I have always believed that our children are the most sacred gifts from the Creator. They represent not just the future, but the essence of who we are as First Nations. They carry the legacy of our ancestors and embody the potential for a brighter tomorrow.
It is our duty to protect their well-being and, today, we stand at a momentous crossroads that gives us the power to shape a better future for them, their families and our communities.
On July 11, alongside the chiefs of Ontario and the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, we announced a landmark $47.8-billion draft agreement negotiated with the Government of Canada. This agreement represents a commitment to the long-term reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services Program, a program that has failed our children for too long.
For decades, the federal child welfare system has systematically discriminated against First Nations children and families. This underfunded and deeply flawed system created incentives to remove our children from their families and communities, leading to an alarming overrepresentation of First Nations children in care across the country. In 2019 alone, more than 45,000 First Nations children were in care, accounting for more than 15 per cent of all children in the system. This is not just a statistic; it is a glaring injustice and should never have been allowed to happen.
This week, we have the chance to change that. This draft agreement is our path forward, designed by First Nations for First Nations, that puts the well-being of our children at the forefront. It is our opportunity to repair a broken system, to move beyond the harm and discrimination of the past, and to build a future where our children are protected, nurtured and empowered.
There are voices who would suggest that we reject this agreement, return to court and continue battling in a system that has already caused so much harm. There are those who, in pursuit of an ideal, would have us reject progress.
But we must ask ourselves: at what cost? Going back to court is not just a delay of a few years — it is a delay of hope, justice and, most importantly, of care for our children. The consequences of inaction are real, and the unknowns of a new government or a prolonged legal fight pose significant risks to everything we have worked for.
It is a time for unity and action. Together, we have the power to write a new chapter, one where First Nations determine our own path forward. Two-thirds of the funding from this agreement will go directly to First Nations, empowering us to deliver the services our families need. The rest will go to support First Nations Child and Family Services agencies, ensuring critical protection and prevention services with improved accountability. This is about self-determination. This is about taking control of our own future.
As we gather for the Special Chiefs Assembly in Calgary this week, I urge all of you to bring your insights, your questions and your voices to the table. We have had many engagement sessions, both in person and virtually, to ensure that every chief is fully informed about this agreement. This is a decision that must be made with care, with knowledge and with the collective will of our nations.
This is a moment of transformation. We are stepping away from conflict and toward understanding. The challenges ahead are real, but so are the opportunities. This draft agreement allows us to reclaim the narrative, to become the authors of our own future, and to ensure that our children and the generations to come have a better, brighter future.
Let us stand together and seize this moment. Our children’s future is in our hands, and it is a future filled with hope, unity and possibility.
Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak is the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.