Introduction: Our Law, Our Voice, Our Future
As a proud member of Driftpile Cree Nation and the owner of Cree8ive Media, I’ve had the honour of not just witnessing a historic moment—but helping to share its story.
On March 17, 2025, Driftpile enacted a bold and powerful law called the Mihtatakaw Sîpiy Awasak Wiyasiwêwin. It’s more than legislation—it’s a statement. It tells the world that our Nation is reclaiming full control over how we protect, nurture, and support our children and families.
Through Cree8ive Media, we assist Driftpile Cree Nation and Chief Kinosew Awasak Mikiwahp (CKAM) with their websites, social media, and public communications. We make sure that our Nation’s work is not only grounded in community but visible to the world. Because these moments—these movements—deserve to be seen, heard, and understood.
What Is the Mihtatakaw Sîpiy Awasak Wiyasiwêwin?
In plain terms, this law is Driftpile Cree Nation’s own legislation governing child and family services for our members and children. It doesn’t rely on provincial systems or colonial definitions of care. It is Cree-created, Cree-led, and Cree-centered.
The law creates a full program under our jurisdiction, and establishes our own agency—Chief Kinosew Awasak Mikiwahp—to carry it out. From prevention to protection, from customary adoption to dispute resolution, it gives us the tools to care for our families in ways that honour our values, our language, and our culture.
Why This Law Matters So Deeply
For decades, Indigenous families have been torn apart by child welfare systems that failed to understand or value who we are. Children were removed from homes not because of harm—but because of poverty, cultural differences, or systemic bias.
The Mihtatakaw Sîpiy Awasak Wiyasiwêwin ends that cycle for Driftpile. It reclaims what is rightfully ours: the jurisdiction to decide for ourselves how our children are supported and protected. It grounds our services in Cree law, community traditions, and cultural continuity.
And just as importantly—it sets an example for other Nations ready to take this same step forward.
Chief Kinosew Awasak Mikiwahp: A New Model of Care
The law established Chief Kinosew Awasak Mikiwahp as the organization responsible for delivering these services. This agency is not just an administrative body—it’s a reflection of who we are as a Nation.
Led by a Board of Governors, with a Director called the Nîkâni-kaskihcikêw, this agency delivers:
-
Child and Family Services that reflect our values
-
Preventive and prenatal care to keep families strong
-
Support for care homes, rooted in community approval
-
Customary adoption options aligned with Cree traditions
-
Financial assistance up to age 26
-
Dispute resolution through Cree-led tribunals
This is self-determination in action—and it’s built to serve both on-reserve and off-reserve members.
The Best Interests of the Child—Through a Cree Lens
For far too long, “best interests of the child” was used as justification for removing Indigenous children from their families and placing them in non-Indigenous homes.
Our law redefines that. It says that what’s best for our children is:
-
Staying connected to family, community, and culture
-
Being raised in a way that protects Cree identity
-
Receiving preventive and prenatal support before a crisis happens
-
Not being removed simply because a family is poor or lives in inadequate housing
This is about keeping families whole, not punishing them for colonial conditions.
Cultural Continuity Isn’t Optional—It’s Foundational
The Mihtatakaw Sîpiy Awasak Wiyasiwêwin explicitly recognizes that cultural continuity is essential to a child’s wellbeing. It’s not a side benefit—it’s the core.
That means:
-
Children must be raised with access to Cree language, stories, and ceremonies
-
Placements should prioritize family members, community members, or other Indigenous caregivers
-
Child welfare services must be delivered in ways that don’t contribute to assimilation
Our law makes it clear: no child should have to give up who they are to be safe.
Kanawêyim and Paminêw: Centering Our Own Concepts
The language of the law is another form of sovereignty.
It introduces Cree legal concepts such as:
-
Kanawêyim – the sacred responsibility of caring for a child (like custody/guardianship)
-
Paminêw – the act of removing a child, only when absolutely necessary
-
Wiyasiwêwin – the word for “law” itself
By using these terms, we affirm that our laws come from our own knowledge systems, not borrowed ones. We don’t need to translate our values into colonial concepts—we just need to speak our truth.
A Justice System That Heals: Miyo-Wîcêhtowin Onâtamâkêw
Justice, in our way, means healing—not punishment.
That’s why the law creates the Miyo-Wîcêhtowin Onâtamâkêw, a dispute resolution body grounded in Cree traditions. It uses:
-
Talking circles
-
Mediation
-
Community-based decision-making
When families have concerns or need support, this body listens with respect, applies Cree principles, and helps everyone move forward together.
How Cree8ive Media Supports This Movement
As the owner of Cree8ive Media, I’ve always believed that our stories deserve to be told by us—and told well. That’s why we’re proud to work closely with both Driftpile Cree Nation and CKAM to support their:
-
Website development and maintenance
-
Social media management and content creation
-
Community announcements and campaigns
-
Educational graphics, videos, and storytelling
From designing digital content to managing online platforms, we help ensure that our Nation’s progress is visible, accessible, and beautifully presented.
The rollout of the Mihtatakaw Sîpiy Awasak Wiyasiwêwin is one of the most important stories we’ve helped share—and it’s only the beginning.
For Other Nations: This Is a Path You Can Walk Too
The Mihtatakaw Sîpiy Awasak Wiyasiwêwin didn’t happen overnight. It took planning, leadership, and strong relationships with federal and provincial partners.
But it’s not unique to Driftpile. Other Nations can—and should—follow a similar path.
Our law is aligned with Bill C-92, also known as An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families. That federal legislation affirms the right of Indigenous Nations to reclaim jurisdiction over child and family services.
What Driftpile has done is activate that right. And now, we’re proving that it works.
If your Nation is ready to do the same, we encourage you to:
-
Review our law as a template
-
Start community engagement sessions
-
Reach out to others who’ve gone ahead
-
Develop your own culturally grounded structures
We’re here to help—and Cree8ive Media can support you in sharing your journey too.
Conclusion: The Beginning of a New Era
The Mihtatakaw Sîpiy Awasak Wiyasiwêwin is more than a legislative milestone—it’s a spiritual one. It reflects who we are, how we care, and what we are reclaiming for our future generations.
Through this law, Driftpile Cree Nation has said clearly: We will raise our children in our own way, with our own laws, in our own voice.
At Cree8ive Media, we are honoured to support this movement, amplify this message, and walk alongside our Nation as we step boldly into our sovereignty.
This is just the beginning.
