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The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the Province of
Manitoba signed the MOU on April 27, 2000 to establish a process
to restructure child and family services and programs in Manitoba
based on the child welfare recommendations in Chapter 14 of the
Aboriginal Justice Inquiry (AJI) Report.
First Nation children will no longer be in a system that does not
belong to First Nations, The Non-Aboriginal agencies will no longer
have the power to apprehend and maintain control over First Nation
children through the legal system. History and recent studies (Kimelman
Report) confirm that First Nation families have been victims of
cultural genocide because of the Non-Aboriginal paternalistic and
culturally insensitive child and family services system. This system
has historically been yet another tool of assimilation used by Non-Aboriginal
mainstream against First Nations. The Royal Commission on Aboriginal
Peoples disclosed that inappropriate child welfare policies have
been a "persistent and destructive force", in the lives
of First Nation peoples. These policies, coupled with its legislation,
have adversely affected First Nation families with devastating intergenerational
consequences.
 This
signing represents an agreement and commitment by both First Nation
and Provincial governments, that the current child and family services
system does not adequately meet the needs of First Nation children
and families and that major changes will be made. The MOU is both
support and acknowledgment demonstrated by the Manitoba government
that full child and family services jurisdiction must be given to
First Nations through their respective First Nation agencies. This
restructuring will extend the mandate for First Nation agencies
to provide child and family services off reserve. Adequate financial
and human resources will, therefore, be required.
The seven Working Groups, identified by members of the Joint Management
Committee (JMC), will develop plans and provide recommendations
back to the JMC to oversee this restructuring. The work that you
are about to undergo is crucial to the re-establishment of the entire
child and family services system in Manitoba. The fine "product'
of this work will ensure that children and families in Manitoba
receive the most appropriate services and support they require based
on their cultural, linguistic and social needs. We foresee a major
overhaul of Child and Family Services legislation here in Manitoba.
I applaud your efforts, as well as, all the work undertaken by all
participants involved.
In closing I would like to emphasize that Manitoba First Nations
will continue to work towards the restoration of full First Nation
jurisdiction and legislation. The MOU is a concrete example of First
Nations' people exercising their inherent right to self-determination
and self-government.
MESSAGES
FROM LEADERSHIP
Assembly
of Manitoba Chiefs - Grand Chief Dennis White Bird
Manitoba
Metis Federation - President David Chartrand
Manitoba
Keewatinowi Okimakanak - Chief Francis Flett
Minister
of Northern Affairs - The Honourable Eric Robinson
Minister
of Family Services and Housing -The Honourable Tim Sale
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