P.E.I. Mi'kmaq Confederacy demands action on child welfare services
Organization calls for the redesign of the child welfare system and its funding model
Island chiefs are demanding action following the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruling which determined Canada discriminates against First Nation children on reserves by failing to provide the same level of child welfare services that exist elsewhere.
Chief Brian Francis of Abegweit First Nation says this ruling demonstrates the federal government has continued to fail First Nation children and communities.
There is under-funding and inequality for First Nations child and family programs.- Marilyn LeFrank, Mi'kmaq Confederacy of P.E.I.
He says the time has come for government to end inequalities and provide equal access to education, health care services, clean drinking water and housing.
Marilyn LeFrank, director of child and family services for the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of PEI, says she and others are excited by this ruling.
"There is under-funding and inequality for First Nations child and family programs. You know, it's the same across the country," she said.
LeFrank says it's too early to know how the ruling is going to impact the front line.
"We'll have to wait and see. There are certainly some things that are still up in the air as far as the ruling is concerned," she said.
LeFrank says she expects more details will come to light over the next few weeks.