IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE.
Canada has a dark history of cultural genocide with residential schools and the Sixties Scoop, where children were ripped from their culture, family and community because colonizers decided it was in their 'best interest'. As Canada moves towards decolonization and reconciliation, there are so many reparations still yet to be made.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's very first of 94 calls to action states, “We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to commit to reducing the number of Aboriginal children in care” (2015).

Bill C-92: An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, was the Federal government's response to this Call to Action. The bill lists several National Standards that are supposed to be considered when determining what action is in a child's best interest.

When this bill was introduced, provincial policy makers added the National Standards to The Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act of Alberta. However, there is no accountability or standard within this policy to ensure decision-makers make active efforts to actually make these considerations. The wellbeing of the child is left up to chance; will the social worker make the active effort? Or will the child's genuine best interests be denied?

It's time for the provincial government to hold decision-makers accountable.

We call upon Alberta’s child welfare leaders and policy-makers to adjust policy to include accountability in determining best interests. In all decisions made regarding Indigenous children’s well-being, decision makers should be required to show evidence of active efforts made to understand the child’s cultural connection and work in collaboration with Indigenous governing bodies and leaders.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. (2015). Truth and reconciliation commission of Canada: Calls to action. Retrieved from https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/indigenous-people/aboriginal-peoples-documents /calls_to_action_english2.pdf