Current Problems: Child Welfare (1-5)
Exploring Theme: "Systemic Racism"
Updates on this page: 23
(Filtered by Indigenous Group "First Nations")
August 6, 2024
Reflecting on the Status of Indigenous Child Welfare in Canada on the 10th Anniversary of Tina Fontaine’s Death
by Alexandra Champagne More posts by Alexandra » NationTalk: SLAW – On August 17, 2014, fifteen-year-old Tina Fontaine was found dead in Winnipeg’s Red River. It had been over two weeks since Tina was reported missing. Among the more disturbing details of Tina’s death was the fact that in the twenty-four hours prior to her disappearance,...
June 21, 2024
APTN Investigates: Orphans of Church and State
APTN News: Rod Vienneau reaches over and brushes away some of Paul St-Aubin’s hair from his temple. The gesture seems almost tender until Vienneau’s hand reveals what lies underneath St-Aubin’s thick head of hair… a grid of scars. “Here on this side of his head as well, look,” says Vienneau pointing to the other side...
June 12, 2024
Staggering’ rate of First Nations newborns involved in Manitoba child welfare system: study
‘Child welfare will and is changing as we speak,’ says Manitoba families minister CBC Indigenous: A new study says child welfare has had “an increasingly widespread presence” in the lives of First Nations newborns in Manitoba over the last couple decades, and its lead author says urgent change is needed. Published Wednesday, the study looking into the rate...
March 15, 2024
‘Our Children are not for sale’: Treaty 8 chiefs
Treaty 8 chiefs announce a new law that prevents adoption and private guardianship without parental or First Nation consent APTN News: First Nations leaders from Treaty 8 met today to announce a new law that supersedes previous legislation over First Nations children within that Treaty area. The law, called the Nehiyaw and Dene Nations of...
March 2, 2024
No home. No options: Ontario Indigenous kids ‘damaged’ by system sending them south
A Global News investigation has revealed how First Nations youths from remote, northern communities like Grassy Narrows are allegedly targeted by some for-profit group home companies because their owners can charge more for Indigenous children or because the kids provide a steady source of revenue, according to interviews with more than 50 former group home workers, former...
January 22, 2024
Innu inquiry to hold 1st formal hearings, focusing on history of child welfare in Innu communities
Inquiry will hear from experts and institutional representatives CBC Indigenous: The Inquiry Respecting the Treatment, Experiences and Outcomes of Innu in the Child Protection System is set to begin formal hearings in Sheshatshiu on Monday after months of informal community sessions. The five days of hearings will focus on the history of child welfare in Labrador’s...
December 5, 2023
AFN national chief candidates would back inquiry into Sixties Scoop
National inquiry into removal of Indigenous children could become a key task for next AFN leader CBC Indigenous: Some First Nations chiefs say the next national chief of the Assembly of First Nations should push for a national inquiry into the “Sixties Scoop” and the continued removal of Indigenous children from their families. About 22,000 Indigenous children were...
November 22, 2023
First Nations Children in Quebec Deserve Better
NationTalk: Wendake — On the occasion of Early Childhood Week, the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission (FNQLHSSC), in collaboration with the Observatoire des tout-petits, is unveiling the results of a survey carried out among the Quebec population by the Léger firm. The results confirm that concerted actions must continue with a...
November 14, 2023
Blackstock sees ‘imbalance’ between $55M lawyers’ bill, welfare victims’ compensation
Imbalance in cash for lawyers, victims: Blackstock Toronto Star: OTTAWA – Cindy Blackstock, one of the people responsible for bringing forward a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal case that led to a historic settlement agreement, says she is concerned about an “imbalance” between what lawyers and victims will be paid. The Federal Court approved a landmark...
June 8, 2023
B.C. government fighting to keep birth alert records from public eye
On June 12 and 13, the B.C. Supreme Court is set to hear a dispute involving MCFD, IndigiNews and the province’s privacy commissioner. APTN News: A dispute over birth alert records involving British Columbia, IndigiNews and the province’s privacy commissioner is heading for the B.C. Supreme Court. B.C.’s Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD)...
May 15, 2023
Quebec sent Ottawa hospital hundreds of birth alerts despite Ontario ban
Hospital received 298 birth alerts since October 2020, when Ontario ended them CBC News: Despite the fact that Ontario put a stop to birth alerts in 2020, Quebec child welfare agencies continued to send hundreds of the controversial notifications — which can be used to threaten to or actually seize newborns from their mothers — to Ottawa’s largest hospital....
