Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe commends the recent Canadian Human Rights Tribunal approval of the $23.4 billion settlement agreement for First Nations children, youth, and families impacted by what he calls federal government’s discriminatory funding of child welfare services.
He says money can’t undo the harm that has been caused by this systemic discrimination; however, the settlement agreement is a step towards justice for First Nations children and families.
Niganobe says the latest decision is in response to a historic human rights case filed in 2007 by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada and the Assembly of First Nations.
He says in 2016, the Tribunal found the federal government discriminated against First Nations through the inequitable funding of child and family services failing to fully implement Jordan’s Principle.
Anishinabek Nation Children’s Commissioner Duke Peltier adds in September 2019, the Tribunal ordered Canada to provide $40,000 in compensation to all First Nations children who were unnecessarily placed into out-of-home care from 2006, to a date that is to be determined.
He adds parents or guardians of these children could also be eligible for compensation.