Six assemblies of regional chiefs of the first nations accused their national leader of Stoking Division about the issue of child welfare reform, which suggests that it can be too cozy with the Canadian government, a letter obtained by the indigenous shows of CBC.
The setback occurs after the national chief Cindy Woodhouse Napinak wrote to Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director of the Society of Manages for Children and Families of the First Nations, asking how society plans to improve a federal offer of $ 47.8 billion for Check the system, which the Chiefs rejected the last place. fall.
On January 14, Woodhouse Napinak wrote that “the AFN remains quite worried” after the liberal government decided to seek a size agreement with bosses in Ontario, while refusing to renew the negotiations nationwide.
In response, more than half of the Executive Committee of the Assembly accused Woodhouse Napinak to let Canada out of hook.
“It’s Canada, not the company of affection, which must be responsible,” the regional chiefs wrote on January 15.
“Change this responsibility and enliven the division undermines the collective efforts of the chief-osembly and regional leadership.”
The letter is signed by the regional bosses Joanna Bernard (New Brunswick), Ghislain Picard (Quebec-Labrador), Bobby Cameron (Saskatchewan), George Mackenzie (NWT), Terry Teegee (BC) and Kluane Adamek (Yukon).
They continued to comment on the optics around the letter, noting that Canada’s legal advisor, Paul Vickery, also wrote to Caring Society, digging in Ottawa’s position, the same day as Woodhouse Neninak.
“His comments and the moment of this letter that coincide with the correspondence of Justice Canada questions the required independence of the National Chief of the Liberal Party and the Government of Canada, he wrote Grande,” the regional chiefs wrote.
Woodhouse Napinak responded on January 31 in a three -page letter, also obtained by indigenous CBC, rejecting concerns.
“Regarding its references to a letter of January 14, 2025, by Justice Canada, I can confirm that I did not receive any letter of this type,” he wrote.
“Any inference regarding my independence, therefore, are unfounded, inappropriate and malicious.”
Woodhouse Napinak’s ties with the Liberal Party are well documented.
She is a former president of Manitoba of the Commission of Indigenous Peoples of the Liberal Party; He worked in Justin Trudeau’s electoral campaign in 2015; And the Canada elections registered 149 political donations under their name, all to the Liberal Party of Canada.
CBC News has contacted his office to comment, but did not receive an answer before this story was published.
Child Wellness Reform Agreement at risk
The offer of $ 47.8 billion aimed to partially establish an 18-year-old complaint in the Canadian Human Rights Court, where AFN and Caring Company are co-capital.
Together, they demonstrated that Canada was racially discriminating against the children of the first nations in reserves and in the Yukón since 1991 to chronically sub -finfinantly subdivinates children’s and family services in their communities.
When rejecting the agreement, the bosses voted to establish a new National Commission of Children’s Heads (NCCC) to direct renewed conversations, while urging Canada to return to the table with an updated mandate.
Until now, Canada has refused, and Vickery’s letter to the cariorly rejected society strongly rejected the demands for Canada to expand the program to children who live outside the reserve and maintain the jurisdiction of the court indefinitely.
In their letter, the Regional Chiefs accused the AFN of Inaction and did not support the new commission.
“The regions have been working diligently to advance the resolutions while helping the NCCC to fulfill their mandate,” regional chiefs wrote.
“In fact, AFN supports the NCCC would relieve the dependence of the regions that fill a critical gap left by the inaction of the AFN on this matter.”
Woodhouse Napinak responded by accepting completely that the commission should lead the work in collaboration with the AFN, if “the negotiations of a long -term reform agreement are available,” that is.
“However, colleagues, we face Canada’s confirmation that they will not be involved with the AFN, or presumably any other entity, including the NCCC, in a national agreement,” he wrote.
“The prime minister has also announced his resignation, which may probably be [in] A delay in consideration of the cabinet of a revised mandate. Finally, other federal parties have publicly expressed their desire to overthrow the government, which means that an election could occur as soon as next spring. “
Woodhouse Napinak described him “completely fair” for the AFN to question Blackstock in the light of an assembly resolution that requires the care society to “bring any process to achieve non -discrimination” in child welfare and the principle of Jordan.
However, the regional chiefs emphasized that the rejection of the bosses to the agreement was not done lightly, and it was a call to an integral, equitable and inclusive process that everyone must support.
“It is essential that the leadership of the AFN respects this mandate and works together with the NCCC to ensure a significant path forward for long -term reform,” they wrote.
“Together, we can guarantee that systemic discrimination is really eradicated, and the dignity and rights of all children and families of the first nations are maintained.”
