Dear Chief,
I hope you are all well and having a good summer.
Further to previous notices, we are pleased to provide an update on planning for the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Special Chiefs Assembly on Long-Term Reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services Program. Over the past weeks, I have been grateful for the invitations from Chiefs across the country to discuss the historic draft agreement we reached with Canada in July.
While many Chiefs have told me they are eager to support the draft agreement next month, the AFN Executive Committee has agreed to provide more time for other Chiefs to review the draft agreement. As such, we are postponing the Special Chiefs Assembly, originally scheduled for September 2024, to the latter half of October or early November.
We will use the originally scheduled September dates for virtual information sessions to discuss the draft agreement in detail. Details of the rescheduled Special Chiefs Assembly and the upcoming information sessions are being finalized and will be shared once confirmed.
In addition to providing more time for Chiefs to review the agreement, this extra month provides us with an opportunity to develop amendments that reflect the feedback we have received to date, particularly related to regional representation on the proposed oversight committees.
This will also provide us with an opportunity to provide a breakdown of how the $47.8 billion will be allocated to First Nations across this country and to invite Provincial Premiers and their Ministers to be part of this discussion, as it is clear from your feedback that their presence is essential.
In the meantime, I am looking forward to meeting with more Chiefs over the coming weeks to discuss the agreement, listen to your perspectives, and answer questions. Later this week, I will be in Quebec, and next week, I will travel to British Columbia. Earlier this month, I had the honour of visiting communities in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
I am proud of the Chiefs from coast to coast to coast for participating in this meaningful dialogue about creating a better future for First Nation children and families. We are an Assembly united behind a common belief that First Nation families should be empowered to care for our own children. Together, we can create a child welfare system in Canada that promotes prevention over the apprehension of First Nations children.
Please watch for updates on new dates and registration details over the coming days. For more information, including key resources and materials on the Draft Agreement, please visit the AFN website at www.afn.ca or contact [email protected].
Sincerely,
National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak