Our Children Our Way Society Congratulates Manitoba First Nations on Historic Child Welfare Victory

For Immediate Release – May 13, 2026

(Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw – Squamish Nation – Territory). The Our Children Our Way Society congratulates the First Nations leaders and communities in Manitoba whose successful litigation against the governments of Manitoba and Canada marks a historic affirmation of First Nations jurisdiction and inherent rights in child and family services.

“We hold our hands up to Chiefs Heidi Cook (Misipawistik Cree Nation), David Monias (Pimicikamak Cree Nation), and Sheldon Kent (Black River First Nation) for your leadership in this critical effort to protect your children and keep them connected to family, community, culture and the land,” said Mary Teegee, Chair of the Our Children Our Way Society.

Yesterday’s decision recognizes that First Nations hold constitutionally protected rights tied to raising children in their cultures, communities, languages, and traditions. The Court concluded that government systems repeatedly failed to uphold those rights despite decades of warnings.

The Court also noted evidence that governments had long been warned that funding approaches created “perverse incentives to remove children unnecessarily from their families and sever their connection to their First Nation.”

Teegee noted that similar warnings have been issued in British Columbia. “Since 2016, we have been calling on British Columbia to align the design and funding of provincial child welfare services with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal orders arising from the complaint brought by the Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society against Canada,” said Teegee.

In 2022, the Representative for Children and Youth of British Columbia released At a Crossroads, a report calling on the provincial government to end discriminatory funding practices and adopt Canadian Human Rights Tribunal principles for Indigenous child welfare funding in British Columbia.

“This decision is a powerful reminder that governments cannot continue to ignore the rights of First Nations children and families,” Teegee added. “The path forward must be grounded in First Nations laws, leadership, and approaches to caring for children.”

The Our Children Our Way Society stands with First Nations in Manitoba as they continue the work of rebuilding child and family systems rooted in culture, kinship, and self-determination.

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For further comment, contact:

Mary Teegee, Maaxswxw Gibuu, Chair, Our Children Our Way Society, Tel: 250-612-8710

Joni Conlon, ED, Our Children Our Way Society, [email protected]