Rally on Parliament Hill. Photo courtesy of AFN.
It was a Day of Action for Aboriginal children today, with hundreds of people gathered on Parliament Hill, calling for an overhaul of the child welfare system for Indigenous children.
The chief of the Assembly of First Nations led the event outside in the rain. Later, he met with reporters to outline what he thinks should be done now and in the future. Perry Bellegarde says the child welfare system needs a complete overhaul and a major cash injection. He says the children have been waiting long enough.
“Children’s lives are at stake, and we want to make sure these children’s childhood is one filled with hope and inspiration and that there is going to be a bright day for them,” he said.
Bellegarde says the promise of $155 million more from the federal government is encouraging, but he says that should be happening now as part of a longer term plan of reforming the system. Bellegarde is encouraged by a call from Indigenous Services Minister Jane Phillpott, who has organized an emergency meeting on child welfare early in the new year.
Bellegarde says there are a number of groups that must be heard.
“You need to bring everyone together, and we support that,” he said. “You have to look at it as on-reserve is one system and jurisdiction, provincial and territorial systems have another jurisdiction as well, and then you have our First Nations jurisdiction.”
It is estimated that more than 40,000 Indigenous children are in the care of provincial agencies. They also make up about half the children in foster homes right across the country.