Intertribal Life Newspaper -

Winnipeg, Man.-In early January, the federal government revealed details of a historic $40-billion agreement-in-principle that aims to compensate First Nations citizens who were children on-reserve and in the Yukon who were removed from their homes between April 1, 1991 and March 31, 2022.

According to Assembly of First Nations Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse, Manitoba has one of the highest percentage of children in care in the country. Statistics from the Manitoba Families department, from March 2019 until March 2021, show that roughly 10,000 children were in care consistently, with 90 percent of those being Indigenous children.

"No amount of money will ever be the right amount, nor will it bring back a childhood lost. But today is about acknowledgement, about being seen and heard," Woodhouse said. "We have to keep our children and families together and we have to give them opportunities to have the best life that they can."

The agreement sets aside $20 billion for compensation and $20 billion for long-term reform of the on-reserve child welfare system. While those involved have until March 31 to finalize the agreement, if approved, the financial settlement would be the largest of its kind in Canadian history. More than 200,000 people will be included in the agreement, Assembly of First Nations Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse said.

The agreement follows a 2016 decision by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, in response to a complaint filed by the Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society. The tribunal found that the federal government discriminated against First Nations children by underfunding the on-reserve child welfare system and ordered compensation for those affected.

A historic $40-billion compensation agreement for families harmed by Canada's child welfare system would leave thousands of Manitoban First Nations youth eligible for compensation.