ottawa –
National chiefs of the Assembly of First Nations say the advocacy group’s executive team will meet in the coming days after chiefs voted against the $47.8 billion child welfare reform agreement with Canada and approved a new negotiating mandate. He said he plans to hold a meeting to discuss next steps.
“We also recognize the success of the movement that rejected this resolution. You spoke with passion and persuaded a majority to vote against this $47.8 billion national agreement.” said Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak in her closing remarks. Calgary.
“There is no getting around the fact that this agreement posed too great a threat to the status quo for an industry built on separating Indigenous children from their families.”
“This is an unfortunate feature of chiefs reviewing the agreement with their own experts and legal staff,” said the executive director of the Indigenous Children and Family Care Association, which helped launch the discrimination lawsuit against Canada that resulted in the agreement. ” he said. and make informed decisions that are best for them. ”
“I respect the Secretary of State and look forward to working with her and all of you to ensure we cross the finish line,” Cindy Blackstock said.
The rejected agreement was signed in July between Canada, the premiers of Ontario, the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, and the Assembly of First Nations after nearly two decades of legal battles over federal underfunding of child welfare services. It was done.
The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal said this was a discriminatory practice that meant children living on reserves received fewer services than children living outside of reserves.
The court required Canada to reach agreements with First Nations to reform the system and compensate children who were separated from their families and placed in foster care.
Before the deal was announced in July, three members of AFN’s leadership team wrote to the national secretary, raising concerns that the deal was being negotiated in secret and asking for a change in policy. They also said AFN was trying to keep the Indigenous Children and Family Care Association out of negotiations.
These concerns largely remained when the deal was announced in closed session at the AFN’s last meeting, with chiefs questioning how the reforms would work on the ground and service providers questioning funding levels. He said that this would be significantly reduced and affect his company’s capabilities. I can do my job efficiently.
Mr. Blackstock received the support of 267 of the 414 chiefs who voted against the resolution to approve the agreement.
She stressed multiple times during the legislative session that the agreement does not do enough to protect Indigenous children from discrimination, and told chiefs she could not support the agreement as it stands.
Mr Blackstock told parliament on Thursday: “I want to see a day when we end discrimination and it never happens again. And we can get there.”
“It didn’t take that long. We have all the tools to get there.”
Woodhouse-Nepinak stressed on Wednesday and Thursday that a change of government could throw reforms into question, while Blackstock stressed that reforms are required by legal mandate, not political will. .
Squamish Nation Chairman Kersilem said some of the rhetoric amounted to “fear-mongering.”
“This is a lesson for the Assembly of First Nations, the staff and legal community, the advisors and the portfolio holders who have worked on this agreement,” he said Friday morning, introducing a resolution calling for a new negotiating mandate. Ta.
“The way we got here was not the way we should have done it. There are better ways to move forward.”
The two resolutions passed on Friday call for the creation of a Children’s Mayor’s Committee made up of leaders from all regions of the country, as well as a new negotiating and legal team.
Kersilem said the new negotiating mandate was developed with around 50 leaders from across the country and, after a very tough special meeting of mayors, ensured it was in the best interests of the children in their care. He said he hopes that the United States will provide a positive path forward. He also said the new duties would address “deficiencies” flagged by leaders across the country and ensure greater transparency.
“We did not need to find ourselves in a situation where we had to reject a flawed agreement and then develop a course to get it back on track,” he told leaders.
“The process used to create[the final settlement agreement]was a meaningful process that meaningfully respected and consulted Indigenous peoples and enabled meaningful dialogue to improve the agreement. We didn’t need to be here.”
A spokesperson for the Minister of Indigenous Services said in a statement that Canada is working closely with First Nations on this agreement and is also moving forward with amendments to the agreement.
“The agreement that Congressional leaders rejected yesterday is the culmination of intense negotiations,” Jennifer Koselli said.
“Canada remains resolute in its commitment to reforming Indigenous child and family services programs so that children grow up knowing who they are and where they belong.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 18, 2024.
