Kahnawake – October 1, 2019 - Kahnawake Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services wishes to inform the community of the ruling the between the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada and the Attorney General of Canada (Representing the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada)
Canada is being held accountable to First Nations children and families living on reserve because Canada has denied equal child and family services, and/or differentiated adversely in the provision of child and family services, pursuant to section 5 of the Canadian Human Rights Act between the dates of January 1, 2006 to November 2, 2017.
First Nation children, parents /guardians may be eligible for compensation under this ruling if the child was removed from their home and placed into care or those who were not removed but denied access to services.
Sometime after December 10, 2019 the panel who oversaw the complaint against Canada will make a determination on the appropriate process to locate eligible persons and will then distribute compensation directly to them.
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, now Department of Indigenous Services Canada (DISC), has been ordered to cease its discriminatory practices and reform the First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) Program to be equal to the mainstream system. Organizations and service providers who were obligated responsibility to provide Child and Family Services over the same time period will not be eligible for compensation under this ruling.
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