Indigenous community continues to be misunderstood, mishandled by all levels

It would be an understatement that Covid-19 and all of its seemingly never-ending variants which seem to be unleashing their ugliness on the world. In Canada, there is a varied of pandemic fatigue on two levels: one for those who are following the regulations and are tired of constantly shifting their daily protocols and putting their lives on hold and then the fatigue of those who are ignoring the protocols and who are genuinely tired of pandemicrelated news.

However, one news story which seems to be not getting the attention it deserve by national media is the indigenous reconciliation and compensation situation.

In case you missed it, the federal government came to an agreement-in-principle on

Dec. 31 for helping to reform the child welfare system and compensate approximately 200,000 indigenous people to the tune of $40 billion. According to a story by CNW, the Agreements-in-Principle include:

• $20 billion in compensation for First Nations children on-reserve and in the Yukon, who were removed from their homes between April 1, 1991 and March 31, 2022, and for their parents and caregivers. This also includes compensation for those impacted by the government’s narrow definition of Jordan’s Principle between December 12, 2007 and November 2, 2017, as well as for children who did not receive or were delayed receiving an essential public service or product between April 1, 1991 and December 11, 2007. Our shared goal is to achieve a settlement that can be delivered to families as soon as possible.

• Approximately $20 billion, over five years, for long-term reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services program to ensure that the discrimination found by the CHRT never repeats itself. This includes funding to support young First Nations adults aging out of the child welfare system and prevention services to build on the multi-generational cultural strengths to help children and families in staying together that will be implemented as early as April 2022. There is also new funding for on-reserve housing to support these prevention initiatives.

“We begin by acknowledging the generations of First Nations who have advocated so strongly for their children including Residential School Survivors, Sixties Scoop Survivors and children, young people and families whose lives are touched by this case,” the Government of Canada stated. “Their strength and the advocacy of First Nations leaders and service providers have made this step toward change possible. No amount of money can reconnect First Nations children and youth with their cultures nor reverse the suffering experienced by First Nations children, youth, their families and communities. We recognize the harms experienced by the children, youth and families who continue to suffer because of Canada’s discrimination related to the First Nations Child and

Family Services program and Jordan’s Principle found by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT).”

According to Government of Canada, “Jordan’s Principle makes sure all First Nations children living in Canada can access the products, services and supports they need, when they need them. Funding can help with a wide range of health, social and educational needs, including the unique needs that First Nations Two-Spirit and LGBTQQIA children and youth and those with disabilities may have. Jordan’s Principle is named in memory of Jordan River Anderson. He was a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba.”

If you haven’t heard about this, it isn’t surprising. There haven’t been a lot said regarding discovering old burial sites of those who never came home after being forced to go to the old residential institutions.

While there is a lot of talk and at the very least recognizing there has been systematic, institutional and overt personal racism towards the indigenous community, the way everything is unfolding is being fumbled, again.

There was seemingly no system in place to handle financial compensation, land entitlements, employment opportunities, social services for those hurting without any home or future; there is nothing being done as far as education goes regarding racism or the absolutely brutal history in our school about the Indigenous community.

However, in 2022, I think this will become the news story, not solely the pandemic.

Canada and the individual provinces need to communicate and come up with a plan on how to rectify the situation.

Plus Canadians need to be informed of the situation. Yes, it is open to scrutiny by logical and yes racist types, but we need to address all of these issues, so they are no longer hidden. Truth means education and ultimately understanding.

While lawyers and legation experts are probably salivating of possible huge paydays, that isn’t what it is about. It is about trying to right so many wrongs done in this country’s history. It can never be made totally right but at least let’s make the future what it should be: fair.