Spirit Bear Podcast: Recent Episodes
First Nations Child and Family Caring Society
Welcome to the Caring Society’s Spirit Bear paw’d-cast! Tune in for informative episodes that feature guest appearances from community members, advocates, and experts leading on a number of matters affecting First Nations children, youth, and families. We are bear-y grateful to our friends in Dr. Veldon Coburn’s “Indigenous Politics in Canada” course at the University of Ottawa, who produced Season 1 from January to April of 2022.
For more information on what we do and how you can help promote justice and equity for First Nations kids and their families, visit our website at: https://fncaringsociety.com.
In this special episode of the Courageous Conversation Series, hosted by Gabrielle Fayant from A7G, Title, we take a deep dive into the unique experiences of Metis Settlements in Alberta with Vice President of the Metis Settlements General Council, Brenda Blyne.
Through a rich conversation, this episode explores the origins of the Settlements, their historical and political development and how they operate today. By centering the voices and experiences of Metis individual from the Settlements, this episode highlights the nuances of Metis identity, the feeling of being “different” within Indigenous spaces and the importance of recognizing the Settlements as distinct self-governing communities within Canada’s broader landscape that deserve a seat at the table and the opportunity to voice their perspectives.
In this special episode of the Courageous Conversation Series, host Gabrielle Fayant from A7G is joined by Jennifer Altenberg, a passionate educator and youth worker who shares her journey working with Indigenous youth across the prairies. From creating safe, empowering spaces outside the classroom to now transforming what education look like within it, we reflect on the deep importance of holding space, speaking the truth, breaking harmful stereotypes and exploring difficult topics. We talk about the realities Indigenous youth face, including systemic barriers and the ongoing struggle to access necessities, and how they continue to face these challenges with strength and resilience.
This conversation is a powerful reminder that real change beings by listening, making room for and walking alongside young people as they find their path.
In this special episode of the Courageous Conversation Series, host Gabrielle Fayant from A7G is joined by Brittany Matthews from the Caring Society and Koral Hamilton from Feathers of Hope for a critical conversation on Indigenous youth leadership, the importance and effects of data sovereignty and the urgent need for accountability in Canada’s policies and actions. Together, they explore how youth are shaping advocacy and policy, not just as participants but as powerful leaders demanding systemic change. The discussion challenges how Canada can stop being a repeat offender and start building a future rooted in long term accountability.
Tune in for a powerful dialogue on how youth are not only speaking truth to power but also reclaiming it.
What does youth engagement look like in child welfare reform and work? In this special guest episode we are joined by John Sharpe, Executive Director of Partners for Youth in New Brunswick, to explore what it means to move beyond tokenism and step into authentic allyship and co-conspiratorship with young people.
What happens when families of disabled children can’t access the support they need—and child welfare becomes the last resort? In this Special Guest episode of Beyond Binaries: Our Stories, Our Worlds, Our Futures, co-hosts Cheyanne Ratnam and Rachelle Matatawabin sit down with Irwin Elman, former Ontario Provincial Child Advocate and current President of Defence for Children International-Canada, to explore the troubling intersection of child welfare and disabilities.
What does equity really look like in child welfare? In this Special Guest episode of Beyond Binaries - Equitable Standards to Youth Transitions – Implementing Equity in Child Welfare, we sit down with Mark Laforge from the Government of New Brunswick to discuss the Equitable Standards to Youth Transitions Evaluation Model. As a pilot partner, New Brunswick is leading the way in implementing tools developed by first-voice experts to bring real equity into youth transitions.
How can storytelling help us process loss, find strength, and reclaim identity? In this special episode of Beyond Binaries: Our Stories, Our Worlds, Our Futures - Storytelling: Processing Loss, Finding Strength, and Reclaiming Identity, co-hosts Cheyanne Ratnam and Rachelle Metatawabin get intimate about their own experiences of loss and healing. Through raw reflection and conversation, they explore how storytelling becomes a powerful tool for processing grief, reclaiming identity, and building strength.
