Indigenous Guest Inclusion

At SIIA, our model of care begins with the understanding that our territory is like a longhouse—with four posts marking the outer edges of our service area. Everything that happens within this longhouse falls under our care, including the well-being of Indigenous guests living on our territories.

As part of our governance structure, we’ve established a Council of Indigenous Guests to represent Indigenous people living in the South Island region who are not members of our six Nations. This Council includes representatives from a range of Indigenous communities, ensuring their voices, experiences, and needs are reflected in the laws and services we create.

We deeply respect the distinct cultures, identities, and traditions of both our Member Nations and Indigenous guests. Our commitment is to provide services in a way that honours and preserves cultural identity, and does not contribute to assimilation. At the same time, we hold that guests on these lands carry a reciprocal responsibility to learn and respect the protocols of the South Island Nations.

To learn more about how we understand host-guest relationships, visit our Definitions page.

As we reclaim our inherent rights to govern and care for our people, we assert that this includes the right to provide child and family services to Indigenous guests living on our territory. Our approach aligns with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and reflects commitments made by both federal and provincial governments to uphold these rights.

Together, we are building a child and family system unique to the South Island Nations—one that is grounded in traditional law and values, and inclusive of the diversity within our communities. We are all paddling together, toward a future where every Indigenous child and family on our territory is supported, respected, and feels a deep sense of belonging.