Indigenous conceptions of the family, which are often based on the role of the extended family and on forms of customary adoption peculiar to each community, are marginalized by the provincial child welfare regime. Social workers and courts usually make decisions based on their own cultural background, which drives them to disregard indigenous conceptions of the family. Statutory directions to take indigenous cultures into account have had little practical effect. Only indigenous self-government with respect to child welfare appears to have the potential to change this situation.