Kwumut Lelum Child and Family Services is now a ‘first call’ agency, providing child and family services to nine First Nations from Malahat to Qualicum.

After 18 years, the new provincial authority gives Kwumut Lelum the mandate to provide full protection services and conduct assessments and investigations on reserves that include five Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council nations.

“We are practicing our inherent right to take care of our own,” said executive director Bill Yoachim from Snuneymuxw First Nation. “When a family is struggling, we want to be involved from the beginning so we can include the extended family and their community in order to support the parents, children or both.”