Reconciliationmeans:doingrightforthisgenerationofFirstNationschildren
CindyBlackstock,PhDStateoftheState,Australia,2011
UniversityofAlbertaFirstNationsChildandFamilyCaringSocietyofCanada
www.fncaringsociety.com
“Wenowrecognizethat,inseparatingchildrenfromtheirfamilies,weunderminedtheabilityofmanytoadequatelyparent
theirownchildrenandsowedtheseedsforgenerationstofollow,andweapologizefor
havingdonethis.”P.M.Harper,2008
IamprofoundlydisappointedtonoteinChapter4ofthisStatusReportthatdespitefederalactioninresponsetoourrecommendationsovertheyears,adisproportionatenumberofFirstNationspeoplestilllackthemostbasicservicesthatotherCanadianstakeforgranted.
SheilaFraser,AuditorGeneralofCanada(June2011)
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5383Supporters
“Schoolshouldbeatimefordreams–everykiddeservesthis”
ShannenKoostachin,founderofShannen’sDream,(1995‐2010)
Canada’sMinisterontheAttawapiskatSchoolCampaign
• Andrew(CBCNewsworld)ThismaybeimportanttoCharliebutfromsomeofthepicturesthatIsawit'simportanttothekids,andtheywereholdingupsignssaying,pleasegiveusaschoolandweneedaschool.Oneofthe
signswasparticularlycynical,butIdon'tthinkyoucanblamethem.Anditsaidwedon'thavearealschoolandifthefederalgovernmenthasitswayweneverwill.
• MinisterStrahl:Right.Well,obviouslythekidswantnewandbiggerfacilities,Iunderstandthat.Ontheotherhand,Ithinkthatpeopleunderstandwhat'sgoingonheretowithCharlieandothers.Youcanbuildamightysignandyoucanmakeapileofnoiseoutofitbutthetruthisthatwehavetoprioritizebasedon
healthandsafety...His(Charlie Angus)propositionthat,
youknow,doomsdayscenariothat nobodycaresandnobodywantsto builditissimplynottrue.”
Access to Information, undated
FirstNationsChildrenaskUNtostudyinequitiesineducationonreserves
LaunchedinShannen’smemoryonJune9,2011.CoveredinreportsbyReuters,MoneyMagazine,CNBC,CanadaA.M.,TorontoStar,Silobreaker(UK),IndiaTimes,CBS
OurDreamsMatterToo
Englishcopieswww.shannensdream.caFrench,CreeandOji‐Creeversionscomingsoon
4661Supporterswww.jordansprinciple.ca
AchildfirstprincipleforFirstNationschildrentoresolvingpaymentdisputesbetweenthefederalandprovincialgovernmentsabouthowtopayforserviceseveryother
childgets
Jordan’s Principle JordanRiverAndersonFounderofJordan’sPrinciple1999‐2005
“Althoughwehavenotfound…situationswherethefederalgovernmenthasbeenfoundliablebecauseofchildfatalitiesorcriticalincidentsrelatingtofailuretoprovidenecessarymedicalservices,webelievethattheyexistandthat,unlesssolutionsarefound,theywillcontinuetooccur”INACdocumentonJordan’sPrincipleobtainedthroughAccesstoInformation(002474)Likelydated2006/2007
FirstNationsinStateCareinCanada
*estimates.FNchildren6‐8moretimeslikelytobeinfostercare(AuditorGeneralofCanada,2008)
Res.School1870‐1996
ChildWelfare1955‐Present
Maltreatment types (First Nations and non Aboriginal Canada) and Aboriginal and non Aboriginal in Australia
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
FirstNations N.A.Canada Aboriginal(AU) N.A.(AU)
CIS(1998)andNCPClearinghouse(2008/2009)
Emotional
Neglect
Sexual
Physical
“circumstancesaredire….asaconsequenceofprovidinginadequatepreventionresources,itisforeseeablethatcivilproceedingscouldbeinitiatedagainsttheGovernmentofCanadaasaresultofneglector
abuseofchildrenincare”GovernmentofCanadadocumentobtainedunderAccesstoInformation
TheIamawitnessCampaign
• WatchthecaseandmakeupyourownmindsaboutwhetherornotCanadaistreatingFirstNationschildrenfairly
• ThemostformallywatchedlegalcaseinCanadianhistory
8006Supporters
Canada'slawyerhastocomeupwithagoodreasonastowhytheTribunalshouldbedismissedandreallythereisnoreasonexceptforthefactthatthegovernmentisscared,anddoesnotwantjusticetobedone.It'snowonderthegovernment
doesn'twantthistobepublic.Itisquiteembarrassingandsadtothinkthatourgovernmentistryingtogetoutofits
responsibilitytoprovidethesamequalityofservicestoFirstNationschildreninthechildwelfaresystemastheydotonon‐
Nativechildren.
SummerBrisson,ElizabethWynWoodstudent
June2,3,2010
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YoungpeoplewearingIamawitnesst‐shirtsdesignedbyShannaraattheTribunal
“ • Thegovernmentis
takingwhatseemstobea
backwardsstanceonthis
issue.Theyshouldbe
supportingthefightforthe
Aboriginalrightsbecause
theydaretosaythatwe
areasocietyofequals;
clearlythisisnotthecase.
Leslie, March7,2011
CitizensfromCarrier‐Sekani,AttawapiskatandTobiqueFirstNationssendmessagesofreconciliationtopeoplesoftheworld
Photographyby:LiamSharpwww.liamsharp.comMadepossiblebytheAtkinsonFoundation
CuratedbyCindyBlackstock
FirstNationsChildandFamilyCaringSocietyofCanada
Reconciliationis…Ourcommonfuture
Carrier Sekani Family Services (A Branch Society of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council)
Reconciliationis…Ajourney
Carrier Sekani Family Services (A Branch Society of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council)
Reconciliationis…
Honoringtreatyrightsandprocesses
Carrier Sekani Family Services (A Branch Society of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council)
Reconciliationis…
Correctingpastinjustices
ThisElderholdsapictureofhisancestorslivingontheirtraditionallandsinnorthernBCwhichnowliebeneaththewatersbehindhim.
Reconciliationis…
Nothavingtosaysorrytwice
Carrier Sekani Family Services (A Branch Society of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council)
Reconciliationis…FirstNationsculturesandlanguages
Carrier Sekani Family Services (A Branch Society of the Carrier Sekani Tribal
Council)
Reconciliation is: First Nations Languages and Cultures
Reconciliationis…
Asafehome
Carrier Sekani Family Services (A Branch Society of the Carrier Sekani Tribal
Council)
Reconciliationis…Nutritiousfood
Imaginetryingtofeedyourfamilyattheseprices.Nowimaginetryingtofeedyourfamilyifyourincomewas60%lessthantheaverageCanadian.
Reconciliationis…Doingright
Shannen’s Mom and Dad walk with children from Ottawa to Parliament Hill in support of Shannen’s Dream, 2011