June 11, 2021

Unceded Territory of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam Nations

Indigenous Child & Family Services Directors

urge Trudeau Government to

STOP FIGHTING INDIGENOUS CHILDREN and RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SURVIVORS

The Indigenous Child & Family Services Directors call on the Trudeau Government to accept the will of Parliament and take urgent action to:

• Stop fighting the CHRT orders to compensate Indigenous children and families who experienced discrimination in the child welfare system;
• Stop fighting to disqualify Indigenous children from Jordan’s Principle eligibility;
• Stop fighting the survivors of St. Anne’s residential school;
• Fully implement the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

The Trudeau Government stood in grief with Indigenous peoples when 215 of our children were found at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, but on June 14 they are scheduled to stand against Indigenous children and families in federal court. Now it is time for the Trudeau Government to stop perpetuating the harms of colonization and show meaningful leadership on the path to reconciliation.

The Indigenous Child & Family Services Directors call on both the Provincial and Federal governments to follow through on the promise of concrete action by dedicating the resources needed to breathe life into the many recommendations made over the years, including the Spirit Bear Plan developed by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society.

Media contact

Mary Teegee (Maaxw Gibuu), IMBA
Chair, Indigenous Child & Family Services Directors
Ph: 250-612-8710

OurChildrenOurWay.ca

About the Indigenous Child & Family Services Directors … A forum to strengthen our children our way

A coalition of executives responsible for managing the 24 delegated Aboriginal Agencies in BC, agencies representing 60% of First Nations in the province. As a collective and expert voice on child welfare matters, the Directors Forum bring decades of frontline experience working with Indigenous children and families.