Tune in to hear Cheyanne and Rachelle share their truths about grief, strength, and the reclamation of identity through storytelling.
In this Special Guest episode of Beyond Binaries: Our Stories, Our Worlds, Our Futures - Alumni, Memory, and Storytelling: Eldership, Storytelling, and Healing, co-hosts Cheyanne Ratnam and Rachelle Metatawabin sit down with Marie Christian, a First Voice Advocate elder, to explore how storytelling, memory, and lived experience intersect to shape healing and community leadership.
In this episode of Beyond Binaries - Healing and Grief: Lived Experience, Loss, and Journey to Healing, cohosts Cheyanne Ratnam and Rachelle Wetatawabin share elements of their own journeys through loss, grief, and healing. Together, they reflect on lived expertise, uncover commonalities across their experiences, and deconstruct the ways grief is carried and transformed.
Grief is not the end of the story—it is part of the journey to healing. Tune in for an intimate and conversation between two voices of lived expertise.
Many young people from the child welfare system experience disconnection from their culture and language. In Scarborough, Ontario, a new community center is being built—supported by all levels of government—to serve an ethno-specific group and foster cultural reconnection. In this Special Guest Episode of Beyond Binaries – Reconnections: Culture, Language, Community , Nedra Rodrigo joins cohosts Cheyanne Ratnam and Ashley Bach to share insights into how Indigenous communities were engaged in the process, the shared experiences between different peoples, and why reclaiming culture and language is essential for identity and healing.
How do relationships and connections shape the futures of young people leaving child welfare? In this Special Guest episode of Beyond Binaries we sit down with Heather O’Keefe from StepStones for Youth to explore the power of meaningful connections in supporting youth as they transition to adulthood.
What does it take to build a community that truly supports children, youth, and families involved in the child welfare system? In this Special Guest episode of Beyond Binaries, host Cheyanne Ratnam is joined by Valerie McMurtry (CEO, Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada), Keziah Oduro (YPAC Member), and Wendy Chan (Associate Director, Program Impact, CAFC) to discuss how community, innovation, and collaboration can create lasting change.
How can youth lead the way in shaping the systems that affect them? In this Special Guest episode of Beyond Binaries, co-hosts Cheyanne Ratnam and Rachelle Matatawabin sit down with Sharif Mahdy from the Students Commission of Canada (SCC) to explore how youth engagement is important for driving real change.
Youth homelessness isn’t about rebellion—it’s about survival. In this Special Guest episode of Beyond Binaries: Our Stories, Our Worlds, Our Futures, co-hosts Cheyanne Ratnam and Rachelle Matatawabin sit down with Michael Braithwaite, CEO of Blue Door, to speak about the undeniable link between child welfare and homelessness.
What happens when lived experts take the lead in shaping the narrative on homelessness, youth justice, and media representation? In this Special Guest episode of Beyond Binaries: Our Stories, Our Worlds, Our Futures, co-hosts Cheyanne Ratnam and Rachelle Matatawabin sit down with Joel Zola, founder of Street Voices, to discuss how his lived experience inspired a movement to amplify marginalized voices and create real systemic change.
What happens when youth with lived experience lead the conversation on child welfare reform? In this Special Guest episode of Beyond Binaries - Centering Lived Expertise: Transforming Child Welfare in Canada, co-hosts Cheyanne Ratnam and Rachelle Matatawabin sit down with Dr. Mélanie Doucet and Jessica (Jessi) Knutson from the National Council of Youth in Care Advocates (NCYICA) to discuss how youth-led advocacy is shaping national policy and pushing for systemic change.
Why are Black children and families disproportionately affected by the child welfare system—and what can be done to change it? In this Special Guest episode of Beyond Binaries - Beyond the Numbers: Addressing Racial Disparities in Child Welfare, co-hosts Cheyanne Ratnam and Rachelle Matatawabin sit down with Vania Patrick-Drakes from One Vision One Voice (OVOV) to unpack the realities of anti-Black racism in child welfare and the urgent need for systemic reform.
