Arab Canada News
News
Published: July 9, 2024
The annual meeting of the Assembly of First Nations is set to begin today, Tuesday, in Montreal, where leaders are expected to provide an update on negotiations to reform the child welfare system in Canada and compensate for past harms of the system.
This meeting is the first public annual gathering of the AFN since Cindy Woodhouse Nicbane was elected as national chief in December.
Last month, three regional leaders representing more than half of the First Nations wrote to Woodhouse Nicbane expressing concerns that the AFN does not include First Nations leaders in negotiations with Ottawa regarding the reforms being discussed as part of a $43 billion settlement reached with Canada in 2023.
More than half of this funding has been earmarked for compensation for approximately 300,000 children and their families who were harmed when chronic underfunding of child welfare on reserves often led to children being placed in foster care instead of receiving support to stay with their families.
The agreement includes $20 billion to help fund reforms related to child welfare, including appropriate financing.
The AFN declined to place all proposed decisions regarding child welfare on the agenda this week due to a special meeting of chiefs on child welfare planned for this fall, but the body is expected to provide an update on reforms and compensation.
The annual general assembly meeting will continue until Thursday, where federal ministers, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh are expected to address the chiefs.
Comments