April 21, 2023
After outcry over baby’s apprehension, Manitoba Indigenous family gets newborn back
‘Wrongful, illegal apprehension,’ sister says after meeting in which Child and Family Services apologized CBC News: An Indigenous family is planning to pursue legal action after they say a newborn baby was apprehended by Child and Family Services without warning. A taxi was on its way to take the mother and baby home on Monday, when a child-welfare...
April 2, 2023
74% of youth in care in Alberta are Indigenous. Here’s what 2 of them had to say
‘I strive to this day just to live a normal life,’ said Jesse Koenig, 28 CBC News:A new underground magazine circulating in Edmonton is sharing stories from youth in care — in their own words. Zine & Heard, edited by youth advocate Penny Frazier, shares stories, art, tattoos and more from former youth in care. ...
February 17, 2023
Colonial governments continue to destroy Innu land and traditional culture, says longtime activist and elder
Innu are treated badly by police, nurses, and doctors, says Innu elder CBC News: Mistreatment of Innu people by colonial governments continues today, said an elder and activist who has fought for decades to protect the Innu’s traditional culture and land in Labrador. “I will start on how we have been treated by the white man,...
February 12, 2023
After years of delay, the inquiry into treatment of Innu children in care begins hearings
First hearings will take place in Sheshatshiu, focus on Innu history CBC News: Nearly six years after it was announced, the inquiry into the treatment and experiences of Innu children in Newfoundland and Labrador’s child protection system will begin hearings in Sheshatshiu on Monday. The inquiry, led by retired Inuk provincial court judge James Igloliorte,...
February 8, 2023
Mother found dead after sharing video about struggles with Manitoba’s child welfare system, domestic violence
Anishinaabe woman pleaded with people to ‘listen to me’ WARNING: This story contains distressing details. CBC News: Family and friends of a woman who died by suicide are looking for answers after the woman posted a live video on social media saying she was a victim of domestic violence and sharing the frustration and trauma...
January 6, 2023
Sixties Scoop survivor reconnects with birth mom, discovers her culture, decades after separation
It took many years for the pair to develop a mother-daughter relationship WARNING: This story contains distressing details CBC News: Tauni Sheldon remembers the first time she saw her biological mom. Sheldon was 23 years old. It was 1993 and she was in the Winnipeg airport, having just flown in with her adoptive parents, Jim...
October 26, 2022
Anishinabek Nation leadership encourage implementation of recommendations in Devon Freeman inquest
NationTalk: ANISHINABEK NATION HEAD OFFICE (October 25, 2022) – On behalf of the Anishinabek Nation, Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe and Anishinabek Nation Children’s Commissioner Duke Peltier have issued a statement in response to the long-awaited inquest into the death of Devon Freeman from Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation. “We continue to stand with the...
October 21, 2022
Freeman inquest: ‘Devon’s Principle’ would give Indigenous kids in care a right to return to their community
Lessons from 16-year-old’s life and death form a legacy that is changing how Indigenous youth who are in contact with the child welfare system are treated Hamilton Spectator: The voice of Devon Russell James Freeman — Muska’abo — has been heard. Devon was many things: a 16-year-old Hamilton boy trying to find his way; a member of...
October 6, 2022
AMC sues Manitoba, Canada for $1B over damage caused by child welfare system
The lawsuit seeks to compensate children who were taken off reserve. APTN: The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) is suing the federal and Manitoba governments over what they say are far-reaching and damaging effects of the child welfare system. “Manitoba and Canada received consistent advice and warnings, including from their own experts, that they were...
October 5, 2022
New investigation into allegations of rights abuse of an Inuk child placed in isolation in a youth center
The Commission launched an investigation of its own initiative after being informed of the situation of an Inuk child who had allegedly been placed in isolation in a rehabilitation center of the CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal. NationTalk: Montréal – The Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse launched an investigation of...
September 21, 2022
‘The bond is broken’: Data shows Indigenous kids overrepresented in foster care
Statistics Canada released data from the 2021 census showing Indigenous children accounted for 53.8 per cent of all children in foster care. Toronto Star: WINNIPEG – A Winnipeg mother says she was scarred for life when her first child was taken away at birth by social workers, who told her she was unfit to parent...
September 19, 2022
Experts warn ending birth alerts not the only solution to keep Indigenous children with their family
Globe and Mail: Canadian Press – The number of newborns taken into care dropped dramatically as birth alerts ended across Canada, but child welfare experts warn ceasing the practice cannot be the only step governments take to keep families together. “(Birth alerts) really risk being kind of a red herring in the real issue of...
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