b'CHILD WELFARESupporting OurAn update on child welfare issues Future Generations in SaskatchewanTHE FEDERATION OF SOVEREIGNhas provided specific assistance todiscriminatory child welfare system Indigenous Nations established theFirst Nations and Tribal Councils onwhile reforming thesystem that tore Child Welfare and Social Developmentrequest. A team member just attendedFirst Nationchildren from their (CWSD) under the Health and Socialan Information Sharing Session hostedcommunitiesfor decades. The non-Development Secretariat about nineby Cowessess First Nation on June 8binding agreement sets aside $20 years ago, and since then, the CWSDand 9 regarding their experience withbillion for compensation and $19.8 has had a staff of one to three peopleentering a coordination agreementbillion for long-term reform of the on-at a time.under Bill C-92. This was highlyreserve child welfare system.informative and well-attended by First The goal of the CWSD is to help closeNations from numerous provinces, asFor more information, please visit socio-economic gaps and increasethere is a lot of interest in pursuingthefollowing:opportunities for First Nations tothis avenue of self-governance over participate and influence federalchild welfare.First Nation Representative Serivces and provincial sectoral reforms such(ISC): www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1648577as First Nations Child and FamilyCurrent Child Welfare Class221890/1648577242550#chp7Services, Assisted Living and Long- Action LawsuitsTerm/Continuum of Care, IncomeTwo class action lawsuits havePreventative Services (ISC):Assistance, Disabilities and Familycommenced in British Columbia.www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1648577221890Violence, and to develop a socialThe first was with respect to off- /1648577242550#chp6-4safety net for First Nations childrenreserve children in care who have and families, reducing the number ofbeen discriminated against by theCapital Expenditures (ISC):First Nations children coming intofederal child welfare regime. Anwww.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1648577221890care and enhancing well-being andadditional class action was launched/1648577242550#chp6-1quality of life for First Nation children,with respect to discrimination under families, communities and the mostJordans Principle regarding accessingThe CWSD has been ensuring all vulnerablepopulation. necessary medical services.leadership is updated as required and that their input is provided through The CWSD team has been busythe FSIN process. The CWSD has familiarizing itself with previousFurther information and the abilitybeen actively providing policy advice work as well as acquiring an in-depthto register as a potential claimant forand analysis on the strategies and knowledge of the issues and nuances ineither class action can be found at: initiations relating to both long-term child welfare and social development. reform and compensation. This has Off-reserve First Nation childrenbeen done through information Bill C-92: An Act respecting Firsttaken into child welfare: forums, engagement sessions, Nations, Inuit and Metis children,www.murphybattista.com/practice- meetings with the Assembly of First youth and familiesareas/class-action-lawsuits/ Nations, the FN Caring Society, indigenous-child-welfare-class-action various Chiefs and First Nations. The CWSD has been actively providingMost recently, the CWSD held the policy advice and analysis on theOn-reserve First Nation childrenFSINs Chiefs Forum on First Nations strategies and initiations relating to Billtaken into child welfare: Child and Family Services Long-C-92 as it affects child welfare reform,www.sotosclassactions.com/cases/first- Term Reform in June 2022. During initiatives, needs and priorities. Thisnations-youth this event, the FSIN executive and includes close monitoring of thestaff honoured Dr. Cindy Blackstock Attorney General of Qubec, et al. v.Long-Term Reform to ISC andand Raymond Shingoose, Executive Attorney General of Canada, et al.,the First Nations Child andDirector of Yellow Thunderbird Lodge, which is now in the hands of theFamilyServices for their careers of devotion to being Supreme Court of Canada. The CWSDadvocates for First Nations children, has both attended and held numerousOn December 31, 2021, First Nationyouth and families. engagement meetings and forumsleaders and the federal government with respect to Bill C-92, ultimatelystrucka historic $40B Agreement- Dr. Cindy Blackstock, a member of resulting in a draft bi-lateral templatein-Principle (AIP) to compensatethe Gitxsan Nation, has dedicated for First Nations future use. The teamyoung peopleharmed by Canadasher life and career to the long-term 32OUR PRIORITY Issue 12021/22'