< Back to All News

BC First Nation Chiefs Meeting on Draft Final Settlement Agreement

News Release – Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) Territory

K’emk’emelay̓ (Vancouver, BC). Over 70 First Nations Chiefs, Councillors, Advisors, Legal Counsel, Indigenous child & family service providers and Stakeholders gathered at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, BC and via Zoom on September 8 to discuss the draft Final Settlement Agreement on long-term reform of the First Nations Child & Family Services (FNCFS) program.

The final settlement agreement will replace the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) orders—including the requirement for Canada to provide funding at actual costs for prevention services, post-majority services, agency operations, and capital. The final agreement will also set a funding baseline for Nations delivering child & family services under their own laws. Getting this agreement right is of utmost importance.

The BC First Nations Chiefs Meeting offered an opportunity to hear legal opinions on the draft agreement, engage in discussion of BC-specific concerns, and collaborate on a unified stance for the BC region.

Welcomed by Squamish Nation’s Kelley McReynolds, Yataltenat, Nexwnínlhewá7nem Ch’áwch’aw People Services, opening comments were made by:

  • Mary Teegee, Chair of Our Children Our Way Society
  • Hugh Braker, K.C., First Nations Summit
  • Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs

The Expert Panel included:

  • Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director of the First Nations Caring Society
  • Sarah Clarke, Clarke Child & Family Law, Toronto
  • Scott Smith, Aird & Berlis LLP, Toronto
  • Dawn Johnson, Mandell-Pinder LLP, Vancouver
  • Jessica Saunders, Saunders DeLaronde Law, Winnipeg

Click the links for video, downloadable resources & presentations:

This important meeting is followed by the inaugural Loving Justice: Breathing Life into Our Own Laws conference at the Vancouver Convention Center from September 08-11.

With the support of the Squamish Nation, we will welcome 1,000 delegates, including: elected and hereditary leaders, child and family advocates, service providers, and legal scholars. Speakers from across Turtle Island and around the world will share their unique expertise and wisdom.

The late Elmer Courchene of Sagkeeng First Nation urged us to remember that, when it comes to children and youth, justice is not enough: we must achieve loving justice. Remembering his wisdom, the conference centers on love and accountability to our children and youth within the shifting landscape Indigenous child & family services.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs notes that “the Loving Justice conference is incredibly timely. We have come a long way, and we still have a long way to go. It’s important to remember how much has been accomplished over the years.”

“We must not lose sight of why we are doing this work. It has always been about the love of our children and our inherent right to care for them,” says Deb Foxcroft, Elder Advisor to the Our Children Our Way Society and a founding member of Usma Family and Child Services.

Online registration remains open and in-person registration will be available at the Convention Centre on September. 8, 2024. Only a few seats remain to catch this outstanding line-up, including:

  • Emcee: André Bear, B.Ed., J.D. (Indigenous Nation Rebuilding)
  • Keynote Speakers: Dr. Cindy Blackstock, PhD. (First Nations Caring Society) and Gaagwiis (Jason Alsop), President of Haida Council
  • Honored Guests: Members of the First Nations Leadership Council and Chief Erica Beaudin, Cowessess First Nation
  • Panels: Accountability to Indigenous Child and Youth Rights; Indigenous Dispute Resolution Frameworks; and Implications of System Reform on Enacting Indigenous Laws.

“For our children, both love and justice are essential components of Indigenous self-determination,” says Mary Teegee, Chair of the Our Children Our Way Society. “It is our mission to support Indigenous Nations’ visions of caring for children and youth in a culturally grounded way.”

Announcement: Sep 19 Webinar “We Can Do Better: Improving on the Draft Final Settlement Agreement on long-term reform of First Nations Child and Family Services”

Co-hosted by the First Nations Caring Society and the Our Children Our Way Society – 10am-12pm PDT. Click the title to register. More information to come…

-30-

For further comment, please contact: Mary Teegee, Maaxswxw Gibuu, Chair, Our Children Our Way Society – Phone: 250-612-8710

< Previous