Statement from Chiefs of Ontario and Nishnawbe Aski Nation regarding Caring Society Motion at the CHRT

Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict and Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler have issued the following statement following interference by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal on the long-term reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services Program in Ontario.

“We as Chiefs of Ontario and Nishnawbe Aski Nation are engaging in productive and positive discussions with Canada on moving towards a reformed system for our children and families. We have been mandated by our Chiefs, who have the right to make their own informed decisions about their children, and child and family services, without being required to consult with other parties on these decisions.

This agreement seeks to shift control and authority over child and family services funding from child welfare agencies to First Nations where it rightfully belongs. While we are disappointed that the Caring Society has brought a motion claiming that Canada must consult with them about our regional agreement, we will not allow this to derail our process and distract us from the work that needs to be done. The Caring Society has opposed this agreement from day one, and we do not want their latest procedural interruption to disrupt our progress towards a regional agreement they have already deemed to be “deeply flawed”.  

Our Chiefs have rejected the status quo and given us a strong mandate to reach an agreement to reform what continues to operate as a broken system for our children and families. We expect that the jurisdiction and authority of our Chiefs as rightsholders will be respected throughout any process and ask outside parties to respectfully allow us to move forward, as is our right, and we have been mandated by our leadership.

Earlier this month, Chiefs of Ontario, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, and the Government of Canada announced the continuation of this work as partners for transformative change on the long-term reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services Program in Ontario. Chiefs of Ontario and Nishnawbe Aski Nation supported and ratified the reforms set out in the Final Agreement on the Long-Term Reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services Program, reached in July 2024.

For more information please visit: www.fncfsreform.ca

For more information please contact:
Michael Heintzman,
Director of Communications
Cell: (807) 621-2790
mheintzman@nan.ca