FSIN Helps File Child Welfare Human Rights Action

FSIN Helps File Child Welfare Human Rights Action

Friday, February 23, 2007 at 15:22

A human rights complaint against the federal government over First Nations child welfare services is being formally signed today in Ottawa.

The complaint is being co-signed by the Assembly of First Nations, the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada.

Those groups say Ottawa provides substantially less funding to Indian child welfare agencies compared to mainstream agencies — and that has led to a disproportionately higher number of First Nations children in foster care.

The FSIN says of the 6,600 children in care in Saskatchewan, over 4,500 of them are of First Nations ancestry.

Yesterday, Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice reiterated his reluctance to boost funding levels. He told reporters that the government already spends “an awful lot of money” on Native people, and the question that needs to be asked is whether Canadians are “getting value for the dollars”.

(with files from The Globe and Mail)