The federal government’s decision to pull its funding commitment for a program in Cochrane that assists children with complex learning disabilities from the Stoney Nakoda First Nation has parents concerned as the therapy will soon be the responsibility of the First Nation with the government's financial backing .

Williams Consulting in Cochrane has offered therapy to Indigenous children but the program faces an uncertain future as the $1.4 million that the federal government had pledged in 2017 through Jordan’s Principle to assist the initiative through March of 2019 was abruptly halted a year early.

“If you’re going to go ahead and do something that’s going to affect my child’s wellbeing, contact me, contact my wife, contact our family” said Chirs Pegram, whose son Gavin is autistic and one of 12 children currently enrolled in the program. “At least say this is what we intend on doing, what we’d like to do.”

“Looking at it from a sensible situation, if the funding’s already in place, let it continue to the point where it was agreed upon then start to negotiate.”

Felicia Holloway fears the funding cut will rob her 10-year-old son Theinen, who is a quadriplegic with epilepsy and cerebral palsy, of the security of the relationships he’s built with the Williams Consulting staff during his two to three visits each week.

“I feel caught,” said Holloway. “I feel blindsided because we weren’t informed. It just came out of the blue that we were going to be cut. Why didn’t they ask us families what we wanted for our children?”

Andrea Williams, the clinical coordination of Williams Consulting, says she was informed that the Stoney Nakoda First Nation now wants to provide the services to the children. With nearly $1 million in federal funding outstanding, Williams fears the move could be financially motivated and not in the best interest of the children.”

“This isn’t a competition for funds,” explained William “We are supposed to be serving our children first and when are they going to start letting us do that?”

Williams says she has had to issue layoff notices to the ten members of her staff ahead of the end of funding on March 31.

Monday evening, officials with Indigenous Services Canada confirmed to CTV Calgary in an email statement that funding through Jordan’s Principle has been allotted to the Stoney Nation.

“The Stoney Nations’ decision to provide the services directly to children in their communities fills a gap in health services for children with complex needs that was previously only available off-reserve,” said Maryse Durette, a senior media relations advisor with the Government of Canada. “Indigenous Services Canada will work with individual families when requested to ensure there are no gaps in service.”

“Jordan’s Principle responds to the unmet health, social and education needs of First Nations children when they need them, no matter where they live in Canada. ISC is working closely with Indigenous organizations to ensure the specific needs and interests of Indigenous communities are addressed, and services are provided as close as possible to the children’s place of residence.”

With files from CTV’s Kevin Green“