November 19, 2018 – AMC hosts an emergency meeting with then Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott on the topic of child and family services for First Nations citizens in Manitoba. The meeting focuses on the Bringing Our Children Home Act, a Manitoba-specific federal legislation on children and families.
November 26, 2018 – AMC moves forward with its Bringing Our Children Home Act by launching its new Family Law Project. A team of Family Law coordinators hosts a community visit at Fisher River Cree Nation to start developing traditional family law templates for First Nations in Manitoba. Multiple community visits take place between now and April 2019.
February 7, 2019 – AMC Grand Chief Arlen Dumas sends an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging him to direct his Ministers of Indigenous Services Canada and Justice Canada to work with Manitoba leadership to jointly draft a government bill that will give effect to the Manitoba First Nations Bringing Our Children Home Act.
February 11, 2019 – Manitoba government announces new block funding model for CFS. AMC concerned block funding model will create funding shortfalls for First Nation child welfare agencies.
February 28, 2019 – Indigenous Services Minister Seamus O’Regan introduces an Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families. AMC reiterates stance on inherent jurisdiction of families and children with Bringing Our Children Home Act.
March 20, 2019 – Federal government releases new budget. AMC states there is no funding commitment for First Nations to develop their own laws for child and family services. The government has been advertising that Bill C-92 is “enabling legislation” for First Nations across the country to develop their own laws but if there is no funding available to begin the process of developing laws that includes engagement, ratification and implementation, the legislation will become useless.
April 1, 2019 – Click here to read a comparative analysis of the Bringing Our Children Home Act to Bill C-92, An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families.
