Our Children Our Way Society Celebrates the Work of First Nations Chiefs

October 18, 2024

News Release – Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) Territory

The Our Children Our Way Society celebrates the work of our First Nations Chiefs. We hold our hands up to the Chiefs who came together today to demand better outcomes for our children.

Yesterday, the AFN Chiefs in Assembly rejected the draft Final Settlement Agreement on Long-Term Reform of the First Nations Child & Family Services program. The draft agreement was reached by the Assembly of First Nations, the Chiefs of Ontario, the Nishnawbi-Aski Nation and Canada.

The draft was released on July 11, 2024 and sought to resolve Canada’s discrimination against First Nations children and families. Chiefs, experts, lawyers and community members identified numerous weaknesses within the draft agreement, including: an inadequate funding approach that will not end Canada’s discrimination against First Nations children; governance structures that lack transparency and are not accountable to First Nations; a weak dispute resolution process; a 10-year timeline with no mechanisms to prevent the recurrence of Canada’s discrimination.

Today, the Chiefs agreed on parameters and goals for a renewed negotiation process. The Chiefs were divided coming into the Assembly and over 100 Chiefs initially voted to support the draft agreement. By the end of the Assembly, the Chiefs came together with very little dissention and passed two resolutions directing a pathway forward.

The resolutions call for a transparent and accountable negotiation process guided by a national Children’s Chiefs Commission. The renewed negotiations will be directed toward achieving a new agreement that will hold Canada fully accountable for finally and fully ending its discrimination against First Nations children.

“Today is a day of dreams,” says Mary Teegee, Chair of the Our Children Our Way Society. “We came together to get the best solutions for our children—solutions rooted in love and justice. Our work here honours all those children we have lost and carries hope for a new generation who will not suffer from Canada’s discrimination.”

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