Jordan’s Principle ensures that all First Nations children can access the products, services and supports they need, when they need them. It was named in memory of Jordan River Anderson from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba. The principle recognizes that First Nations Children may need government services that exceed the MORE
The Federation of Community Social Services of BC held a Social Policy Forum in February 2019. The program was full of speakers, working sessions, and engagement opportunities to create strong and sustainable community social services. Three of the presentations are now available online. Tim Agg presented on Reimagining Community Inclusion, and Allison Bond MORE
Early this year, the National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health released a body of research that discusses three main themes of Indigenous Early Childhood Development in Canada: the context of young Indigenous children’s lives, the health and well-being of young Indigenous children, and intersectoral interventions for Indigenous child health. The report suggests MORE
For the fourth year in arrow, Canadian Senators are asking Canadians from across the country to nominate Indigenous youth leaders from their communities so they can share their experiences and ideas with the Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples during an official public hearing. This activity is part of Youth Indigenize MORE
The Fostering Change Campaign recently released new advocacy resources on their website. The resources include guides and manuals on Agreements with Youth Adults and research comparisons and reports. In late 2018, they submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for policy manuals that social workers refer to regularly, called the Aboriginal Policy MORE
Michaeleen Doucleff recently published an article through the NPR based on conversations with Inuit families and researchers like Jean Briggs. Michaeleen found that traditional Inuit parenting is incredibly nurturing and tender. The culture views scolding — or even speaking to children in an angry voice — as inappropriate. Instead, they use role MORE
The Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee invites you to participate in the Skookum Lab, an initiative that is building solutions to the high rates of Indigenous child and youth poverty in Surrey. Part of the process for building community-based solutions is through the development of Guide Groups consisting of elders, MORE
CBC News: B.C. introduces sick days as part of proposed employment law changes APTN News: B.C. social worker accused of punishing Indigenous youth for sexual assault while in foster care Vancouver Sun: Number of B.C. teens struggling with anxiety up in 2018: study CBC News: Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs demanding province take action MORE
The big news for families with children is that starting in October 2020 a new B.C. Child Opportunity Benefit will replace the Early Childhood Tax benefit. In our annual Child Poverty Report Card we have been calling for improvements to this benefit for years. BC is the only province MORE
Bill C-262, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, is in second reading in the Senate. While the Bill passed in the House of Commons last May, if it does not reach third reading in the Senate before Parliament is dissolved, it will die on the MORE
An article by the Discourse highlights the limited number (16) of Indigenous Roots workers employed by the Ministry of Children and Family Development for working with children and youth in care who are not cared for by Delegated Aboriginal Agencies. The ministry is mandated by legislation to ensure that Aboriginal MORE
Last week, The United Nations Human Rights Committee issued a landmark decision that determined Canada discriminates against First Nations women and their descendants. Sharon McIvor and her son Jacob Grismer filed the petition in 2010 arguing that despite changes made in 1985, the Indian Act still “affects First Nations women’s entitlement to status, their MORE
West Coast LEAF released the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Report Card. The Report Card monitors BC’s compliance with the Convention between reporting periods in order to hold the government accountable to both UN standards and BC women. Although this year’s grades have MORE
CHEK: West Coast LEAF says further progress is needed for B.C. to meet international women’s rights obligations Tri-City News: PoMo council wants free transit for youth APTN National News: ’A turning point’: New Indigenous child welfare legislation will save lives says Philpott The Tyee: Good Intentions on Indigenous Child Welfare MORE
In our last weekly newsletter, we announced that Michael Redhead Champagne is our keynote speaker for our 2019 First Call Fundraising Gala on Thursday February 28th. We are also excited to share that Katie Hyslop will receive our 2019 Champion of Child and Youth Rights Award at the dinner. Katie MORE