BURSTThis week is Returning to the Home Fire in Witset, the event kicked off Monday morning with a tea and Bannock welcome home greeting at the Witset Band Gym.
This is a biennial gathering hosted in partnership by Witset First Nation and the Office of Wet’suwet’en’s (OW) ANABIP Program. ANABIP is an acronym for Anuk Nu’At’en Ba’glgh’ iyi z’ilhdic
meaning “We are talking about our ways.”
The event brings Wet’suwet’en children in care back to their home community to reconnect with their families, culture, language, and yintah (land). Through cultural teachings, land-based experiences, and community gatherings, Returning to the Home Fire provides children and youth with opportunities to strengthen their identity, build relationships with family and community, and deepen their connection to their Wet’suwet’en heritage.
DeWayne Robinson, Witset First Nation Children and Families Band Representative, said this an opportunity for children and youth in care to reconnect with their families, culture, language, community, and the lands that have always been part of who they are.
“It is the most important event for our children in care, they have the opportunity to return to their home land in a cultural setting, meet their Clan Chief, extended family members, and clan members. To help them understand who they are and where they are from, knowing they are a bigger part of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, so they know they are not alone,” he said.
“This has occurred ever two years. The Ministry of Children and Families help fund the event for our children in care. This will be my fourth event that I have helped organize, our community of Witset and our Band with the assistance of OW ANABIP Program help make this happen, in the last three I have had over 60 children return home.”
This event is intended for Witset First Nation children and youth currently in care as well as the caregivers supporting a Wet’suwet’en child or youth in care, social workers and invited family members and supports involved in their journey home.
The event is made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Witset First Nation, Children and Families minisitry, the Office of Wet’suwet’en ANABIP Program, and a dedicated planning team that has worked together for months to organize this year’s gathering.