AFN, Ottawa finalize $47.8B deal on child-welfare reform
Global News
Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak got cheers as she made the announcement on the floor of the annual general assembly in Montreal on Thursday.
The AFN’s national chief confirmed today that the organization finalized a deal with Ottawa late Wednesday night to put $47.8 billion towards child-welfare reform.
Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak got cheers as she made the announcement on the floor of the annual general assembly in Montreal on Thursday.
At a later press conference, she underlined the emotions that underpin the agreement, which seeks to redress decades of discrimination.
“There has been so much pain and hurt and harm caused by this racist child-welfare policy in every one of our First Nations communities and our families,” she said.
The assembly is set to ratify the agreement, which would fund reforms over a 10-year period, at a special assembly in September.
After receiving criticism over the closed-door negotiations in the leadup to the announcement, Woodhouse Nepinak promised to listen to feedback.
“You have directed us to go and get a deal out of Canada. You’ve pushed us over and over again to continue to negotiate in a good way,” she told chiefs.
“I get direction from you. Not from agencies, not from AFN, not from staff, not from anybody else, but from chiefs.”