PAGC Applauds Historic Agreement-in-Principle to Compensate Children and Reform On-Reserve Child Welfare
(Treaty 5, 6, 8 & 10) Prince Albert, SK – The leadership of Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) applauds the announcement by the Government of Canada to pay $20-billion in compensation to those harmed by discriminatory underfunding of First Nations child and family services and $20-billion to achieve long-term reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services program and Jordan’s Principle, to ensure that no child faces discrimination again.
Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte says the changes will strengthen the ability of our First Nations to take care of our children and families in their home communities.
“This announcement marks a significant turning point in our collective efforts to reform the child welfare system affecting many of our Indigenous families in our PAGC communities. We are thankful for the efforts of Cindy Blackstock of the First Nations and Family Caring Society and the Assembly of First Nations who first filed the complaints to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, which has led to this historic decision that will positively impact our families and improve on-reserve Child and Family services,” said Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte.
“We recognize that this is bittersweet news for our Indigenous children victimized by a discriminatory system and negatively impacted by this policy, and we hope this decision will bring them a sense of justice, healing, and closure. We have confidence that we are one step closer to reconciliation by addressing these issues of colonialism and institutional racism,” said Hardlotte.
The agreement-in-principle follows a ruling by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) and separate class-action lawsuits that Ottawa failed to provide the same level of child and family services that exist elsewhere. It ordered the government to provide up to $40,000 to each First Nations child who was unnecessarily taken into care on or after Jan. 1, 2006. It also ordered compensation for parents, or grandparents and children who were denied essential services.
PAGC plans on accessing funding for Adult Education programming in education and skill development for the affected youth.
About Prince Albert Grand Council:
The Prince Albert Grand Council is one of the largest tribal councils in Canada with a membership of over 44,000, representing 12 First Nations and the 28 northern communities in the territories of Treaty 5, 6, 8 & 10. To learn more, visit pagc.sk.ca.
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Media enquiries may be directed to:
Tina Pelletier
Executive Office – Communications
Prince Albert Grand Council
Cell: 306-941-7120
Email: tpelletier@pagc.net
NT5
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