What does it mean to have personal sovereignty being Indigenous having grown up in the violence of the colonial system? In this Special Guest episode of Beyond Binaries - Intersections: Indigeneity, Motherhood, Child Welfare, co-hosts Cheyanne Ratnam and Ashley Bach are joined by Rachelle Metatawabin and Kakeka Thundersky, who are incredible Indigenous women who are former crown wards and mothers.
On this episode of Spirit Bear Podcast, Dr. Cindy Blackstock is joined by Gabrielle Fayant and Alyssa Carpenter to discuss the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Call to Action 66 and their important work to call upon the federal government to establish multiyear funding for community-based youth organizations to deliver programs on reconciliation
On this second two-part episode of Spirit Bear Podcast, Dr. Cindy Blackstock, Amber Crowe and Dr. Dr. Barbara Fallon are joined by Dr. Ashley Vandermorris, staff paediatrician in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at SickKids and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto to continue the discussion and explore the complex mental health needs for First Nations children, youth and families in Ontario
On this two-part episode of Spirit Bear Podcast, Dr. Cindy Blackstock is joined by Amber Crowe, a member and resident of Alderville First Nation and Executive Director of Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child &Family Services, an Indigenous Child and Family Well Being Agency and Dr. Barbara Fallon, the Associate Vice-President, Research for the University of Toronto and a Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, to discuss new and emerging data from the Ontario Incidence Study on the overrepresentation of First Nations children, youth, and families in the child welfare system in Ontario
On February 9, 2024, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Bill C-92, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth, and families was constitutionally valid in whole, following a challenge to the Bill's constitutionality by the Quebec Court of Appeal.
On this episode of the Spirit Bear Podcast, we're fortunate to be joined by two experts, Drs. Naiomi Metallic and Hadley Friedland, to talk about this decision, some of the strengths and weaknesses of Bill C-92, and the policy implications for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit seeking to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services.
In light of some of the monies that are finally starting to reach First Nations communities, as well as within the overall context of Bill C-92, the delivery of effective prevention services is an important topic. While some First Nations have made great strides toward implementing prevention services, others will be starting from ground zero.
On this episode of the Spirit Bear Podcast, hear from Laurence Allard, Child and Family Services Advisor with the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission, as she discusses how Nations can go from "0-60" when it comes to the delivery of community-based, holistic prevention services.
On this episode of Spirit Bear's Ask an Expert Podcast, we're joined once more by Drs. Barbara Fallon and Ashley Vandermorris, and Genevieve Sansone of the Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development Policy Bench as they discuss the importance of culturally appropriate, community-based substance use interventions in First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities.
On this episode of the Ask an Expert podcast, Cindy welcomes back Dr. Helaina Gaspard of the Institute for Fiscal Studies and Democracy (IFSD) to discuss Jordan's Principle, the child-first legal rule that ensures First Nations children can access the supports they need when they need them.
Tune in for a discussion on what we can learn from assessing the available data on Jordan’s Principle and what else is being done to help ensure First Nations kids are getting what they need.
For the full episode, visit: https://fncaringsociety.com/spirit-bear-podcast
This episode features a conversation between long-time friends and colleagues, Dr. Cindy Blackstock and Gary Mavis, RSW. Gary has spent his entire career supporting children and youth in care, as well as providing caregivers, both Indigenous and non, with the resources and training they need to provide culturally relevant, trauma-informed care to First Nations youth.
Tune in to hear more about what these terms actually mean, through a discussion of Gary's experiences working with the former Federation of Aboriginal Foster Parents and now as a key member of Teddy's Homes in BC.
Visit https://fncaringsociety.com/spirit-bear-podcast to listen to this episode in full!
We're thrilled to share this mini episode of the Ask an Expert Podcast, where Dr. Cindy Blackstock finds herself in the interviewee chair to discuss some important updates following the recent decision by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to endorse the revised Final Settlement Agreement on compensation put forward by the parties.
