The Squamish Nation is celebrating the defeat of the draft Final Settlement Agreement on the Reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services Program. This proposal would have failed to adequately address the needs and rights of our Nation’s children and families. After significant engagement and reflection, we stand united with other First Nations across Canada in calling for a new approach that puts our children, families, and communities at the center of decision-making.
The Squamish Nation opposed the draft Final Settlement Agreement for several critical reasons including a flawed implementation structure, weak commitments to long-term reform and inadequate dispute resolution mechanisms.
The draft Final Settlement Agreement would have set unacceptable limits on our ability to provide culturally appropriate, community-driven services for our people. The draft Final Settlement Agreement did not provide the guaranteed long-term, sustainable funding that is required to ensure discrimination stops and never happens again. The necessary safeguards are needed to ensure that First Nations governments can lead and manage services tailored to the unique needs of our children.
“We are calling on Canada to engage with First Nations in a process that truly reflects our needs and aspirations for our children and future generations,” said Khelsilem, Chairperson for the Squamish Nation. “Our children deserve a future free from discrimination. We are ready to work toward a new agreement that reflects the best structure for ending the discrimination of First Nations children.”
Read the full statement here
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