‘Reigniting conversations’: Family services society Nenan Dane Zaa Deh Zona hosts open house and annual general meeting

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A local family services organization dedicated to assisting families in the Indigenous community hosted an open house alongside its annual general meeting.

The Nenan Dane Zaa Deh Zona Family Services Society is located in downtown Fort St. John, offering services including “nurturing the creation of child-centered systems of support that honor and meaningfully engage children and families by linking to their distinct culture, traditional practices and languages,” according to its website.

The organization currently offers services to local First Nations in the area as well as members of the region’s Métis community, said executive director Derian Young.

“The purpose of Nenan from the beginning was to pursue the reclamation of our inherent rights and responsibilities for our children,” said Young. “As times progress, things have changed.”

“[Child welfare] still remains our pursuit, but we do a lot of prevention and community support. So we work, you know, anything Indigenous children and youth, mental health, early childhood development. We cover the life cycle of families.”

While Young couldn’t “dive deep” into what was discussed at the AGM, she did confirm the board “reignited conversations” with local Indigenous groups regarding reorganizing the governance structure to ensure representation from all Treaty 8 Nations, the 2025 annual report, and the implementation of Bill C-92.

The bill is a federal law which will recognize jurisdiction of Indigenous child and family services to Indigenous communities and organizations.

“We are always willing to have conversations,” said Young. “We’re definitely having deeper ones. With Bill C-92, there’s a lot of opportunities.”

Young told Energeticcity.ca she would like to see the representation from communities, including around the Treaty 8 communities increase.

“We are definitely hoping to get people that are passionate about families and Indigenous child welfare,” said Young. 

The open house consisted of a meet and greet, where residents could come in and learn about Nenan Dane Zaa Deh Zona at 10615 102nd Street on Wednesday, October 15th.

It included a screening of the 2001 documentary film Home is Suunèch’ii Kèch’ Igge, which translates to “The Place Where Happiness Dwells”

Produced by To Be Heard Film Productions, it focuses on the building of Nenan Dane Zaa Deh Zona, with contributions from former Saulteau First Nations Chief Art Napoleon and Dr. Robin Ridington.

More information about the society is available at the organization’s Facebook page or website.