The federal government needs to introduce Indigenous child welfare legislation soon, that according to the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
“We’re hoping fairly soon,” National Chief Perry Bellegarde said. “We want this legislation introduced as soon as possible, because we still have 40,000 plus children in foster care and provincial care and that’s just not acceptable.”
Chiefs are not pleased that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has not kept his word on tabling the legislation before the end of January, as FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron wrote him a letter expressing his frustrations.
“In December of 2018, you made a commitment at a National Chiefs Gathering in Ottawa. The promise was that Child Welfare Legislation would be priority by end of January 2019. However, this date has come and gone and the budget for this legislation has not been presented,” Chief Cameron says in the letter.
The provincial government has reviewed the draft legislation, with Social Services Minister Paul Merriman seeking clarity on what impacts it could have on existing child welfare systems.
“In discussion with other provinces and First Nations leaders, a number of parties currently involved in delivering child welfare services are looking for clarity from the federal government on this draft legislation. This includes seeking clarity on the impact the legislation would have on child welfare systems and agreements that are currently in place,” said Merriman in a statement. “Currently, Saskatchewan has 17 Child and Family Services Agreements in place with our First Nations partners delivering child welfare services on-reserve to 61 First Nations.”
But Bellegarde suggests the provinces with concerns to sit and discuss them with First Nations.
“We’re urging all the provinces to sit together with the First Nations leadership in their respective territories to work out a process,” explained Bellegarde.
Time is running out for the federal government to table its legislation so that it receives royal assent before Parliament rises for a fall election.
A date on when that legislation will be put to the House of Commons has not been given.
(Photo: AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde at a Star Blanket Cree Nation ceremony in Regina. By Dan Jones.)