Reconciliationmeans:doingrightforthisgenerationofFirstNationschildren

CindyBlackstock,PhDStateoftheState,Australia,2011

UniversityofAlbertaFirstNationsChildandFamilyCaringSocietyofCanada

www.fncaringsociety.com

PeterHendersonBryce,MD

“Wenowrecognizethat,inseparatingchildrenfromtheirfamilies,weunderminedtheabilityofmanytoadequatelyparent

theirownchildrenandsowedtheseedsforgenerationstofollow,andweapologizefor

havingdonethis.”P.M.Harper,2008

IamprofoundlydisappointedtonoteinChapter4ofthisStatusReportthatdespitefederalactioninresponsetoourrecommendationsovertheyears,adisproportionatenumberofFirstNationspeoplestilllackthemostbasicservicesthatotherCanadianstakeforgranted.

SheilaFraser,AuditorGeneralofCanada(June2011)

“

“

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

“ “

“

YoungpeoplewearingIamawitnesst‐shirtsdesignedbyShannaraattheTribunal

“ •  Thegovernmentis

takingwhatseemstobea

backwardsstanceonthis

issue.Theyshouldbe

supportingthefightforthe

Aboriginalrightsbecause

theydaretosaythatwe

areasocietyofequals;

clearlythisisnotthecase.

Leslie, March7,2011

Jordan’s Principle

Take Action: Reconciliation does not happen without you!

www.fncaringsociety.com

IsthisourCanada?www.fncaringsociety.com

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…Adecenthome.Enoughfoodtoeat.Acleanglassofwater.

Attawapiskat First Nation , ON

Reconciliationis…

Carrier-Sekani Tribal Council, BC

Reconciliationis…Everychildmatters

Tobique First Nation, NB

Reconciliationis…FirstNationsculturesandlanguages

Carrier Sekani Family Services (A Branch Society of the Carrier Sekani Tribal

Council)

Reconciliation is: First Nations Languages and Cultures

Reconciliationis…

HonoringourElders

Attawapiskat First Nation , ON

Reconciliationis…

Appreciatingculture

Attawapiskat First Nation , ON

Reconciliationis…

Asafehome

Carrier Sekani Family Services (A Branch Society of the Carrier Sekani Tribal

Council)

Reconciliationis…Healthyhomes

Attawapiskat First Nation , ON

Reconciliationis…Nutritiousfood

Imaginetryingtofeedyourfamilyattheseprices.Nowimaginetryingtofeedyourfamilyifyourincomewas60%lessthantheaverageCanadian.

Reconciliationis…Thebasics

Tobique First Nation, NB

Reconciliationis…Jordan’sPrinciple

Puttingkidsaheadofgovernmentredtape

Tobique First Nation, NB

Reconciliationis…

Growingupathome

Tobique First Nation, NB

Reconciliationis…agoodeducation

Attawapiskat First Nation, Ontario

Reconciliationis…Beatingtheodds

Attawapiskat First Nation , ON

Reconciliationis…Doingright

Shannen’s Mom and Dad walk with children from Ottawa to Parliament Hill in support of Shannen’s Dream, 2011

Reconciliationis…Reconciliationis….Nevergivingup

First Nations children are Canada’s future too

Reconciliationis…

Dreamscomingtrue

Attawapiskat First Nation , ON

Jordan’s Principle

Happy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Childrens’ Day!

www.fncaringsociety.com