Cowessess takes control over child welfare It’s the first of its kind in Canada, as a Saskatchewan First Nation gains control over child welfare. The Cowessess First Nation signed two agreements with the federal and provincial governments Tuesday, giving it authority regarding children-in-care. “Today we give birth to a new horizon,” said Chief Cadmus Delrome. “Today is a historical day, because we never gave up our sovereignty to our children.” In 2020, Cowessess ratified its own legislation, to not only defining the parameters of child welfare programing, but the creation of the Chief Red Bear Children’s Lodge. This follows the federal government passing legislation in 2019 aimed a reducing the number of Indigenous children in state care, but also allowing communities to create their own systems.