Peguis First Nation seeks to end child welfare agreement
Posted October 4, 2025 1:13 pm.
Last Updated October 4, 2025 1:31 pm.
Peguis First Nation and SCO leadership call for the province and Canada to terminate coordination agreement
“Any authority from Chief and council was basically stripped so we have no say in terms of the processes that lie there,” said Chief Dr. Stanley Bird, Peguis First Nation. “There has to be protection for our children, this needs to be assured as much as we can and currently that’s not happening”
Peguis First Nation and the Southern Chiefs’ Organization are raising alarms over a child welfare agreement they say has failed families
Dr. Bird announced Friday that he is calling for the immediate termination of the coordination agreement that governs the First Nations Child and Family Services. The deal, signed under federal bill C-92 by Canada, Manitoba and Peguis, was meant to give the community more authority over culturally based child welfare
“Any authority from Chief and council was basically stripped so we have no say in terms of the processes that lie there,” said Dr. Bird.
Chief Bird says that agreement has left children and families without oversight, appeals, or protections. He fears tragedies could occur without accountability
“If someone takes our authority it has to be better than what we can provide as Chief and Council, so this about safeguarding the children and families,” said Dr. Bird.
“This is not just a Peguis issue, it will continue to occur and what happens here sets the precedent for how governments deal with First Nation Child and Family Services across Manitoba and our country,” said SCO Grand Chief Kerry Daniels.
Minister of Families Nahanni Fontaine says her office has reached out to Chief Bird and will be meeting with him as soon as possible to discuss his concerns. She says the province supports Peguis’s right to self-government and will continue to work in tri-governmental partnership with Peguis and Canada to keep all children safe. CityNews reached out to Indigenous Services Canada, they did not provide a statement yet.
