The Anishinabek Nation and Canada signed the Agreement-in-Principle on Anishinabek Child, Youth, and Family Well-Being. Grand Council Chief Niganobe signed on behalf of 22 member First Nations and the Anishinabek Nation, and the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, and the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, signed on behalf of the Government of Canada. The Agreement-in-Principle supports the signatory First Nations in creating their own system and delivering the programs and services required to keep Anishinabek children within Anishinabek families and communities. Signatory First Nations will continue to develop and deliver the programs and services they determine are needed to support Anishinabek families’ well-being.

To date, 22 Anishinabek Nation First Nations have agreed to move forward with the Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being Law in their communities. The Child Well-Being Law will ensure the safety and well-being of Anishinabek children and youth, families, and communities:

• The Law acknowledges, respects, and supports the primary role of parents/guardians, families, and communities in safeguarding and promoting the well-being of Anishinaabe children and youth.
• It provides for the protection and care of children and youth in circumstances where their parents or guardians have not given or are unlikely or unable to give, that protection and care.
• The Law also ensures that Anishinaabe traditions, culture, values, and language are maintained
• the Law ensures that adoptions only occur on the approval of the parent or guardian and the First Nation the child and youth and his or her parents or guardians belong to.

The Law will also establish the legislative framework for the structure of the Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being system; community agreements; and community standards.