‘These are little kids. Just treat them fairly’

RE: Services for Indigenous children

The recent announcement by the federal government that it will spend $382 million in new funding over the next three years is a good first step in addressing inequities between indigenous and nonindigenous children in accessing health and social services.

However, serious concern continues to exist about the adequacy and immediacy of the government’s response to the ongoing plight of indigenous children. Important actions to take in order to address these concerns are: broadening the definition of children covered by what is known as Jordan’s Principle to include both Indigenous children living on and off reserves; extending the principle to all public services available to children; and clearly articulating what government means by the provision of “timely” services. To quote Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society: “…These are little kids. Just treat them fairly”.

Joan MacKenzie Davies, executive director, Ontario Association of Social Workers