National Children’s Chiefs Commission Holds Inaugural In-Person Meeting, Reaffirming Commitment to First Nations Children and Families
For Immediate Release – Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Territory
(K’emk’emelay̓ – Vancouver BC. Jan 24, 2025). The National Children’s Chiefs Commission (NCCC) convened for its first-ever in-person meeting this week, hosted by the Squamish Nation in North Vancouver. On the eve of the meeting, the Squamish Nation hosted a dinner and ceremony to honour the sacred work undertaken by the members of the NCCC, acknowledging their leadership and dedication to ending discrimination in First Nations Child & Family Services and Jordan’s Principle.
The NCCC was created through a resolution passed by First Nations-in-Assembly, which rejected the draft Final Settlement Agreement on Long-Term Reform of the First Nations Child & Family Services Program. The resolution called for renewed negotiations, with oversight and strategic direction provided by the newly formed NCCC, ensuring that all First Nations voices are included in reforming First Nations child welfare and Jordan’s Principle in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent.
As part of the inaugural meeting, the NCCC appointed Chief Pauline Frost (Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation) as Chair and Debra Foxcroft (Tseshaht First Nation) as Co-Chair. The NCCC also approved the Commission’s terms of reference, subject to the approval of the First Nations-in-Assembly – and approved in principle the terms of reference for a negotiation team.
“We are at a pivotal moment in this journey to ensure our children’s well-being is supported in ways that are culturally affirming and rooted in our traditions,” said Chief Pauline Frost, newly appointed Chair of the NCCC. “Our work is sacred, and together, we are committed to ensuring that First Nations children and families are treated with dignity, respect, and justice.”
The NCCC’s work is grounded in transparency and accountability. Representatives from the following regions have been appointed to the Commission: Newfoundland, Quebec & Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, and Yukon. The representatives are mandated to work openly and transparently, regularly reporting on their work to the First Nations-in-Assembly, ensuring that their efforts align with the needs and aspirations of their Nations.
The Commission looks forward to working closely with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief, the AFN Executive, the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society, and Canada to resolve this matter in a spirit of consensus and cooperation. Chiefs are committed to ensuring that funding reaches its intended purpose: to rebuild systems of care that reflect First Nations laws, values and priorities while addressing the legacy of colonial harm.
The Squamish Nation, as the host of this inaugural meeting, underscored the importance of cultural leadership and ceremony in guiding the NCCC’s work. The ceremony held the evening before the meeting was marked by the traditional act of blanketing those in attendance, a gesture symbolizing respect, protection and warmth and allowed for recognition of the collective commitment to transforming the child and family serving systems in ways that honour First Nations cultures and children.
For media inquiries, please contact: Chief Pauline Frost: [email protected]
-30-
About the National Children’s Chiefs Commission (NCCC)
The National Children’s Chiefs Commission (NCCC) was established through AFN Resolutions 60/2024 and 61/2024 by First Nations-in-Assembly to oversee and provide strategic direction to negotiations for the reform of the First Nations Child & Family Services Program and Jordan’s Principle. The commission is committed to ensuring the rights of First Nations children and families are respected and that policies and practices reflect the values, traditions, and priorities of First Nations communities.
Photographs and Video of the Ceremony hosted by Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) Nation at the Chief Joe Mathias Centre on January 22, 2025 follows.
Watch:
To learn more about the Ceremony, click here.
The National Children’s Chiefs Commission is hosted by the Our Children Our Way Society