Compensation for First Nations child welfare claimants now flowing, says AFN

The first group of claimants is now receiving compensation from a $23-billion settlement from the federal government, says the Assembly of First Nations (AFN). The compensation is for more than 300,000 First Nations children and families who were involved in the child welfare system on reserve. AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak called it a milestone. “No amount of money can ever make up for the harms they experienced,” Woodhouse Nepinak said during a news conference in Toronto, “but the compensation is an important acknowledgement of the discrimination they suffered, and we hope it provides some measure of comfort.” The settlement was ordered by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal after it found the federal government “willfully and recklessly” discriminated against First Nations children and their families by chronically underfunding the child welfare system that was supposed to help them. Woodhouse Nepinak said more than 40,000 claims have been received but there are more eligible claimants who have yet to submit an application. Woodhouse Nepinak noted the money is flowing only five months after the settlement process began. The compensation is separate from the funding meant to revamp the on-reserve child welfare system. Abram Benedict, grand chief of the Chiefs of Ontario, termed the settlement “an important step toward justice. “Compensation addresses past harms,” he told the news conference, “yet we must keep moving forward to prevent future harm and ensure our systems protect the holistic well-being of children, youth, and families. “Survivors cannot wait any longer—they need action now,” Abram said. The settlement agreement recognizes nine distinct groups of claimants, including children who were removed, families of children removed, children who were removed and sent to non-Indigenous homes, children who didn’t receive help via Jordan’s Principle, and children who were harmed because of service delays. Children who were removed and their families were able to apply for compensation in March. Individuals who were removed from their families on reserves or in Yukon between April 1, 1991, and March 31, 2022, as well as parents or grandparents of those individuals, are now eligible to apply for and receive payments. You can find more information here: FN Child Claims With files from the Canadian Press  Continue Reading