Project Team

Sarah Laurich is the ANFC Executive Director. She has been investigating and researching the issue of Indigenous youth aging out of care — child services, foster care, justice — over the past four years. The staff of ANFC have been providing supports to many of these youth. But the lack of affordable, safe, adequate housing and tailored supports for trauma, mental health/health, addiction, etc. exceeded the in-house capacity of ANFC to respond effectively to the needs of these youth and to help prepare them for independence and self-reliance. When Sarah presented the challenge to her Board of Directors with her proposed solution — the purchase of the Atikokan Hotel & the Biskaabiiyang program — she received approval to proceed.

  John Whitesell, PhD, Whitesell & Company, Inc.: John is the Managing Director of his Toronto-based consulting company. John met Sarah while he was completing the update to the Rainy River District’s Housing & Homelessness Strategy in 2018-19. He wrote the original strategy in 2013. The data that was gathered to support the strategy indicated that Indigenous youth were disproportionately represented in the homelessness statistics as well as people experiencing precarious (exposed to eviction) or severely inadequate housing. John had experienced the same situation with Indigenous populations across Canada.

   ANFC Youth Advisory Council (YAC): the YAC is comprised of five youth with lived experience who have been consulting on the production of the TV Docu-Series, Bring Our Children Home, that is being produced by ANFC and set for release in the Spring 2021. The series uses the voices of the youth to illustrate their stories and bring a sense of urgency to finding a solution. 

Autumn Windego is a member of the YAC, and she is featured (with her two young children) in the BOCH series. The series will also be used to inform the general population about the plight of youth aging out of care and how, by combining traditional Indigenous cultural approaches with best practices from youth programs around the world will help address the issues that youth are experiencing, while encouraging healing and self-reliance.  

   ANFC Youth Advisory Council (YAC): the YAC is comprised of five youth with lived experience who have been consulting on the production of the TV Docu-Series, Bring Our Children Home, that is being produced by ANFC and set for release in the Spring 2021. The series uses the voices of the youth to illustrate their stories and bring a sense of urgency to finding a solution. 

Autumn Windego is a member of the YAC, and she is featured (with her two young children) in the BOCH series. The series will also be used to inform the general population about the plight of youth aging out of care and how, by combining traditional Indigenous cultural approaches with best practices from youth programs around the world will help address the issues that youth are experiencing, while encouraging healing and self-reliance.  

Gail Super (Ph.D. 2010, Law and Society, New York University, New York) is an Assistant Professor at the

University of Toronto Mississauga. Dr. Super works critically within, and between, the disciplines of Law and

Society and Sociology, with a specialization in the Sociology of Punishment. Her research programme focuses on

the political context of penal policy-making, specifically the role of crime and punishment in constituting political authority and vice versa.  A core component of her theoretical framework is recognition of the variegated assemblages and hybrids that constitute the penal field and how punishment plays out in different combinations

and spaces.

The ANFC Board are active participants and supporters of creating  practical and sustainable solutions that support the youth and amplify  their voices and perspectives.  The ANFC Board is currently comprised of  5 First Nations/Métis Members and 2 non-Indigenous Members who work  together creating solutions to improve the lives of the urban Indigenous  population within Atikokan.  

Our Board represents a wide array of  relevant work and life experiences that are helping to guide the  development process for this vision, including a local family physician.  The Board has been present at development meetings, youth gatherings  and ceremonies with the youth involved in our vision development since  2016.

Danier Andy (Mishkosiminiziibiing, Lake of the Woods) is Bear clan and  1st degree Midewin.  Danier joined our BOCH development team in 2017.   Danier attended the 2017 youth gathering and immediately began working  with the development team to advance the youth vision. Danier is a  strong advocate for reclaiming traditional and spiritual approaches  while practically ensuring those teachings guide our development  processes.  Danier is featured in the BOCH series.

Richard Morrison (Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation) is Muskrat Clan  and 2nd Degree Midewin.  Richard worked with the ANFC from 2016 up until  his passing in 2020.  Richard was a teacher in his earlier years and  more recently was working specifically to support mental health and  share his cultural/traditional/spiritual teachings. Richard was a  strong and vocal supporter of the youth and this youth vision to create  safe places and practical solutions that will support healing. 

Richard  worked with the ANFC and Atikokan community offering his spiritual  gifts, guidance and practical teachings.  One of the lessons Richard  gave us was to "walk the talk" and not to "talk the walk", we aim to  incorporate and honour the teachings and guidance that Richard gifted us  as we bring this vision to life.  Richard is featured in the BOCH  docu-series.

Julie George is an Anishinaabe (Ojibwa and Potawatomi) Scholar, Helper, Pipe Carrier and Sweat Lodge Conductor from Wikwedong and Aazhoodena — Kettle & Stony Point First Nation. She completed her doctoral dissertation by employing Indigenous methodologies. Julie is the mother of five young sons.  

As the Scientific Advisor on Indigenous Health and Wellbeing with the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research (IMHPR) at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Julie works with Kettle & Stony Point First Nation as the Mental Health and Addiction Manager. Her research on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) was the basis for a model of intervention related to Indigenous Health.  Julie has a wide range of experience with Indigenous community-based research, program development and frontline service provision. 

Julie works closely with First Nations communities, including leadership, Elders, Spiritual Advisors, Knowledge Keepers and mental health and addiction clinicians. Her intent is to help build research-informed, comprehensive, well-integrated, and culturally congruent wellness strategies at the community level. 

