October 27, 2021
Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister
Marc Miller, Minister of Crown Indigenous Relations
Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services
Karina Gould, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Re: Stop Fighting Indigenous Kids in Court
Aaniin / Greetings Right Honourable Prime Minister and Ministers of Cabinet,
We are writing to you today, as you assume your new roles and responsibilities in Canada’s new Cabinet and parliament, with an urgent appeal: to stop fighting indigenous kids in court. We know you will make a decision this Friday on whether or not to appeal the Federal Court ruling upholding the Human Rights Tribunal decision and award compensating indigenous children taken from their communities in violation of Jordan’s Principle.
We urge you not to appeal the Federal Court decision and to begin paying out the compensation immediately, and end the ongoing practice and harm of removing indigenous children from their communities and culture. Grand Chief RoseAnn Archibald has referred to this as “modern day residential schools”. We can not move forward on the “healing path of reconciliation” until you put down the sword. This is on your watch, and unlike former Prime Minister Jean Chretien you cannot pretend not to know of the harms perpetrated as a result of your policies and decisions.
Prime Minister, you have stated as recently as October 18, 2021 in your remarks at Tkumlups te Secewepc “that the children deserved to be compensated. The Government will do that.” But those are hollow words when action is what is called for: accept the Federal Court ruling, do not appeal, pay the compensation, and implement C92 – Child and Family Services Act, to provide resources for communities to keep the kids in their own communities and cultures. The time for justice and compensation is now.
Truth and Reconciliation Community – Bobcaygeon,