Emergency Meeting on Indigenous Child & Family Services: the AFNQL welcomes Minister Jane Philpott's plan to tackle systemic issues in First Nations child welfare programs Français
OTTAWA, Jan. 26, 2018 /CNW/ - The Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of the Department of Indigenous Services Canada, hosted a two-day emergency meeting on Indigenous Child and Family Services. This meeting included Indigenous leaders, provincial and territorial ministers, community technicians, youth representatives, experts and advocates. The purpose of the meeting was to identify shared priorities and a path forward in reforming Indigenous child and family services - with distinctions based approaches - to put the needs of children and families first.
"We welcome Minister Philpott's plan to reforming Indigenous Child Welfare" said Ghislain Picard, Chief of the AFNQL. "More specifically, the AFNQL strongly supports the principles that aim at fully implementing all of the orders of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT), shifting the program focus to prevention and early intervention, and exploring the potential for co-developed federal child welfare legislation", Chief Picard added.
This important emergency meeting promoted a shared goal from all partners to keep Indigenous children and youth safe, healthy and thriving within their families and in their communities.
"Preserving our Children's cultural identity through community-based approaches and with a strong focus on prevention is key to our wellness and building healthy families and communities." stated Chief Lance Haymond of Kebaowek First Nation, who also acts as the Health Portfolio Chief for the AFNQL.
About the AFNQL
The Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador is the political organization of 43 Chiefs of the First Nations in Quebec and Labrador. www.apnql-afnql.com
SOURCE Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador
Alain Garon, [email protected], Communications Officer, Cell.: 418-254-4620
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