Are Indigenous communities being set up to fail with the transfer of control of child welfare services?

First, at the same time as the federal government reaffirms First Nations laws relating to child welfare, it must provide adequate and sustained funding to address intergenerational trauma, addictions, poverty, inadequate housing and domestic violence.

Second, the Government of Canada must partner with First Nations and other Indigenous communities to ensure that they can meet the potential liabilities that come with providing child and family services. Child welfare run by the state and by organizations such as churches have incurred major damages for harm to children in their care.

The move to enable Indigenous communities to take charge of their child and family services holds much promise. Appropriate financial and legal arrangements are needed, though, to ensure that what Canadian governments hold out as a cup of reconciliation does not prove to be a poisoned chalice. Link to full article here.