Manitoba First Nations calling out feds for management of Jordan’s Principle funding

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), along with the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), the Southern Chiefs Organization (SCO), and Anishininew Okimawin (AO) are calling for action to address the federal government’s management of Jordan’s Principle funding.

The AMC says the federal government has recently made a decision to halt funding to First Nations.

The funding pause has reportedly caused “an escalating crisis that profoundly harms First Nations children, youth, and families in Manitoba,” according to the AMC in a statement Friday before adding that they are looking to make sure the feds uphold its obligations under Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) rulings.

“The CHRT has found that Canada discriminates against First Nations children and, through its orders, has clearly outlined Canada’s legal obligations to First Nations children. When Canada disregards these orders, it has a devastating impact on children of Anishininew Okimawin and all First Nations children,” said AO Acting Grand Chief Dino Flett.

“We can not stand idly by. The Anishininew Okimawin is united in our commitment to take bold, collective action to demand that the federal government take immediate and meaningful steps. The well-being of our children is non-negotiable, and it must be the federal government’s top priority.”

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) has centralized its process in Ottawa, which bypasses First Nations Leadership. It is believed that from the centralization, the funding has led to thousands of services being delayed or denied, which has also caused a backlog more many others.

”Canada’s unilateral approach to Jordan’s Principle has brought us to this crisis point. As families prepare for the holiday season, First Nations children are left without the essential services and support they desperately need. Restoring critical services and respecting First Nations sovereignty is the bare minimum,” said AMC Acting Grand Chief Betsy Kennedy.

Those services include medical transportation and care, educational supports, and culturally relevant programs.

“Canada’s backlog on Jordan’s Principle is not merely an administrative issue—it is a clear violation of Jordan’s Principle, a disregard for the lives of our children, and a failure to uphold their rights. This crisis, created by the Government of Canada, must come to an end. Southern First Nations demand immediate and decisive action to resolve this injustice and deliver justice for our children,” said SCO Acting Grand Chief Cornell McLean.

The AMC, MKO, SCO and AO say the current approach ignores First Nations sovereignty and fails to prioritize the well-being of First Nations children.

“Jordan River Anderson’s legacy is a principle to protect First Nations children. ISC’s recent directives, coupled with significant communication barriers at the Manitoba Region of ISC, are unacceptable. Canada must uphold its legal obligations, and First Nations in Manitoba must be prepared to seek justice for our children and hold the federal government accountable. The AMC will hold an emergency Chiefs-in-Assembly on December 18, 2024, to seek direction from the Chiefs on how to collectively address this crisis,” said Kennedy.