Meet Nova Scotia’s first Mi’kmaw child welfare specialist – The Coast

Natalie Doucette is part of a cultural resurgence in First Nations communities.

These days, Natalie Doucette has been on the road more than she’s used to. With 24 years of experience working with Mi’kmaw Family and Children’s Services under her belt, Doucette recently became the province’s first Mi’kmaw child welfare specialist.

Doucette’s work includes a regular commute between offices in Sydney and the Mi’kmaq community of Eskasoni. She’s still in transition since taking on her new position at the beginning of January, but soon she’ll be making stops to 13 First Nations communities across the province.

“I’m basically doing the same thing as my [child welfare] counterparts,” says Doucette. “I will also be ensuring the cultural piece comes in—making sure the programs are more culturally sensitive and culturally relevant to the Mi’kmaq.”

Read More: http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/meet-nova-scotias-first-mikmaw-child-welfare-specialist/Content?oid=5276130