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Gathering looks to create equity for First Nations children (8 photos)

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is hosting the Early Years Gathering in Thunder Bay to discuss issues impacting children in First Nations communities.

THUNDER BAY - Jordan River Anderson of Norway House Cree First Nation died at the age of five in a Winnipeg hospital in 2005 after being diagnosed with Carey Fineman Ziter Syndrome. He had never known his family home and even though doctors cleared him at the age of two to return, disagreement between the provincial and federal government over who would pay for his home care, meant he never would.

Jordan’s Principle, which was instituted in 2016, is meant to ensure First Nations children receive equitable access to government funded services, and while it has made some significant changes, it is yet to be fully implemented.

“I think we are partly there, we are getting there,” said Andrea Auger, reconciliation and research manager with the First Nation Child and Family Caring Society of Canada.

“But the government is not fully compliant with the orders. There are still a lot of delays for a lot of First Nation kids and families across the country. We can say there have been a number of services delivered to First Nations children and a lot of First Nation communities are really involved in the process as well.”

Auger is one of the keynote speakers at the Early Years Gathering hosted by Nishnawbe Aski Nation in Thunder Bay.

The three-day gathering will provide an opportunity for First Nation communities to discuss issues related to early childhood development, including fetal alcohol syndrome disorder, autism, and music therapy.

“The first thought I thought of this morning is it is an opportunity now for us to learn who we are and seeing and discovering that there is more out there for our children, like when you talk about Jordan’s Principle,” said NAN Deputy Grand Chief, Walter Naveao. “I think it’s an opportunity for First Nations to rekindle that working relationship with one another and reflect First Nations moving forward with an agenda that is family based for each of our communities.”

Jordan’s Principle is at the centre of the discussions taking place and Auger said it is so important because it focuses on getting First Nations children the services they need when they need them.

Following Jordan’s death, the First Nation Child and Family Caring Society of Canada and the Assembly of First Nation filed a human rights complaint against the government in 2007. It was substantiated in 2016.

“The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal found the federal government has been discriminating against 165,000 First Nations children and providing less child welfare services and failing to fully implement Jordan’s Principle,” Auger said.

Auger added she believes in the Spirit Bear Plan, which is about ensuring First Nations children have access to all public services, including clean water, proper housing, and anything that impacts their health and well-being.

“The Spirit Bear Plan is a five-point plan that really is about implementing those Canadian Human Rights Tribunal orders as well as doing a costing of all the shortfalls for First Nations kids,” Auger said. “Lastly the pieces around government and ensuring government departments are no longer working in the colonial mindset, treating First Nations kids and families equitably. It goes all the way from the top of the government to the bottom.”

Naveao said it is paramount that Jordan’s Principle be fully implemented, because First Nation communities have never had opportunities like this before.

“Now we are charting our own course and learning to navigate so it is very important it is at the forefront so parents, grandmothers, expecting mothers, can realize there is something there in the program under Jordan’s Principle,” he said.

“I’m hoping they feel that we are all in this together, that we have a foot on the ground and that we are finding out about ourselves and moving forward. NAN is unique, it’s quite huge, but this binds us more so more than ever.”

The Early Years Gathering wraps up on Thursday.  



Doug Diaczuk

About the Author: Doug Diaczuk

Doug Diaczuk is a reporter and award-winning author from Thunder Bay. He has a master’s degree in English from Lakehead University
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