Ottawa accused of neglecting the protection of indigenous childhood in favor of development | Child protection among natives

In October 2024, the heads of the First Nations Assembly rejected a historic understanding of $ 47.8 billion with Ottawa (new window) On a reform of child and family services and have mandated the committee to relaunch negotiations.

During his campaign, Mark Carney said he was ready to return to the negotiation table. In addition, But for nine months, nothing has advanced, deplores the president of the commission, Pauline Frost. Furthermore,

We need Canada to appear at the table with a new mandate and to negotiate. Meanwhile, The Prime Minister had announced it. Meanwhile, He said he would like this question to be settledsaid in an interview Pauline Frost. Similarly, head of the first nation vuntut gwitchin at the Yukon.

The National Commission of Chiefs for Children accuses ottawa accused neglecting protection indigenous Canada of having ignored each of their calls . Consequently, to be actively opposed to their efforts to advance discussions.

In an email in Aboriginal spaces. Therefore, the spokesman for Aboriginal Services Canada, Eric Head, maintains that Canada remains determined to reform the program of services for children’s and first nations family across the country and continues to think about the best way to move forward with its partners, Without giving more details.

However. In addition, the federal government had said last May, in a memorandum deposited in the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, that negotiations with the First Nations Assembly (APN) on the reform of the Child Protection System were at a standstill (new window) and that requests fromAPN were unreasonable. According to Ottawa, there was ottawa accused neglecting protection indigenous no practical utility to pursue them.

Resources before children?

While politicians discuss the management of resources. construction of the nation as part of bill C-5, they neglect our most precious resource: our childrenwrote the commission in a press release during the meeting in Gatineau between Mark Carney and the heads of the First Nations to speak of Bill C-5 (new window)become the law ottawa accused neglecting protection indigenous aimed at building Canada which will be used to accelerate major projects of national. interest.

However, the president of the commission, Pauline Frost, is categorical.

You cannot have a healthy economy if you don’t have healthy people. We can never lose this from sight.

She took advantage of the summit in Gatineau to try to slip a word during discussions with the federal government. But it was like speed datingwith a minister who appears for a few minutes at. our table by asking what a consultation is according to our terms [à propos de la loi C-5]she explained. However, it is not enough. And we had 30 seconds. a minute to meet the Prime Minister and say to him: Here are our problems, come ottawa accused neglecting protection indigenous and see us.

Our children have been waiting for a long timeadded the co -president, Debra Foxcroft. It is good that we are talking about resources. but our most precious resource is our children and our young people. Without them, we would not have any construction of the nation.

She also mentioned the demonstration of around twenty young members of First Nations in northern Ontario. in front of the Canadian Museum of History at the summit between Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Chiefs of the First Nations (new window).

Any decision we make will have an impact on them so let us ensure that it is healthy. that it will make a difference for their lifeshe said.

According to the two women. the negotiation team is ready and awaits the government’s signal to start working and negotiating a new agreement that meets everyone. We need a reform and we do not intend to go to region by region. We want to see equity across the country for all childrenwarned Pauline Frost.

For their part, late February, Ontario First Nations chiefs approved an $ 8.5 billion agreement with Ottawa (new window) for child protection reform. They have never hidden their desire to go ottawa accused neglecting protection indigenous to the rider alone to advance in this file.

They have done a fantastic job for them. but we must also remember that we all have unique circumstances that apply to our regionscontinued Pauline Frost, asking that Ottawa takes a step forward for a new national agreement.

In the email. the spokesperson for SACEric Head said that the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal still has to approve this agreement with Ontario and that during this time, Ottawa continues its reflections.

The Regional Chief of ottawa accused neglecting protection indigenous the First Nations Assembly for British Columbia, Terry Teegeeis also impatient.

At least internally, we have the commission which is underway. We certainly hope that the federal government will return to the negotiating table soonhe said. adding that several chiefs had mentioned the subject to the Prime Minister during their meeting on the economic future of Canada.

The inertia in this file only accentuates the uncertainty about the future of this agreement which would partly resolve. a 18 -year -old legal battle on children’s rights (new window).