Assembly of First Nations signs child welfare partnership agreement and launches Leadership Action Plan on First Nations Child WelfareNovember 21, 2006 A Memorandum of Understanding was signed Tuesday in Ottawa between National Chief Phil Fontaine of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and Joan Glode, President of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada (FNCFCS) at the AFN Office in Ottawa. The AFN also launched its Leadership Action Plan on First Nations Child Welfare. "The situation facing First Nations children and their families today has never been worse. There are more than 27,000 First Nations children in care today. This represents three times the number of children than were in residential schools at the height of their operations," said National Chief Phil Fontaine. "We jointly developed with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada the evidence to support immediate investment in First Nations child welfare,” said the National Chief, “Unfortunately, our children and their families are still waiting for action. Partnerships like this one and our Leadership Action Plan will hopefully lead to the concrete outcomes and investments necessary to ensure the safety of First Nations children.” “For over a decade, we have struggled to raise the profile of First Nations Child Welfare. Today’s partnership agreement is a historic moment for the Caring Society, but even more so for the 105 First Nation agencies we represent,” emphasizes Joan Glode, President of FNCFCS, “Receiving the support of the AFN and First Nations Leaders across this country is overwhelming. It brings hope to many children and their families that are in dire need of just that.” The AFN Leadership Action Plan can be found on the AFN website at www.afn.ca The most comprehensive study of First Nations Child Welfare, Wen: De The Journey Continues, can be found on the FNCFCS website at www.fncfcs.com.
The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.
For more information, contact: Bryan Hendry |
