Canada and Nishnawbe Aski Nation work together on First Nation child and family services in remote locations

OTTAWA, March 10, 2017 /CNW/ - The health and well-being of Indigenous children is a top priority for this Government. 

Today's partnership between Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN)  and the Government of Canada will help ensure that funding for First Nation child and family services in Northern Ontario reflects the unique circumstances and needs of these communities.

The joint development of a Remoteness Quotient Table and child-centered approach is another step in our commitment to comprehensive child welfare reform.

The guiding principles at the foundation of the partnership between NAN and Canada include:

• The importance of collaboration and transparency to ensure open and informed lines of communication;
• The primacy of the best interests of the child;
• The need for an equitable and evidence-based child welfare funding model that is responsive to geographic remoteness, community needs and infrastructure, and cultural traditions; and
• The need for a sound empirical basis for funding calculations.

This First-Nation led solution will be instrumental in ensuring that every child receives access to the same services regardless of where they live. Together, we can help foster healthy and proud indigenous families and communities.

Quotes

"We must make the health and well-being of all First Nations children a priority. Our acceptance of the decision by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal means we are committed to working harder to support Indigenous children and their families. We are proud to be partnering with Nishnawbe Aski Nation to ensure that children and families in remote locations receive equitable services so that more children will be able to stay in their communities."

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, M.D., P.C., M.P.
Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs

Quick Facts

• NAN represents 49 First Nation communities within northern Ontario with the total population of membership (on and off reserve) estimated around 45,000 people.
• A list of Canada's actions to support First Nations Child and Family Services since the January 2016 Canadian Human Rights Tribunal decision is available on our website

Associated Links

First Nations Child and Family Services
Nishnawbe Aski Nation

Stay Connected
Follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Flickr.

You can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit www.aandc.gc.ca/subscriptions.

SOURCE Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

media may contact: Sabrina Williams, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, 613-697-8316; INAC Media Relations, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, 819-953-1160