Our Children Our Way Society Stands with the Caring Society as they File Motion with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to Compel Canada to resume Negotiations

News Release, January 15, 2025 – Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Territory

(K’emk’emelay̓ – Vancouver BC). The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society (“Caring Society”) has filed a motion with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal seeking to compel Canada to resume negotiations toward long-term reform of the First Nations Child & Family Services program and Jordan’s Principle. The Our Children Our Way Society fully supports the Caring Society’s efforts to bring Canada back to negotiations.

The Caring Society’s motion stems from the Canadian government’s recent refusal to continue negotiations toward long-term reform of outside of Ontario. Canada provided notice last week that it would engage with First Nations in Ontario to complete a settlement agreement and does not have a mandate to negotiate a national agreement.

In 2016, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) found that Canada had been recklessly and willfully discriminating against First Nations children by failing to adequately fund child and family services and by failing to implement Jordan’s Principle. The Tribunal issued a clear order for Canada to collaborate with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the Caring Society, the Chiefs of Ontario, and Nishnawbe Aski Nation, to develop long-term solutions to end this discrimination.

A draft final settlement agreement was announced in July 2024. The draft agreement was rejected in October by First Nations leadership, who identified numerous critical shortcomings. The draft agreement failed to address the systemic discrimination and the long-term needs of First Nations children and families.

“First Nations came together to reject a bad deal in October, but that decision was not made lightly,” says Mary Teegee, Chair of the Our Children Our Way Society. “We came together with a vision for meaningful reform that will truly end the discrimination against our children and families. We are calling on Canada to join us on that path and negotiate a viable solution that addresses our collective needs.”

In December 2024, First Nations leadership called on Canada to return within 30 days with a new mandate to negotiate. After that deadline passed, the Caring Society took legal steps to bring Canada back to negotiations.

The Our Children Our Way Society emphasizes the need for a national approach, reflecting the tribunal’s nationwide findings.

“We cannot allow Canada’s colonial divide-and-conquer approach to divide us. If there ever was time to be united as First Nations, it is now,” says Teegee.

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For further comment, please contact: Mary Teegee, Maaxswxw Gibuu, Chair

Our Children Our Way Society, Tel: 250-612-8710