b'BILL C-92 How First Nations in Ontario Are Responding to Bill C-92First Nations legislation should onlyaffect First Nations BY ASHLEY ALBERTJOEL ABRAMAIAI Grand Chief C anadas discriminatory prac- national principles of the best interestsas the best interest of the child. According tices against First Nationsof the child, cultural continuity andto Grand Chief Abram, the government children started withsubstantive equality. The Act also enableshas once again presumed that its laws colonization and progressedIndigenous groups and communities toshould trump First Nations laws. with Residential Schools, Day Schoolstransition toward exercising partial or fullCanadian legislation should only and the 60s Scoop, and they continuejurisdiction over child and family servicesaffect Canadians, and First Nations legis-today with the overrepresentation of Firstat their own pace.lation should only affect First Nations, Nations children in the child welfareBill C-92 is consistent with theGrand Chief Abram explains. Former system. After a lengthy court battle inGovernment of Canadas commitmentsAIAI Grand Chief and Deputy Grand September 2021, the Federal Court ofto implementing the United NationsChief Gordon Peters would explain this Canada upheld in full a previous rulingDeclaration on the Rights of Indigenousas delegated authority. The government by the Canadian Human Rights TribunalPeoples (UNDRIP), the Truth andis still attempting to delegate authority (CHRT) acknowledging the harm causedReconciliation Commission of Canadaswhile at the same time recognizingby Canadas discriminatory policies Calls to Action and the ratification of thesome jurisdiction. and practices.United Nations Convention on the Rights Bill C-92, An Act respecting Firstof the Child.This is one of the reasons that Chiefs Nations, Inuit, and Mtis children, youthGrand Chief Joel Abram from theof Ontario opposed the Bill. In April and families received Royal Assent on JuneAssociation of Iroquois and Allied Indians2019, the Chiefs-in-Assembly voted to 21, 2019. According to the Government(AIAI) believes that Bill C-92 has a dualreject the Bill if key amendments were not of Canada, under Bill C-92, Indigenouspurpose. The original purpose was tomade. In June 2019, then-Regional Chief communities and groups will be free torecognize First Nations jurisdiction andRoseAnne Archibald released a statement: develop their own policies and laws basedsovereignty over child welfare and allowThe Chiefs of Ontario are disappointed on their particular histories, cultures andFirst Nations to make laws that wouldto see that the legislation as adopted failed circumstances. Indigenous communitiesoverride any type of provincial legislation.to include most of the significant amend-and groups will be free to move at theirHowever, Bill C-92 still includes sectionsments put forward from our leaders to the own pace to implement and enforce theirthat would override a First Nations lawrelevant committees within the House of own policies and laws. The Act includeswith regards to minimum standards, suchCommons and Senate. A continuum of A continuum of preventative A continuum of preventative services to honour services to honour A continuum ofpreventative the family circle the family circle preventativeservices to honourkunuwanimano.comkunuwanimano.comservices to honourthe family circlekunuwanimano.comthe family circlekunuwanimano.com20l I ssue1 2022C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'