Calls for child welfare overhaul filter into Sask. after Tina Fontaine's death in Man.

As the death of Tina Fontaineleads to calls for an overhaul of the child welfare system in Manitoba, a similar push is gaining momentum in Saskatchewan.

On Aug 17, 2014,Fontainewas found dead in Winnipeg's Red River.Fontainewas originally fromSagkeengFirst Nation, but had been in the care of Manitoba's child welfare system at the time of her death.

There areapproximately 5,000 children in care in Saskatchewan, andabout 4,000 of them are Indigenous.

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations has been in talks with the Ministry of Social Services in Saskatchewan since October when Second Vice-ChiefDavid Prattwas electedto improvethe situation for young Indigenous people in the care of the province. The collaboration is in its infancy, according to Pratt.

"There's a lot ofreceivinghomes open in Saskatchewanand we want greater accountability in terms of what's going on in those homes, who's staffing those homes, if there's any cultural component happening in those homes," he said.

"Ithink we need to work together as partners."

Pratt has been encouraged by the readiness of federal ministers Jane Philpott, of Indigenous Services,and Carolyn Bennett, of Indigenous Relations andNorthern Affairs, to focus on prevention of children having to go into care, rather than band-aid solutions.

But Pratt said theprovince has some work to do.

Here in Saskatchewan, we have a lot of work toget done.- FSINVice-Chief David Pratt on Saskatchewan's child welfare system

"A lot of times the government comes to us with thejurisdictionalsong and dance. We know theconstitution. We know what Section 91 states, thatresponsibility [for]Indiansfalls under the federal government. But we've got to look at what regions like Ontarioare doing."

In Ontario, federal and provincial governments work with Ontario Chiefs as a tripartite to worktowardbetter outcomes for children in care.

"In Nova Scotia, theMi'kmaqactually helped draft the child welfare legislation. Why can't we do that in Saskatchewan? Let's open up that legislation."

Pratt believes that groups like theFSINhave solutions, if only various levels of government would listen.

Recognizing trauma, heritage

Part of improving outcomes for Indigenous children who are unable to live with their parents is connecting them with their home communities.

"It'll help them with their identity. Learning who they are is part of a healthy young individual."

A young Indigenous person's identity, though, can often involve a history linked to residential schools and intergenerational trauma, and the necessity of navigating colonial systems.

"Our treaty partners in Saskatchewan, non-Indigenous people, need to realize our history and that we're not going to find solutions unless we work together on them," said Pratt.

Within the province's social services, there has been a conscious shift over the past few years to be more sensitive to the needs of young Indigenous people, and to connect them with their First Nations and families.

"For many Indigenous families we work with, they might identify elders, community leaders, or agencies like community-based organizations that are Indigenous-run, or they might identify their home First Nation, so we'd connect with them in developing the case plan," said Tobie Eberhardt, executive director of community services at the Ministry of Social Services.

"It would be around the family identifying what their needs are, who they would see as their natural supports."

Every child is also subject to a strength and needs assessment when they come to the ministry for help.

Most often, children are then placed with a family member, or at the very least, with someone familiar to them.

"Sixty per cent of children in Saskatchewan are placed with extended family, or significant people in their lives," said Eberhardt.