FSIN commends federal government for passing Bill C-92

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations is applauding the federal government for prioritizing Bill C-92.

Bill C-92, An act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families, received royal assent on June 21 to officially make it law.

The act overhauls the Indigenous child welfare system in Saskatchewan as it gives First Nations communities jurisdiction in child welfare matters.

“This new definition includes an emphasis on the cultural continuity on the child being connected to their family, to their community, to their nation and to their territory,” Vice-Chief Morley Watson said at FSIN headquarters in Saskatoon on Thursday.

“Aggressive child welfare systems have inflicted great damage and intergenerational trauma on on generations of First Nation children, parents, families and communities.”

Watson couldn’t elaborate on a timeline for when children will be returned to their communities, but that the process of returning them home has finally begun.

“I think the important thing is that we get them all home, regardless if it takes a year, two years — whatever it takes,” Watson said.

The legislation also allows previously closed files to be opened. Watson said that does plenty to ensure there was no wrongdoing in seeing a child removed from family care in the past.

“Everybody talks about accountability and every government agency has to be accountable, as we are. We want to just ensure that all the past decisions that were made were made in the best interests in the children,” Watson said, confirming the FSIN will open past files.

Seeing the bill become a reality wasn’t always a possibility, but Watson said this matter has been a priority for FSIN for multiple decades.

“Our leaders back 25 years ago realized the importance of looking after our own children. So now, with the passage of Bill C-92, it starts that process,” he said.