By Oli Herrera

FIRST NATIONS SETTLEMENT

Historic $40 billion settlement with First Nations child welfare agreement

Jan 4, 2022 | 5:26 PM

PRINCE GEORGE—A landmark settlement between the government of Canada and First Nations leaders has been reached in principle, with a price tag of $40 billion. If signed off, it would be the largest payout in Canada’s history.

It took over 15 years of court battles, all stemming from a compliant filed in 2007 that the federal government had discriminated against First Nations children. In 2016, The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled that the government had to pay out those affected.

Late last year, leaders began discussions. An agreement was reached on New Year’s Eve.

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“Approximately $20 billion will be provided in compensation for first nations children on reserves and in the Yukon who were removed from their homes and their parents or caregivers due to discriminatory underfunding of the first nations child and family services program.” said Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu.

The other half will be invested towards reforming the child welfare system and addresses services that are underfunded in Indigenous communities over the next five years.

“It’s been a long time coming. This hasn’t been an easy process, we’ve had to take the federal government back to court numerous times. We’re relieved that don’t have to go through another federal appeal.” said Mary Teegee, Chair of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society

Teegee, says it’s a move that she–along with others—have tirelessly worked to get. But no amount of money will ever be able to fix the wrongdoings of Canada’s history.

“As long as you have children who don’t have a place to stay, as long as you children that don’t have drinking water. As long as you have children that are going hungry at night, there is discriminations. So, we have to ensure that discriminations end now, so some of the money is for that. We have to ensure that there are systems and mechanisms in place to ensure that it never happens again.” said Teegee.

The settlement has only been reached in principal and still needs to be approved in federal courts.

Sotos Class Action, that represented First Nations, has created a portal for people to see if they are eligible for compensation. You can visit their website here.