(Ottawa) Three regional chiefs representing nearly half of First Nations in Canada say a national association is exceeding its mandate by making decisions that will directly affect their children and families without consent.
Chiefs, representing First Nations in Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Quebec-Labrador, say the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is not being transparent in its negotiations towards a settlement agreement final agreement with Canada on First Nations child and family services.
They also claim that AFN legal advisors are attempting to completely exclude the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society from the process.
The final agreement is part of a $40 billion settlement with Canada reached after the AFN and the Support Society jointly filed a human rights complaint over the chronic underfunding of child protection services. childhood on reserves by Ottawa.
Half of the settlement amount was earmarked for long-term reforms to the child welfare system, but the three leaders, in a letter to National Leader Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, say the AFN failed shared details with First Nations outside of Ontario.
In response to the three leaders, Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak argued that a number of their assertions were inaccurate and indicated that although they do not agree with the course of the negotiations, attacking employees and legal advisors “n ‘is not useful’.