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Aug 06 – National Children’s Chiefs Commission Webinar & Resources

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 11, 2025

Our Children Our Way hosted the National Children’s Chiefs Commission (the Commission) webinar on Wednesday, August 06, 2025.

Chief Pauline Frost, Chair of the Commission and Chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, Yukon, led an update on the intensive work done to date together with Commissioners who shared information, answered questions, and received feedback. Q&A’s and poll results will be uploaded in the next few days in English and French.

Resources include:

Background

Canada’s wilful and reckless failure to act is costing First Nations children their lives, futures, and fundamental rights. While politicians discuss resource management and nation building under Bill C-5, they are neglecting the most important part of building a better future: our children. Over the past ten months, the National Children’s Chiefs Commission (the Commission) has repeatedly called on Canada to return to the negotiating table to end its systemic discrimination against First Nations children and families. Canada has ignored every call and has actively opposed our efforts to advance the best interests of our children.

In 2016, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (the Tribunal) found that Canada was systemically discriminating against First Nation’s children and families. The Tribunal ordered Canada to reform the First Nations Child & Family Services (FNCFS) program, correctly implement Jordan’s Principle, end Canada’s systemic discrimination, and ensure it never reoccurs. Canada has repeatedly refused to take meaningful action and the systemic discrimination against First Nations children and families continues. The Tribunal and the Federal Court have issued over 30 procedural and non-compliance orders against Canada.

In October 2024, the First Nations Chiefs-in-Assembly established the Commission in the wake of a failed settlement agreement. The Chiefs identified serious shortcomings and concluded the agreement would not adequately address Canada’s systemic discrimination. They established a new pathway forward, led by the Commission.

The Commission has made extensive efforts to negotiate with Canada. Canada has repeatedly refused to engage, despite Prime Minister Carney’s commitment that “the next generation of First Nations children will not experience the same harms that have occurred for too long.”

“The Prime Minister wants First Nations to get onboard with its ‘nation building’ plans. How can we talk about resource management while Canada refuses to end its discrimination by neglecting the most important part of building a better future?

Our children can’t wait any longer. The Commission is moving forward, in collaboration with the First Nations Caring Society, to determine the measures that will finally end Canada’s discrimination against First Nations children.

Canada’s delays are not harmless. They cause trauma that compounds over time. The window for childhood is small and easily lost forever to broken systems and empty promises,” said Chief Pauline Frost, Chair of the Commission.

Chief Kelsey Jacko, Commissioner and Chief of Cold Lake First Nations, Alberta stated that:

“Our children and our future generations are waiting for us. The resources the politicians are discussing belong to our children. They deserve far more than this. If Canada refuses to engage, the Commission will use all options to hold Canada accountable and end their discrimination.”

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For further comment, please contact:

  • Chief Pauline Frost, Chair, National Children’s Chiefs Commission:  867 334 1867
  • Chief Kelsey Jacko, Alberta Commissioner: 780 815 1159
  • Enquires: [email protected]

National Children’s Chiefs Commission is hosted by Our Children Our Way Society 

 

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