Saskatchewan First Nations Leaders Respond to Indigenous Child Welfare Compensation Agreement | The Canadian News

The federal government has reached a $ 40 billion settlement in principle to compensate First Nations children harmed by an underfunded child welfare system.

Details of the announcement were revealed on January 4, 2022, by the federal government and other parties that joined.

The government will set aside $ 20 billion to compensate indigenous children and their families, and another $ 20 billion is intended to fund services for indigenous children.

This is great news for Saskatchewan Indian leaders, who say this has been a long time coming.

“For Cowessess First Nation, we have seen positive developments since April 1, 2021,” said Chief Cadmus Delorme. “We have no children in care at Cowessess First Nation… investing in families and investing with our child welfare agency… today we have no children in care. Outside of reserves, we have also been making more investments. “

Cowessess First Nation became the first Indian community in Saskatchewan to have sovereignty over Indian child welfare. On July 6, 2021, Chief Delorme signed a coordination agreement under the Miyo Pimatisowin Act, which respects First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families.

This gives Cowessess First Nation complete jurisdiction over community children in care anywhere in Canada. Chief Red Bear Children’s Lodge is Cowessess’s child safety agency providing preventive and protective services to keep families together.

“An investment like [Indigenous Child Welfare Compensation] he will make sure that our children and our unborn children do not inherit this, ”said Chief Delorme. “Today, it is a step forward for Canada and indigenous peoples. Let’s see if it’s in place and make sure we support each other. “

The First Deputy Head of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), David Pratt, said a lot of good and hard work has gone into the Indigenous Child Welfare compensation deal.

“We are very happy and very happy,” said Pratt. “We look forward to engaging our First Nations here in Saskatchewan, getting their direction on how to move forward, and hopefully reaching a good and lasting agreement and commitment with the government of Canada to address child welfare issues.”

The Canadian Human Rights Court ordered Ottawa to pay $ 40,000 each to approximately 50,000 First Nations children and their families.

Over the next several months, the federal government, along with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and other parties, will be working on a final agreement that will contain provisions on eligibility for compensation and the application process.

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