Ottawa faces a court-ordered deadline to present a new plan for reforming the on-reserve child welfare system, while a group of First Nations leaders and children’s advocates are developing a rival proposal. The federal government must submit its plan to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal by December 22 after the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) turned down the previous government’s $47.8 billion reform offer last year.
During a speech at the AFN special chiefs assembly in Ottawa, Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized that their child welfare approach would be led by First Nations and communities with substantial additional funding. The government’s proposal will be assessed against a plan put forth by a First Nations-led group called the National Children’s Chiefs Commission.
Members of the commission express distrust in Ottawa’s ability to eradicate discrimination in the on-reserve child welfare system. They advocate for the tribunal to consider their plan to ensure reforms align with their cultural values and priorities for their children.
Pauline Frost, chair of the commission and chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, highlighted the importance of a model designed by and for Indigenous peoples that upholds cultural integrity and humility.
The two proposals are being developed following a landmark ruling a decade ago that found Ottawa guilty of racial discrimination by underfunding First Nations Child and Family Services. The AFN and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society lodged a joint human rights complaint nearly 20 years ago.
Cindy Blackstock, executive director of the caring society, stressed the need for long-term funding close to $50 billion that is secure for more than a decade and not subject to yearly reviews. Minister of Indigenous Services Many Gull-Masty aims to bridge the gap between the government and the commission, potentially leading to a unified plan to address child welfare issues efficiently.
The ongoing collaboration between the government and Indigenous groups seeks to find a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the challenges faced in the on-reserve child welfare system.