A safe placement should also protect the child's connection to family, community and culture.

Information reviewed September 2026. Eligibility, contacts and service processes can change, so use the linked Mi'kmaq-led or official source when a current rule matters.

Canadian law recognizes cultural continuity as part of child wellbeing.

The federal Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families says cultural continuity is essential to the wellbeing of an Indigenous child, family and community. It recognizes the importance of language, culture, practices, customs, traditions, ceremonies and knowledge, and says services should allow a child to know their family origins.

• Federal Indigenous child and family services law: principles
• Federal law: effect of child and family services

Family placement has a specific priority in federal law.

When an Indigenous child is being placed through child and family services, the federal Act sets an order of priority, where consistent with the child's best interests: a parent, another adult family member, an adult from the same Indigenous group or community, another Indigenous adult, then another adult. It also requires consideration of placing a child with or near siblings and other family children.

Federal law: placement of an Indigenous child

If the child is already living with kin, connection still needs a plan.

Living with a grandparent or other relative can preserve family connection, but it does not automatically preserve every part of identity. Ask what relationships, language opportunities, community events, school supports, land-based experiences, traditions or family knowledge are important to this child.

Ask the child and the community rather than inventing the answer.

A caregiver may not know which cultural connections matter or how to access them, especially if the child has lived away from community. Use the child's age-appropriate views, family knowledge and guidance from the First Nation, Elders, Knowledge Keepers or Mi'kmaq-led services.

MCPEI can be an important bridge.

The Mi'kmaq Confederacy of PEI provides programs in family support, education, health, Indigenous justice and sport. Its Education Program works with Band-operated and PEI public schools and aims to increase Mi'kmaq language and cultural instruction. Family PRIDE includes cultural and recreational programming as part of prevention and family support.

• MCPEI Education
• MCPEI Family PRIDE

Abegweit and Lennox Island have their own community services.

Where the child belongs to or is connected with Abegweit or Lennox Island First Nation, start with that community for community-specific questions. Lennox Island provides health, social-development and child/youth services, while Abegweit provides health, social, education and other community programs.

Do not make cultural connection conditional on perfect paperwork.

Legal authority, registration, program eligibility and cultural belonging are different questions. When a caregiver is uncertain about status or documentation, ask the appropriate First Nation or Indigenous Services contact what is needed instead of assuming the child should lose community connection while paperwork is being sorted out.

Keep family origins available to the child.

The federal Act specifically says child and family services should allow an Indigenous child to know their family origins. Preserve names, relationships, photographs, stories, community connections and family information where it is safe and appropriate, rather than allowing the child's history to disappear during a placement change.