National Children’s Chiefs Commission Forced to Launch Crowd Funding Campaign After Canada Refuses to Provide Funding
IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 11, 2025
SASKATOON – The National Children’s Chiefs Commission announced today that it is launching a crowd funding campaign to support its work after Canada has refused to provide a single dollar in funding.
First Nations created the Commission by resolution at a Special Chiefs Assembly in October 2024 to provide independent oversight and strategic direction on ending Canada’s discrimination in First Nations children in Child & Family Services and Jordan’s Principle. Despite this clear mandate, Canada has declined to engage with the Commission, leaving it to operate without resources since November 2024.
On August 20, 2025, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal imposed a four-month deadline on the development of a national plan to end systemic discrimination. The Commission is working with the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society to meet that deadline, while consulting with First Nations and drawing on expert evidence. The work is historic, urgent, and critical — but Canada has chosen not to fund it.
First Nations have already stepped up. On September 4, 2025, the First Nations-in-Assembly voted to allocate $1,000,000 of the AFN’s budget to support the Commission. Just days later, during her keynote address at the Loving Justice conference in Saskatoon, Dr. Cindy Blackstock called on First Nations and their allies to support the Commission’s work. Yellow Thunderbird Lodge immediately pledged $10,000, inspiring several other First Nations organizations to quickly follow. By the end of the day, a total of $52,481.30 in pledges and cash donations had been collected.
Dr. Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director of the Caring Society, said:
“I hope Canada does the honourable thing and provides the funding the National Children’s Chiefs Commission requires. The Commission has worked miracles: they are set up and ready to go with zero dollars. But if Canada does not come forward with the money, I am hoping all of us can step in. This work by the National Children’s Chiefs Commission is historic, it needs to be supported, and I absolutely believe we will complete this work together—for our kids.”
Chief Pauline Frost, Chair of the Commission, underscored the Commissioners’ determination despite Canada’s refusal to support them:
“The work we do as Commissioners is rooted in the cultural practices and history of our people. We do this work from our hearts. None of our Commissioners, technical team or legal team are getting paid. We will continue to push forward and to advocate for a plan that will meet our children’s needs. This is the only way forward.”
The Commission is now calling on individuals, First Nations, and allies across the country to step in where Canada has failed, and to contribute to the crowd funding campaign so this urgent work can be completed.
About the National Children’s Chiefs Commission
The Commission was established by First Nations-in-Assembly via AFN Resolution 60/2024 to work openly and transparently to provide strategic direction and oversight of long-term reform agreements for the First Nations Child & Family Services program and Jordan’s Principle. The Commission consists of eleven Commissioners appointed by regions across Canada, along with a team of technical and legal advisors.
To donate and learn more about the campaign, please visit: https://fundrazr.com/f2cIT8
Media Contact:
Chief Pauline Frost, Chair, National Children’s Chiefs Commission
[email protected]