AFN says it’s not prepared to implement chiefs’ child welfare direction

By Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press on December 10, 2024.

Signage is seen during the first day of the Assembly of First Nation Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

OTTAWA – The Assembly of First Nations is warning it’s not equipped to implement the direction it received from chiefs at two recent assemblies on child welfare reforms.

Chiefs passed resolutions in October and December saying the AFN should no longer represent the interests of First Nations when it comes to issues relating to reforming the child welfare system as an ongoing human rights case argues Canada is failing to implement a legal rule.

They called for the creation of a new Children’s Chiefs Commission to do that instead, after voting down a landmark child-welfare deal negotiated with Ottawa.

Now in a letter to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, the AFN says there is a “lack of clear source funding” to implement some of the chiefs’ directions.

The tribunal is set to hold a hearing that argues Canada is not complying with its obligations under Jordan’s Principle.

That legal rule stipulates that when a First Nations child needs health, social or educational services they are to receive them from the government first approached, with questions about final jurisdiction worked out afterward.

The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society raised concerns that Ottawa was taking too long to process requests through Jordan’s Principle, leaving children without access to services, and filed a noncompliance motion with the tribunal.

Cindy Blackstock, who heads the Caring Society, called the AFN’s petition to the tribunal “concerning,” adding it’s unclear what authority it even has, given that the Children’s Chiefs Commission is now in charge of the file.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 10, 2024.