Tune in for more information about how compensation will be delivered and what to expect going forward.
Visit https://fnwitness.ca for the latest updates.
On this episode of Spirit Bear's Ask an Expert series, we are joined once more by the wonderful team of Dr. Barbara Fallon, Dr. Ashley Vandermorris, and Genevieve Sansone to talk about birth alerts.
Tune in to find out more about what birth alerts are, how they impact First Nations communities, and how eliminating the practice - when done alongside other methods of keeping kids safe and healthy - could impact the number of First Nations kids in care.
Visit https://fncaringsociety.com/spirit-bear-podcast to listen in full!
On this episode of Spirit Bear's Ask an Expert Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Helaina Gaspard of the Institute for Fiscal Studies and Democracy, who discusses some of the exciting opportunities that lie ahead for First Nations and agencies in the long-term reform of First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS). Ultimately, Dr. Gaspard shows how a reformed, bottom-up approach to funding can help support thriving First Nations children, families, and communities.
Visit https://fncaringsociety.com/spirit-bear-podcast to listen to the episode in its entirety!
On this episode of Spirit Bear's Ask an Expert podcast, Dr. Blackstock is joined by Dr. Barbara Fallon, Dr. Ashley Vandermorris, and Genevieve Sansone of the Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development Policy Bench to discuss parenting capacity assessments and their usefulness in supporting First Nations, Inuit, and Metis kids and families.
Tune into this episode to learn about what parenting capacity assessments are, why they are used, and whether or not they are a solid tool to be used to help support healthy, thriving First Nations, Metis, and Inuit families.
Visit https://fncaringsociety.com/spirit-bear-podcast to learn more!
On this episode of the Ask an Expert series, Dr. Cindy Blackstock and Sarah Clarke of Clarke Child & Family Law discuss the human rights compensation available for certain children and families who have been impacted by Canada's discrimination.
On September 6, 2019, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ordered Canada to pay the maximum compensation allowable under the Canadian Human Rights Actto children and families harmed by Canada's discrimination. However, as of March 2023, Canada has yet to pay any of the money ordered by the Tribunal, a further injustice to victims.
Tune in to hear more about why compensation was ordered, where the dollar amount comes from, and how this is one step in remedying the hurt caused by Canada.
On this episode of the Ask an Expert series, Dr. Cindy Blackstock and Sarah Clarke of Clarke Child & Family Law discuss the ongoing case for equity for First Nations children and families at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (Tribunal).
As per the Tribunal orders, Canada must stop the discrimination against First Nations children and families and prevent it from reoccurring. But what will that involve? What still needs to take place in order to remedy the harms Canada perpetrated against First Nations young people and their families? Hit ‘play’ to find out.
Season 2 of the Spirit Bear Podcast is coming soon!
The "Ask an Expert" series, hosted by Dr. Cindy Blackstock, features interviews with leaders in the field of child wellbeing and aims to dig deeper into evidence-based solutions for supporting First Nations young people and their families by dispelling myths and examining what actually works.
The students have a conversation with Dr. Veldon Coburn about the education opportunities available to First Nations on reserve, the linkages between historical and contemporary inequities in education, and how this contributes to educational outcomes for First Nations students. The students also consider the importance of balanced and truthful historical accounts being captured in school curricula and how specific systems are upheld when this information is withheld.
Dr. Coburn, a member of the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa in the Institute of Indigenous Research and Studies. He has a PhD in Political Studies from Queen’s University and holds over a decade of federal policy experience.
@VeldonCoburn
1:19 - The Mind the Gap report the students discuss is from 2013. Experts place the disparity rate at anywhere between 30-50%. You can read the report here: https://education.chiefs-of-ontario.org/download/mind-the-gap-fn-funding/
2:46 – The correct term is “First Nation reserves” not Indigenous reserves. “Indigenous” is a term to refer collectively to First Nations, Metis and Inuit. The reserves system was created through the Indian Act and is specific to First Nations.
