Anna Mehler Paperny & Ismail Shakil

TORONTO (Reuters), Canada announced Tuesday that it had reached two agreements worth C$40 billion (31.5 billion dollars) in order to pay First Nations children who were removed from their homes and placed into child welfare systems. It also aims to improve the current system which deprived them the services they need.

C$20 Billion is available to support hundreds of thousands First Nations kids who have been removed from their family, did not receive services or were delayed in getting services. A further C$20billion is needed to overhaul the system in the five years ahead.

These agreements are almost fifteen years since the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society filed a complaint regarding human rights.

Canadian Human Rights Tribunal repeatedly found that First Nations children suffered discrimination in child and family service provision. In part, this was due to the underfunding of reserves services so that First Nations children were taken from their homes and removed off-reserve for these services.

Canada admitted its systems were discriminatory but repeatedly fought orders to pay compensation and fund reforms, including an appeal it filed last year https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canada-appeal-decision-compensate-indigenous-children-harmed-by-discrimination-2021-10-29.

Canada also is fighting the class action lawsuit for First Nations children. The compensation agreement seeks resolution.

David Lametti, Justice Minister said Tuesday that after the finalization of the agreement takes place in the next few months, the government will cease to appeal.

C$2,500 per child in preventive and foster care care is included in the reform agreement. Children in foster care can also receive support after age 18.

Cindy Blackstock, the executive director for First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, stated that funding should begin in April to support reform and preventive service but not deep-rooted issues.

According to her, “I view it as words on the paper.”

“I consider victory when I am able to walk in a community with a child and say, ‘My day is better than yesterday.’ Until it is implemented, nothing in those words will actually change the lives of children.

David Sterns (a lawyer representing First Nations families and children who were harmed) stated during a conference that it would be the largest class action settlement in Canada’s recent history.

“The sheer magnitude of this settlement can be attributed to one and only one thing. He said that the extent of the damage inflicted upon class members is staggering.

Patty Hajdu, Indigenous Services Minister, vowed that she would end discrimination against First Nations foster children across Canada.

She stated that Canada’s actions and decisions had harmed First Nations children and families, as well as communities. Intergenerational damage and losses were caused by discrimination. These losses cannot be reversed. However, I believe that healing is possible.

($1 = 1.2696 Canadian dollars)