b'CHILD WELFARELeadership remains committed Advocating forto pursuing reforms amidst Child Welfare rejection of proposed agreementBY RICK GARRICKA ssociation of Iroquois andfor First Nations. Initially proposed toAbram and other leaders have been key Allied Indians Grand Chiefincrease the funding from the $20 billionadvocate for these reforms, underscoring Joel Abram recently empha- committed under a 2021 Agreement- the transformative potential of this sized the ongoing advocacyin-Principle, the Final Agreementagreement. However, the outcome of efforts to reform child welfare services.would have provided stable and predict- the recent vote means that efforts to The proposed $47.8-billion Agreementable funding over a 10-year periodend systemic discrimination in child on the Long-Term Reform of the Firstto support a reformed First Nationswelfare funding will continue through Nations Child and Family ServicesChild and Family Services program andalternativemeans.Program was recently voted down duringaccounted for increased service costs in the Assembly of First Nations Specialremotecommunities. Its really a big turning point Chiefs Assembly, yet First Nationsbecause its a chance to begin to end the leadership in Ontario remains steadfastAs the portfolio holder for thediscrimination against First Nations in its commitment to pursue mean- Chiefs Committee on Social Serviceschildren, Grand Chief Abram says. We ingful reforms in child welfare servicesat the Chiefs of Ontario, Grand Chiefgot the decision in 2016 and then some 22l I ssue1 2024/25C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'