The ANFC team is comprised of 15 full time employees as well as  additional temporary contract positions. Every Friday you will find our  team wearing the “Bring Our Children Home” tshirts or sweaters, we do  this to remind us of what we are working towards. Isaac Murdoch and  Christi Belcourt visited with us in Atikokan in 2019 to work with our  community and paint a large “Bring Our Children Home” mural that is on  the wall of our gym, it’s another visual reminder of our goals. Our team  works together to support family reunification and strengthening of the  family unit and family connections wherever possible. Our team is very  excited to see this vision come to life and looking forward to having  more comprehensive supports available when needed.

Jacki is a solution-focused Professional with extensive experience in Talent Management & Recruiting, Career Counselling, Research & Analysis, and Professional Writing. After pursuing an academic focus in Marketing, Jacki began her career in 2007 on Toronto’s Bay Street, coaching C-Suite Executive clients.

In 2014 Jacki made the strategic move into a new role with Optimum Talent Inc. She managed client interactions and wrote comprehensive proposals for the Coaching, Assessment, and Organizational Development business unit. Two years later, Jacki joined Whitesell & Company Inc. (WCI) to lead the subsidiary company Write on Résumés. She managed relationships with clients at all levels by providing high-touch, boutique Career Management and Coaching Services.

Jacki plays an integral role supporting various other WCI projects, including Bring Our Children Home — an initiative sponsored by the Atikokan Native Friendship Centre. Currently, she is leading Marketing, Communications, and Research for this project. Jacki is leveraging various social media platforms, and she is building stakeholder relationships to drive awareness and fundraising.

Jacki is a Professor at Seneca College. She is responsible for leading career-focused lectures and one-on-one sessions for students enrolled in the Fire Protection Engineering Technology Program. She is responsible for developing a similar curriculum for Seneca’s Pre-Service Fire Program in 2022.

Boozhoo! Shannon Stone indizhinikaaz, Mizha Kii Aana Kodook indigoo, makwa indoodem, Wauzhushk Onigum nindoonji.

I am incredibly passionate about helping children and families establish successful ways of reunification and to make them feel supported every step of the way, including after the process. 

After graduating with Honours from a Social Service Worker program, I started a career in First Nations child welfare is 2015. While working there, it became evident to me that the child welfare system is broken and lacks proper supports for children and families. I enjoy advocating on behalf of children and families and believe that everyone deserves love, respect, and support with their unique journeys.
 

In my experience, I have directly witnessed the generational trauma caused by the child welfare system, residential school system, and the 60’s scoop; this has left many First Nation families trapped in the cycle of addiction, which is a direct effect of trauma, a broken system, and not having adequate family support.
 

I am committed to showing respect to all of the clients I work with and believe in utilizing wrap around services, with a client/family centred and strengths-based approach. I have 3 sons of my own children and have been a foster parent to several youth as well, all of whom I am very proud of and blessed to have in my life.
 

I am honoured to be a member of the BOCH team as we share the same vision, and I look forward to supporting you in reaching your goals.

Boozhoo,

I have been a Registered Social Service Worker since 2015. For 4 years, I dedicated my career to indigenous child welfare and was eager and passionate to assist families and guide them through life’s challenges. My focus was structured around mental health and addiction. I gained incredible knowledge through trauma, which influenced my ability to be effective in supporting people, ultimately guiding them through to find their voice, become stronger and more independent.

When I left child welfare, I felt that I was no longer able to give people the voice and power they needed to succeed or support them in establishing healthier lifestyles. I felt like I was becoming part of the problem due to the structure of the child welfare system. Through my ongoing learning about people’s trauma and the links to history and culture, I knew something needed to change within the system and its organizations.

 I came from a large family but had many life experiences along the way that have shaped me and are the reason I do the work I do. I have 2 children that I would give the world to. Each day I fight for a better day for my children, and a better world for them to grow up in.

I believe in change, and I believe people can change with the right supports in place and right people in their corner. I am so honoured to have been asked to join the BOCH team and look forward to advocating for all families and supporting them along their journey.

Boozhoo indinawemaaganidok. Autumn Windego indizhinikaaz. Niizhoosebinesiikwe  ndigoo. Manidoo Baawitigong nindoonjii Makwa indoodem.

Autumn is my government name, and I am a former youth in care, a proud mother of 2 and “bonus mom” to one. I have an extensive background in youth advocacy through my work as a youth representative for numerous organizations and I have spent 3 years working within Indigenous Child Welfare.

There was a short period of time where I almost lost my Culture and language. If it wasn’t for the Atikokan Native Friendship Centre, it would have taken me longer to reconnect. I currently live in Rainy River First Nations and it’s important to me to raise my children in their community.
 

It wasn’t until a later age that I realized how broken the system is. I have lost both my mother and little brother to addiction. But, although Intergenerational Trauma has a huge impact in our communities and families, I know how resilient we are. Being a part of Bring Our Children Home (BOCH) is my home. We have a dedicated group of people advocating and supporting indigenous families. I have been part of BOCH for just over 7 years now and grateful for the opportunity to continue to grow, learn, and establish ways to improve our services to accommodate our people.

Sarah Laurich is the ANFC Executive Director. She has been investigating and researching the issue of Indigenous youth aging out of care — child services, foster care, justice — over the past four years. The staff of ANFC have been providing supports to many of these youth. But the lack of affordable, safe, adequate housing and tailored supports for trauma, mental health/health, addiction, etc. exceeded the in-house capacity of ANFC to respond effectively to the needs of these youth and to help prepare them for independence and self-reliance. When Sarah presented the challenge to her Board of Directors with her proposed solution — the purchase of the Atikokan Hotel & the Biskaabiiyang program — she received approval to proceed.