First Nations Reject $47.8 Billion Child Welfare Reform Proposal

First Nations chiefs and representatives from across Canada have voted against a resolution to fully endorse a $47.8 billion settlement agreement on the long-term reform of First Nations child and family services.

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is holding a special three-day gathering in Calgary to seek national backing for the agreement reached with the federal government in July. After two days of hearing diverse views on the proposal, chiefs engaged in an extended debate on a resolution titled “Our Children, Our Future — Draft Agreement on Reforming the First Nations Child and Family Services Program.” The resolution called for full support of the settlement and urged the AFN to request a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal order affirming that the agreement meets its requirements.

When the resolution was rejected, applause filled the room as 267 chiefs and proxies voted against it, compared to 147 in favor, with one abstention.

Khelsilem, a spokesperson for the Squamish Nation in British Columbia, was one of many leaders to oppose the resolution.

“I’m here to ask the chiefs and proxies who are undecided or unsure to vote down this resolution. No amendments can fix the fact that the first line calls for the approval of the amended FSA,” said Khelsilem, referring to the final settlement agreement. “We need to reject this version of the FSA because it has too many flaws, as we’ve heard over the past few days.”

Chiefs were considering competing resolutions—either to support the reform deal or to reject it until changes are made. A separate proposal to delay the decision for 90 days was withdrawn, with elements incorporated into amended resolutions.