Treaty 6 Nations including the Onion Lake Cree say they have reviewed Bill C-92 or Indigenous child welfare legislation and have serious concerns with it.
The Chiefs say the legislation was drafted behind closed doors and does not give free, prior, and informed consent.
The leaders say they refuse to give up their inherent jurisdiction to the Federal Government and the Provinces, wanting the Act rejected.
“We will not stand by and allow Canada to turn us into a fourth level of government when we are the Original Nations here with the responsibilities and obligations to protect the future generations. If the Government is genuine about building the treaty relationship, they would recognize and implement the spirit and intent of the Treaty relationship,” Okimaw Henry Lewis of the Onion Lake Cree Nation said in a press release.
Other leaders say the current framework does not recognize First Nations control over child welfare, leaving that to the provinces and territories.
Yet the Chiefs claim in order to recover their children and families from the impacts of residential schools, the 60s scoop, and day schools, that First Nations must exercise their inherent jurisdiction and must be in the driver’s seat to do so.
The legislation is now making its way through the House of Commons.
(PHOTO: Treaty 6 medal. File photo.)