9:05 - You can read about the Mi’kmaq Education Act here: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/m-7.6/FullText.html and the Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement here: https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1517588283074/1542741544614
15:30 - To ensure that Canada’s history (especially around residential schools) is told in a balanced and truthful way, the Caring Society created the Reconciling History initiative, in collaboration with Beechwood Cemetery. You can read more about the initiative here: https://fncaringsociety.com/what-you-can-do/ways-make-difference/reconciling-history
For more information on equitable education for First Nations kids, visit the Timeline and Documents section on https://shannensdream.ca. In particular, check out the 2016 report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer and the 2018 report by the Auditor General of Canada.
Produced by Rhea Agnihotri, Royita Ise Godwill, Jamie Hurlbut, Alina Khan and Sara Mohmand.
The hosts sit down with Dr. Mary Ann Corbiere to discuss Indigenous cultural and language resurgence, including some impacts of the Official Languages Act. Dr. Corbiere invites the students to consider how language repression figures into colonial assimilationist policy, and in the First Nations context, the complex relationship between language, culture and identity.
Dr. Corbiere is a member of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory and is an Associate Professor with the Department of Indigenous Studies at the University of Sudbury. Dr. Corbiere has a PhD in theory and policy studies in education from the University of Toronto.
0:40 - Nishnaabemwin (Ojibwe) is Dr. Corbiere’s mother tongue, and she has developed an extensive online dictionary, found here: https://dictionary.nishnaabemwin.atlas-ling.ca/#/help
5:12 - The Official Languages Act legislated French and English as Canada’s two official languages. All government services must be delivered in both languages.
5:16 - The National Indian Brotherhood is the former name of what is now known as the Assembly of First Nations (AFN).
9:03 - The Department of Indian Affairs has evolved into two separate federal government departments: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC).
17:30 - Here Dr. Corbiere discusses a viewpoint that separates the Church as an institution from the Christian faith.
8:32 - Views on the Bering Land Bridge/Bering Strait theory are diverse and contested amongst Indigenous peoples
29:32 - The Venture Initiative is an experiential learning initiative involving several courses at the University of Ottawa. https://www2.uottawa.ca/faculty-social-sciences/student-hub/venture-initiative
Produced by: Avia Amon, Maya Crawford, Shannon McQuaid and Reese Rowland-Kosticin.
The students invite Charlie Angus, MP for Timmins-James Bay, Ontario, to discuss the history and significance of Jordan's Principle. The Motion in support of Jordan's Principle was brought to the House of Commons in 2007 by Mr. Angus' colleague, Jean Crowder (now retired).
This episode has been edited for length. For detailed information on Jordan’s Principle, please visit https://jordansprinciple.ca
0:40 - In 2007, the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society (Caring Society) and the Assembly of First Nations filed a human rights complaint alleging Canada was discriminating against First Nation children by knowingly underfunding child welfare and choosing not to implement Jordan’s Principle. Learn more at https://fnwitness.ca
0:51 - The Tribunal also found that Canada was discriminating in its failure to properly implement Jordan’s Principle.
3:34 - Shannen Koostachin of Attawapiskat First Nation led a movement for “safe and comfy” schools and quality, culturally based education for First Nations children. You can learn more about Shannen, and the Shannen’s Dream movement here: https://shannensdream.ca
7:30 - for all developments in the ongoing Canadian Human Rights Tribunal case for First Nations children, please visit https://fnwitness.ca
11:55 - equity for First Nations children is a human rights issue, not a partisan issue. Unfortunately, discrimination against First Nations children has persisted across all Canadian governments.
13:11 - the figure of $40B is for both compensation and long term reform of First Nations Child & Family Services. You can read about the Agreement in Principle, signed December 31 2021, and all additional developments to the case here: https://fncaringsociety.com/what-you-can-do/ways-make-difference/i-am-witness-human-rights-case
Produced by Hannah Brocanier, Mira Buckle, Michelle Lewis and Benjamin Maracle.
