The Prince Albert Grand Council is one of many Indigenous groups praising the financial settlement for Indigenous children harmed by Canada’s discriminatory child welfare system.
Earlier this week the federal government announced a $40 billion dollar agreement-in-principle for those affected.
In a statement released Thursday afternoon, the PAGC says the settlement will help ensure no child faces discrimination again and will help First Nation communities take care of their own children and families.
“This announcement marks a significant turning point in our collective efforts to reform the child welfare system affecting many of our Indigenous families in our PAGC communities,” said PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte in the statement. We recognize that this is bittersweet news for our Indigenous children victimized by a discriminatory system and negatively impacted by this policy, and we hope this decision will bring them a sense of justice, healing, and closure. We have confidence that we are one step closer to reconciliation by addressing these issues of colonialism and institutional racism.”
The PAGC says any funding they may receive from the settlement will be used for education and skills development for anyone who was harmed by Canada’s child welfare system.
(PHOTO: PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte, file photo)