b'GENERATIONAL SUPPORTAre we prepared to sacrifice, to stand in the winds of discrimination with those who feel it most? Change is possibleCindy Blackstock, First Nations Child & Family Caring SocietyWe never really challenge ourselves withprotecting the reputation of the depart- between a civil service and a public service why we keep coming up with the samement and the government as a wholeis that you should be serving the public.recommendations and not really looking atrather than to caring for the children. an implementation plan, particularly whenThis is the same department that wasBlackstock encourages every Canadian to we are dealing with a resistant government,involved in the residential schools and thebe part of her fight for change. The First explains Blackstock, noting that since theSixties Scoop, she says. Nations Child and Family Caring Society 2016 ruling by the Canadian Human Rightsof Canada suggests seven ways to make Tribunal, weve had 21 non-compliancea difference, and they are posted on and procedural orders brought againstSTEPS FORWARD their website. For instance, there is the Canada. One of these concerned the casesHow can this be changed? Were actuallyI am a Witness campaign, which invites of three children denied timely mental- convening an independent survey of thepeople to learn more about First Nations health treatment in 2018. department to identify those pressurechild welfare and Jordans Principle, and points, notes Blackstock. Based on myto decide for themselves whether or not Blackstock is outspoken in her criticism ofown experienceand I have read 80,000they think there is discrimination against Indigenous Services Canada, which shedepartmental documentsit was clearFirst Nations children and youth.cheekily, and meaningfully, refers to underthat they were aware of the harms that its older name of the Department of Indiantheir conduct was causing to First NationsShannens Dream is a pay-it-forward Affairs. One of the major barriers is thatchildren and their families, including familyscholarship to assist First Nations youth no one has reformed it, she says. Theseparation and the deaths of some children. with postsecondary education costs. It fundamental problem is colonial culture thatis named after Shannen Koostachin, has disabled them from doing right to kidsNonetheless, adds Blackstock, it did nota crusader for Indigenous education when they know what is right. matter who the critique came from, the response was the same: to treat it as awho died tragically in a van crash Blackstock describes a culture that, in herpublic relations matter, without asking Isat the age of 15. She was one of the view, is set up to give higher priority tothere any merit to this? The differenceyoung people of Attawapiskat (Ontario), a community that fought for a new school for more than three decades after a diesel spill sickened students and teachers there. Indigenous Kids Rights Path is a place where Indigenous and First Nations children and youth on and off reserve can find links to help or resources if they feel their rights are not being respected.For the average Canadian, it may be Foster enough to become more awareto refuse to turn the pageand to act Connection. accordingly. For those in the social justice Community. Culture. Family. community, however, Blackstock has a higher standard. She calls upon them to understand their own values, and to be Help children from our 30 prepared to place them higher than their First Nations stay connected own reputations, or even their jobs.to their community, culture,and family. Become a foster Are we prepared to sacrifice, to stand in parent with Tikinagan. the winds of discrimination with those who feel it most? she asks. Change is possible. The kids are just waiting for tikinagan.org 3.5 per cent of us to show them that they care. 18Spring/Summer 2022'