Bill C-92: An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families received Royal Assent on June 21, 2019. To discuss some of the implications of this legislation, Ottawa University students were joined in Spring 2022 by Professor Naiomi Metallic, a Mi'kmaw professor of law at Dalhousie University, and Dennis Burnside, a Senior Consultant on Indigenous issues with Capital Hill Group who worked closely with Cowesses First Nation on C-92 implementation. As listeners will find, First Nations have different views on the utility of C-92.
The Caring Society's views, including outstanding questions and concerns about implementation, are outlined in our Information Sheet series called Looking for Clarity in Canada's Funding Positions on C-92:
https://fncaringsociety.com/knowledge-portal/information-sheets
0:15 - Indigenous child welfare is evolving in the sense that First Nations, Metis, and Inuit continue to push governments to end colonial approaches and ensure equitable and culturally relevant child welfare services
0:30 - “Indigenous” refers to First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples
1:10 - Jordan’s family gifted his name to create Jordan’s Principle, a child first principle to ensure First Nations children get the support they need, when they need it. A motion in support of Jordan’s Principle passed unanimously in the House of Commons in 2007.
1:15 - the case was filed in 2007, the Tribunal issued its decision in 2016, and, as of 2022, retains jurisdiction over the complaint (a 15 year span). In the years after the case was filed, Canada tried numerous times to have the matter dismissed on legal technicalities. These attempts were unsuccessful and the hearing on the merits finally began in 2013.
2:15 - For a full list of orders from the Tribunal since 2016, see https://fnwitness.ca
2:25 As discussed in previous podcast episodes, the Agreement in Principle is non-binding, and a final settlement agreement has yet to be reached. Visit fnwitness.ca to learn more.
2:42 - Bill C-92 is separate from the Caring Society & the Assembly of First Nations’ CHRT case, not an outcome of the case.
7:39 - the Sparrow test is one of the outcomes of the 1990 R v. Sparrow case, which tested s. 35 of the Canadian Constitution Act, regarding government infringement on the rights of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. You can read more about this decision here: https://canliiconnects.org/en/summaries/45551.
9:00 - s.35 of the Constitution Act broadly concerns “Aboriginal and treaty rights”.
23:29 - the resources Naiomi shares are:
- Wahkohtowin Law & Governance Lodge: https://www.ualberta.ca/wahkohtowin/index.html
- Caring Society website: https://fncaringsociety.com
Bill C-92 is one potential avenue for reforming child and family services available to First Nations. For more information on Bill C-92, check out the special report series on the topic by Yellowhead Institute: https://yellowheadinstitute.org/bill-c-92-analysis/.
Produced by Kayla Cresencia, Faith Dehghan, Joseph Gubbels, Kiana Lovelace and Aysa Salmasi.
uOttawa students hear from Dr. Naiomi Metallic, Mi'gmaw professor of law at Dalhousie University, as she discusses the social, legal, and political matters of child and family and social services in First Nations communities on reserve, and the role of the law in reconciliation.
Dr. Metallic comes from the Listuguj Mi’gmaw First Nation on the Gaspé Coast of Quebec, and currently holds the Chancellor’s Chair in Aboriginal Law and Policy at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University.
Notes:
2:55: The First Nations Child & Family Caring Society is more commonly referred to as “The Caring Society”
3:27: Building on the interest of First Nations child and family services leaders to create a national networking organization, the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada (the Caring Society) was developed at the Squamish First Nation in 1998 at a national meeting of First Nations child and family service agencies.
4:00: The Reconciling History initiative seeks to present a balanced and truthful account of historical figures, places, and monuments. You can visit the website for more information: https://fncaringsociety.com/what-you-can-do/ways-make-difference/reconciling-history
4:48: The Touchstones of Hope reconciliation movement dates back to 2005. Learn more here! https://fncaringsociety.com/what-you-can-do/ways-make-difference/touchstones-hope
6:00: The Tribunal has issued twenty-four additional orders since the January 2016 ruling, many of them non-compliance orders against Canada.
