An agreement between the federal government and Ontario’s First Nations regarding child and family services is now in place.
It provides $8.5 billion in funding to support First Nations-led programming.
Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty says more than 60,000 families in 130 communities will benefit.
“It will help families access support earlier, reduce the number of children entering care, and help children when intervention is necessary,” says Gull-Masty.
“Children will continue to remain connected to their families, communities, their language, and their culture.”
The agreement commits over $900 million in annual funding, with an additional $158 million provided to existing agencies this year.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says it returns to First Nations the authority and responsibility of their children.
“Our communities will have access to more resources for them to not only protect their children, but to ensure that they have access to whatever resource that they need for them to, as I like to say, for them to grow up healthy and happy because that is what they deserve,”
Chiefs of Ontario’s Regional Chief Abram Benedict says access to the resources is one of the most important parts of the agreement.
He says it allows First Nations to advance their inherent jurisdiction over their children.
“Far too long we have seen the colonial system has told us what is best for our children, what is best for our nations. That is changing,” says Benedict.
