Cindy Blackstock, PhD Cultural Competency Conference, Vancouver: March 25, 2014
First NaDons Child and Family Caring Society of Canada Associate Professor, University of Alberta
12 million reasons why equality maLers for First NaDons children and young people
Duncan Campbell Scott, Superintendent
of Indian Affairs
1867 1885 1955 1967 1973 2014
Indian Act introduced to eradicate Indian peoples and ways of life
Duncan Campbell Scott gets a warrant for the removal of Indian children “not properly cared for”
Caldwell finds 80 percent of children in the schools are there for child welfare reasons
Siksika First NaDon opens child welfare agency
Canada on trial for discriminaDon towards First NaDons children
Provincial child welfare begins on reserves.
8,900
1949 1965
2003
10,294
2010
22,500 27,500
Children in Care
Truth and Reconcilia0on Alberta Event: March 27 -‐30, 2014 Edmonton, Shaw Center www.trc.ca
I am profoundly disappointed to note in Chapter 4 of this Status Report that despite federal acDon in response to our recommendaDons over the years, a disproporDonate number of First NaDons people sDll lack the most basic services that other Canadians take for granted. Sheila Fraser, Auditor General of Canada (June 2011)
“
“
Child welfare specific OAG reports: May 2008; June 2011
People living in more equal societies: Live longer Are better educated Have robust economies Live in safe/trusting communities Have lower rates of mental illness and substance misuse
(Wilkinson & Pickett, 2010- The Spirit Level) The income gap tripled between 1980 and 2012. Conference Board of Canada, 2012
Richard Wilkinson and Kate PickeL, 2010
See also www.gapminder.org
Canada ranks 17th in the world on child wellbeing among rich countries (UNICEF, 2013)
Canada ranks 60th in the world in terms of respec0ng children’s rights Kidsrightsindex.org
Kidsrights.org
What can you do about inequiDes in government services for First NaDons
children?
8098 Supporters www.jordansprinciple.ca
A child first principle for First NaDons children to resolving payment disputes between the federal and provincial governments about how to pay for services every other
child gets
Jordan’s Principle
Jordan River Anderson Founder of Jordan’s Principle 1999-‐2005
Government of Canada (2009) Internal Report on Jordan’s Principle
Maurina Beadle and Pictou Landing FN v ALorney General of Canada
• Maurina Beadle and Pictou Landing taking Canada to court to enforce Jordan’s Principle for Jeremy and all FN children across Canada
• In April 2013, Federal Court ruled in favour of Maurina and ordered Canada to reimburse Pictou Landing FN for Jeremy’s care.
• Canada has appealed and wants Maurina and Pictou to pay their legal costs. Hearing: Spring 2014.
Are we doing enough? (Canadian Paediatric Society, 2012)
BC has the second lowest raDng for implementaDon of Jordan’s Principle.
Source: Kiskisik Awasisak: Remember the Children (CIS-‐2008) WWW. CWRP.CA
First Na0ons children in BC are 12.5 0mes more likely to be placed in child welfare
than other children
1 million four hundred and seventy-‐two thousand two hundred and sixty two Number of nights First NaDons children on reserve in BC spent in foster care from 1989 to 2011, INAC year end data (2012)
The I am a witness Campaign
• Human Rights case alleges Canada ‘s provision of child welfare is discriminatory pursuant to the Canadian Human Rights Act
• Watch I am a witness video to find out what young people think about the case.
• Watch the tesDmony at hLp://aptn.ca/pages/news/tag/kids-‐in-‐care/
• Hearings resume April 2-‐4, 2014. Open to the public 9:30-‐4:30, 11th floor, 160 Elgin Street. OLawa. A great learning experience for students!
12,761 Supporters
“
Young people wearing I am a witness t-‐shirts designed by Shannara at the Tribunal
“ I want to say that whe
n I
first started the process of
being a witness I only learned about one side
of
the story… the First NaDons children’s side
.
Amer witnessing both days
of the Tribunal hearings I
realize THERE IS NO OTHER
SIDE OF THE STORY
Shannara Nafe, June 2, 3, 2010
PresentaDon to the Assistant Deputy Minister of AANDC August 29, 2012 (Access to InformaDon A-‐2012-‐01041)
Our Dreams MaLer Too Walk www.fncaringsociety.com/our-‐dreams-‐maLer-‐too
• June 11, 2014 • Build a mailbox in your community, have community members march to the mailbox with leLers supporDng Jordan’s Principle, Shannen’s Dream and I am a witness campaigns
Order copies at [email protected] Proceeds support child parDcipaDon in
reconciliaDon based acDviDes.
Jordan’s Principle
“what’s the hold up?” Do something
www.fncaringsociety.com