6:36: 1.89 million services, products, and supports for First Nations children have been approved via Jordan's Principle since 2016.
7:00: Jordan’s Principle makes sure First Nations children get the supports they need, when they need them. Supports are provided on the basis of substantive equality, best interests of the child, culturally relevant service provision, and account for distinct community circumstances.
10:00: The CHRT ordered Canada to compensate some children and families who experienced denials, delays or disruptions as a result of the government's narrow implementation of Jordan’s Principle.
10:35: As discussed by Dr. Palmater in our last podcast episode, the agreement in principle is non-binding, and a final settlement agreement has yet to be reached. Visit https://fnwitness.ca to learn more.
11:31: Jordan’s Principle does not “evolve”, rather the Tribunal’s orders have served to push Canada toward full implementation in the spirit of Jordan River Anderson’s memory.
21:00: Fiduciary duties refer to a relationship in which one party holds a legal or ethical relationship of trust & benefit with another party.
24:00: Canada’s judicial review of the federal court decision is for the compensation aspect only; the Jordan’s Principle eligibility part of the ruling is not being appealed.
25:00: Negotiations on a Final Agreement continue and will continue for at least the rest of the year.
33:55: The Agreement in Principle (non-binding) commits 20B over 5 years for First Nations child welfare child and family services and the proper implementation of Jordan’s Principle, and 20B for compensation to those harmed by Canada’s discrimination in these areas.
For more information on the Caring Society’s position with regards to the Agreement in Principle and the subsequent proposed Final Settlement Agreement, please read our analysis here: https://fncaringsociety.com/publications/compensation-final-settlement-agreement-information-sheet
48:35: The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act came into force in Canada in 2021.
50:00: The federal government has a responsibility for services, not jurisdiction in the governance sense. First Nations, Metis, Inuit are self-determining peoples.
51:23: “Indians and land reserved for Indians” are stated as falling under federal jurisdiction (in terms of provision of services) in the Constitution Act.
53:18: visit the Caring Society website https://fncaringsociety.com
Dr. Metallic comes from the Listuguj Mi’gmaw First Nation on the Gaspé Coast of Quebec, and currently holds the Chancellor’s Chair in Aboriginal Law and Policy at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University.
Produced by Mtama Chatsala, Brodie Corrigan, Grabriell Heaven, Graciella Martinez and Sofia Saeed Zaman.
Students interview Dr. Pamela Palmater about the Agreements in Principle signed on December 31, 2022, to 1) reform the First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) Program and ensure proper implementation of Jordan’s Principle and 2) compensate those harmed by Canada’s discrimination.
Jordan’s Principle ensures that First Nations children can access the supports they need, when they need them. For information about Jordan’s Principle, visit https://jordansprinciple.ca
This episode was recorded in the winter of 2022. For a summary of developments since, see https://fnwitness.ca
Dr. Pam Palmater is a Mi’kmaw citizen and member of the Eel River Bar First Nation. Dr. Palmater is a Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University where she is the Chair in Indigenous Governance. Pam has been studying, volunteering and working in First Nation issues for over 30 years on a wide range of social, political and legal issues, like poverty, housing, child and family services, treaty rights, education and legislation impacting First Nations. She was one of the spokespeople, organizers and public educators for the Idle No More movement in 2012-13.
To learn more about Professor Palmater and her work, visit her website at https://pampalmater.com
Notes:
@11:30 – Dr. Palmater says the “Federal Court was appealing” - she meant the federal government was appealing at Federal Court.
@12:01 – The Caring Society (not First Nations child and family services directly) that is party to the Agreement in Principle. The Caring Society was created at the request of First Nations agencies in 1998 and its membership today includes many First Nations agencies across the country.
Produced by Liam Dodge, Clara Estrella, Emily Lahey, Ziyan Liu and Sol Schafer.