Vision / Values / Mission

Our vision – Elmaptekemk  

First Nations communities where all children, youth and families are healthy, safe and can reach their full potential; where each child and youth is heard and where their best interests are affirmed and protected.

Amskwesewe’l l’nue’kati’l ta’n te’sit msit mijuaq’ji’j, malewe’j aq wikma’q wel-jajikoltijik, wlo’taqa’tijik, aq tepnma’tita; ta’n te’sit mijuaji’j aq maljewe’j nutuaten aqq apoqnmuaten ta’n koqwey nutama’ti’tij


Our mission - Telatu’emkewey

The Mi’gmaq Child and Family Services of New Brunswick Inc. is an incorporated not-for-profit organisation that champions the fundamental rights of First Nations children, youth and their families and delivers services that result in better lives for vulnerable children, youth, their families and their communities.

Mi’gmawey mijua’ji’j aq wi’kmaq luko’waqan wla New Brunswick Inc. mawa’tasik wjit weji-welatekemk ta’n melki- tetpaqo’tekemkewe’l wjit l’nu mijuaji’j, maljewe’j aq wi’kmaq. Eluko’watiji me’ na kelu’ktitew wk-mimajuaqnmal, ta’n te’sit ewlo’tasit mijaji’j, maljewa’j, aq wi’kmaq ta’n wikultijik wk-wutanimual

Special Acknowledgement:

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada

Ula lukowaqn kisa’tasikep aq ma’w apoqnma’ti wejiaq Kapno’lewey Kanata


Our values - Tepawi’te’tmkewe’l

Seven Sacred Teachings - L’luiknek Te’sikl Kekina’matimkewe’l :

  • WISDOM – Nsituo’qn
  • LOVE - Kesaltultimk
  • RESPECT – Kepmite’teken
  • BRAVERY – Ml’kikno’ti
  • HONESTY – Koqqwaja’teken
  • HUMILITY – Wanqwajite’tekn
  • TRUTH – Ketleweyuti 

Our Foundation

What are our core Beliefs?

We are guided by the Touchstone Principles of First Nations child welfare: self-determination, non-discrimination, holistic and structural interventions and respect for culture and language. These principles were developed by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society under the leadership of Cindy Blackstock.

  • Self-determination: our Board of Directors is made up of the seven Chiefs of the communities we serve; our CEO is Mi’kmaq; six of our eight Leadership Team members are Mi’kmaq and most live in the communities served by us; over 70% of our staff are Indigenous; our services are community-based.
  • Non-discrimination: we have negotiated a five-year funding agreement that has allowed us to design our services and programs in a way that responds best to the needs of the seven communities we serve and to be able to offer employee compensation and benefits to all our staff members that are equivalent to those in comparable public service organisations.
  • Holistic: prevention is the cornerstone of our approach; we work with the whole child, respecting her or his rights and best interests; we have our own Family Group Conferencing facilitators to engage the extended family and community members when children are at risk.
  • Structural interventions: we are concerned with all factors that affect a child’s well-being and work to address issues such as housing and early childhood development that can impede a child’s ability to reach her or his full potential.
  • Respect for culture and language: we have cultural coordinators in each of our communities to ensure that all our Mi’kmaq children learn about their culture and history; we are developing Nukumi Houses in our communities so that Elders and community members are actively involved in the creation of culturally safe and emotionally nurturing programs for our children; we will soon be offering Mi’kmaq language training to our team members.