Quebec First Nations take control of youth protection

Constant Awashish says it often felt like the provincial agency charged with protecting kids on Atikamekw territory did more harm than good.
The grand chief paints a dire picture: parents and children being separated, cases inevitably ending up in court and kids wasting away in the foster care system. Nothing seemed to change, the caseload never lightened.
And so, 18 years ago, the Atikamekw First Nation banded together and came up with a solution.
They would partner with the Quebec government a