. Because the Court certified a class action in addition to granting judgment for the Plaintiffs, all First Nations in Manitoba can now opt-into the proceedings and benefit from the judgment in their favour.

The Court found that the Plaintiffs have “a right to raise their children in their culture and community, with a connection to their land, and immersed in their languages and spiritual traditions”. Yet “while Canada and Manitoba identified and recognized themselves and each other as highly interested parties in providing [Child and Family Services] to First Nations, they failed to treat First Nations communities, like the plaintiffs, as equally interested parties”. In turn, “First Nations child welfare in Manitoba during the Class period, operated in a way that contributed to and in some ways made inevitable, the severance or separation of First Nations children from their community.”

Read the full statement here:

https://manitobachiefs.com/press_releases/court-finds-that-canada-and-manitoba-created-a-crisis-by-trampling-first-nations-right-to-govern-their-own-child-welfare/

So to ensure I do something creative for self care, I am going to go live at 8 tomorrow night (Mon May 4) to repair or c...
05/04/2026

So to ensure I do something creative for self care, I am going to go live at 8 tomorrow night (Mon May 4) to repair or create something while discussing what advice I'd give for families dealing with child welfare agencies.

Rules of engagement

No ignorant comments. No fighting. Ain't nobody got time for that.

Respectful dialogue back-and-forth we're all adults here, and if we honestly want change in this province, then we need to get our s**t together and address it properly

I don't want anyone getting into trouble, be mindful of what you post when referencing your specific situation especially if you have been advocating hard for the children and youth. People are having screenshots taken of their posts and being put in their files and being used against them.

If you have questions, I will try to answer them to best of my ability while being fully aware of my own limitations. Hopefully it can help. ❤️

Ps look at the picture and take some deep breaths. It really helps.

I sincerely want to thank everyone for paying attention to my little post. It is incredibly scary speaking up after year...
04/25/2026

I sincerely want to thank everyone for paying attention to my little post.

It is incredibly scary speaking up after years of involvement with the child welfare system in Manitoba. It's a system that is meant to keep strong advocates quiet and doesn't hesitate to threaten and intimidate. I know of people having there social media posts printed off, warned and put into their file. Folks are being asked to sign nondisclosure agreements to further limit talks about what support they do or don't receive.

I am very aware this is an emotional and personal topic for a lot of people and I'm glad to be a place where you feel a connection to discuss a future where children and youth are well supported to reach their potential.

For those who just want to add comments, I respectfully ask that you choose your words in a way that isn't harmful, especially to and about women and youth that maybe participating on this page.

At the end of the day, all we want is improved outcomes for children in youth in Manitoba. I believe that everybody can agree with that.

Pic for attention...Bought this for someone special today. Can’t wait to see what she does with it.

Edit, I realized I missed the email saying not to share the invite I received. But I am sharing this as a forward measur...
04/23/2026

Edit, I realized I missed the email saying not to share the invite I received.

But I am sharing this as a forward measure. If you have a child pass away at the children's hospital, there is an annual memorial in the spring.

If your child was a child in care, notification may have gone to the agency only as happened with our family.

Thank you ❤️

Edit, my goal for this space is to move towards improving outcomes for children and youth by properly supporting their c...
04/22/2026

Edit, my goal for this space is to move towards improving outcomes for children and youth by properly supporting their circle of care. This includes birth, kinship and foster families as well as their chosen support system.

Please be respectful in your comments. My children may see this and they have gone through enough this past few years.

Children in care become parents to the next generation of children in care when long term natural supports (their chosen family) aren't established to help them advocate for themselves. These kids are often moved from home to home, worker to worker then out of the system.

For lots of these kids the need to feel loved and wanted has never been satiated. And if you have no level of expectation of what a safe loving relationship because they never stayed in a home long enough to witness it, you can find yourself going from relationship to relationship searching for it.

Removing that baby, necessary or not, is another trauma for that young person.

The pain of loss is strong and the desire to be loved is as well and then the next relationship and the next baby and so on. It's not to hard to see how easy it happens.

So be kind or I need to go private. Our families deserve some grace.

Thanks
............................
Original post

In speaking with Nahanni and her team many times, in different capacities, I have felt very upset and even agitated (10% don't get me started) but this is too much.

I have tried for years to try and call attention to practices that I felt were counterintuitive to the health and welfare of children within the child welfare system in Manitoba and what would be considered in the best interest of the child.

Maybe, this will help convey my thoughts in a way that will reach the right people. I know I'm all over the place in my videos. I'm definitely letting my adhd flag fly lately so I hope writing it makes it more palatable.

I have always felt foster parents concerns were disregarded and that we were never fully heard or even respected as a member of the team.

Time with the minister felt like more of a thing she had to do, rather than an opportunity to learn how foster parents can help shape child welfare and continue to be of service to the children of Manitoba. This is especially important as they move towards bringing the children home.

I know many foster parents are concerned, either because they have never been connected to any positive family members and only hear bad things, or like us, because we do know them, very well and love and support them but know they are not prepared for the demand on the community, or the resources needes to provide specialized care especially with medically complex kids.

It's not that it can't be done or done well. It just needs open honest dialog and complete transparency of the needs including the cost to provide that care. The children, the families and communities need this to go right. We all need this to go right. The kids need a stong foundation. That means we need relationship building, sharing of knowledge and continued support.

Currently kids aren't being properly supported or funded. Foster parents often spend hundreds of dollars a month out of pocket to provide necessities nevermind treats like take out when you have a heavy appointment day. If you don't believe me, check out all the reports that are readily available and funded by a cross section of organizations. This will be at the expense of community members when they receive them back home.

Agencies aren't providing the services they claim to. Children are missing out on the opportunity for family and cultural connection.

Did you know that children in care are supposed to be able to visit their family 4 times a year? I never knew and they missed out on many, many years. I have so much regret.

Foster parents are threatened with removal when they advocate and speak up for the children and their families. Traumatizing a child with a move is a hell of a way to consequence a foster parent. We have to live with that. And we know how frequently kids can move and how some places aren't so great so we try keep it in, and shut up, and stay in line.

But sometimes, its too much. When you read the TRC Calls to Action, UNDRIP, recommendations from the dozens of reports and compare it to the quality of care they are receiving from their caring agency, it just all comes unraveling. It's hard not to call bulls**t. Though I still fully haven't.

Because I'm still scared. Like the scared little kids I raised and the scared little kid I was. Not sure if people realize that but a lot of us foster parents had some scary upbringing too. Not all, but many have been through the system themselves. And no matter how many hours of therapy and healing we invested, seeing something happen to our kids that we know is not in their best interest eats away at that.

See, I get frustrated too but I just wrote this instead. No threats, just the my opinion while stearing clear from anything that will get me in trouble.

I wonder why he was so angry. I'm sure it will come out but I'm really glad no one was hurt.

Ps I feel Mr Khan has conflicting views

Pps, both these parties have had their fair share of time to improve the lives of children in care.

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