Gitxsan Child & Family Services Society Longhouse
Sik-e-Dakh, BC
2023
Gitxsan society is matrilineal and organized through a hereditary Wilp (House) system. Each Wilp has its own territory and hereditary Chiefs. This means that every Gitxsan child is born into a Wilp, rooted in a specific community. It is important for Gitxsan children to have access to their home communities, ensuring a familial connection to their Wilp and ancestral identity. Currently there are more than one hundred and thirty (130) Gitxsan children living under the care of either Indigenous Services Canada or the Ministry of Child and Family Development (MCFC) and typically do not have access to their home communities. Additionally, young adults who are aging out of the care system are at greater risk of becoming homeless and developing health issues associated with loss of familial identity and sense of belonging. The goal of the “Bringing Our Children Home” initiative is to change this reality.