AMC Stands in Full Support of Brokenhead Ojibway Nation’s Human Rights Complaint Against Indigenous Services Canada

September 3, 2025

Treaty One Territory, Winnipeg, MB – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), on behalf of the 63 First Nations in Manitoba, stands in full support of Brokenhead Ojibway Nation’s formal complaint to the Canadian Human Rights Commission against Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). The complaint highlights systemic discrimination in the administration and delivery of Jordan’s Principle funding, including unilateral restrictions, persistent delays, and denials that have harmed First Nations children’s access to essential health, education, and social services.

“Jordan’s Principle was created to ensure that no First Nations child is denied or delayed in receiving the care and supports they need,” said Grand Chief Kyra Wilson, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. “The Government of Canada is bound by Canadian Human Rights Tribunal rulings and by the moral imperative of justice for our children. Any attempt to restrict or narrow Jordan’s Principle is a violation of human rights, a breach of Treaty obligations, and an attack on the dignity of our Nations. The AMC stands with Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, and all First Nations, in demanding immediate action and accountability.”

Brokenhead Ojibway Nation has documented that ISC’s February 10, 2025, Jordan’s Principle Operational Bulletin has created arbitrary denials, long delays, and restrictive service eligibility. These harmful restrictions have reduced access to critical items such as food, rent, medical equipment, therapies, land-based programming, recreation, and sensory equipment.

“Our children deserve equitable access to the services that meet their needs – nothing less,” said Chief Gordon Bluesky, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation. “Canada’s current approach has failed to uphold substantive equality and has instead created new barriers. Canada cannot continue to unilaterally dictate the terms of Jordan’s Principle. We will pursue every legal and political remedy necessary, and we are grateful for the full support of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs as we take this stand.”

Chief Derek Nepinak of Minegoziibe Anishinabe supports this decision, “As cuts and arbitrary changes to Jordan’s Principle funding have harmed our relatives in Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, I fully support their human rights challenge. These issues affect our Nation as well, and so many other First Nations across the country.”

The AMC continues to call on Canada to immediately cease discriminatory practices in the delivery of Jordan’s Principle services, to fully implement all Canadian Human Rights Tribunal orders, to reimburse outstanding costs owed to Brokenhead Ojibway Nation and any other First Nations waiting on reimbursement.

For more information, please contact:

Communications Team
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Email:  media@manitobachiefs.com

About The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs:

The AMC was formed in 1988 by the Chiefs in Manitoba to advocate on issues that commonly affect First Nations in Manitoba. AMC is an authorized representative of all 63 First Nations in Manitoba with a total of more than 172,000 First Nations citizens in the province, accounting for approximately 12 percent of the provincial population. AMC represents a diversity of Anishinaabe, Nehetho / Ininew, Anisininew, Denesuline, and Dakota Oyate peoples.

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