FSIN Vice-Chief calls on northern MP to be accountable
- EFN Staff | November 24, 2014
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations First Vice Chief Kimberly Jonathan is demanding accountability from the Conservative Government for statements made by Member of Parliament Rob Clarke on an Aboriginal Peoples Television Network broadcast late last week.
Mr. Clarke stated that the Assembly of First Nations, the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and tribal councils all take seven to ten percent off of funding that is destined for child welfare services as a “piece of the pie”.
“The FSIN has not and does not receive any funding destined for child welfare services from any government,” said Vice Chief Jonathan. “The only entity we are aware of that the federal government identifies that takes money off the top of the so-called "pie" is the federal government themselves. The Conservative government is failing in their obligation to fund second and third level capacity and supports, similar to those available to provinces, for First Nations Child Welfare Agencies to effectively meet legislative requirements. These capacity and support gaps, combined with gross underfunding of service delivery, is indisputably the reason that agencies struggle to address the child welfare crisis imposed on communities.”
The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has heard significant and damning evidence over the past two years demonstrating decades of chronic federal underfunding of First Nations Child Welfare in comparison to child welfare provided to all other Canadians.
“As long as this discriminatory, race-based, funding gap continues, First Nations families will not get the support they need to become healthy and safe leaving little hope for the children imprisoned in state custody,” said Vice Chief Jonathan.
"Mr. Clarke also said in the broadcast that 'e have to look after the children. We need to look after the children.' The federal government is responsible for ensuring its provision of First Nations child and family services is equitable and culturally appropriate so if the Conservative government wishes to “look after the children”, they should start by closing the funding gap that ranges from their own estimates of 34.6% underfunding to estimates from some jurisdictions of up to 100% underfunding to ensure parity child and family services available to all other Canadians," added Jonathan.
“Furthermore, the billions of dollars that the federal government has saved on the backs of First Nations children over the years through this funding disparity should all be allocated back to First Nations agencies to assist in restoring health and safe families and communities,” said Vice Chief Jonathan. “We expect that Mr. Clarke will immediately apologize and publicly retract these misstatements.”