Restoring at risk communities-doing it together in the pursuit of social justice

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, M.D., P.C., M.P., Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs says it very well: ‘’Children are our future, and to give them the best possible start in life, we must collectively move from an intervention-based approach of apprehension and protection to prevention-based approaches to community, families and children's rights and well-being. There needs to be better access to mental health services, children need to be protected from sexual exploitation and children’s rights need better protection.

Working in genuine partnership with First Nations is critical to developing community-led solutions for reform that will reduce the number of children in care and result in better health, education and economic outcomes.”

Overcrowded housing of the most northern communities contributes to the maintenance and rise of social problems

The purpose of the project No Child Should Take the Long Way Home in its final objective is to empower mothers in Nunavik communities in Quebec, Canada to become safer, to be aware of their legal rights, and families to understand the risk factors leading to the removal of their children. Safety standards for women and for children must be designed in services offered to the population of isolated communities.

Overcrowded housing in northern communities contributes to the maintenance and rise of social problems and largely affects safety issues in Nunavik and Nunavut's women and children.