AFN regional chiefs accuse national chief of stoking division on child welfare reform

Six AFN Regional Chiefs Accuse National Leader of Divisiveness

In a recent development within the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), six regional chiefs have raised concerns over National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak’s approach to child-welfare reform. The chiefs have accused her of potentially being too aligned with the Canadian government, as revealed in a letter obtained by CBC Indigenous.

The issue arose after Woodhouse Nepinak reached out to Cindy Blackstock, the executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, regarding the society’s plans to enhance a $47.8-billion federal offer for overhauling the child-welfare system. This offer had been rejected by the chiefs last year.

Woodhouse Nepinak’s correspondence expressed concerns about the Liberal government’s decision to pursue a separate agreement with chiefs in Ontario, rather than engaging in renewed national negotiations. This move led to backlash from more than half of the AFN’s executive committee, who accused Woodhouse Nepinak of relieving Canada of its responsibilities.

The regional chiefs, including Joanna Bernard, Ghislain Picard, Bobby Cameron, George Mackenzie, Terry Teegee, and Kluane Adamek, criticized Woodhouse Nepinak for potentially undermining collective efforts and fostering division within the AFN.

Debate Over Independence and Accountability

The letter from the regional chiefs also questioned the timing of Woodhouse Nepinak’s communication with the Caring Society, which coincided with a letter from Canada’s legal counsel, Paul Vickery, reinforcing Ottawa’s stance. The chiefs raised concerns about the National Chief’s independence from the Liberal Party and the Canadian government.

In her response dated Jan. 31, Woodhouse Nepinak refuted the allegations of lacking independence, asserting that she had not received the mentioned letter from Justice Canada. She dismissed any insinuations of bias and defended her actions.

Woodhouse Nepinak’s past affiliations with the Liberal Party, including her role as the former Manitoba president of the party’s Indigenous Peoples Commission and her involvement in Justin Trudeau’s election campaign, have come under scrutiny. Additionally, her numerous political donations to the Liberal Party have raised questions about her impartiality.

Stalemate Over Child Welfare Reform

The $47.8-billion offer was intended to address a longstanding complaint at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, where the AFN and the Caring Society had highlighted systemic discrimination against First Nations children. Despite the rejection of the deal by the chiefs, efforts were made to establish a new National Children’s Chiefs Commission (NCCC) to drive negotiations forward.

However, Canada’s refusal to resume talks with an updated mandate has stalled progress. The regional chiefs criticized the AFN for not supporting the NCCC adequately and emphasized the need for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to reform.

Woodhouse Nepinak acknowledged the importance of the NCCC’s role in negotiations but pointed out the challenges posed by Canada’s reluctance to engage at a national level. With the prime minister’s resignation and the prospect of an upcoming election, the future of child welfare reform remains uncertain.

While tensions persist within the AFN leadership, the regional chiefs urged for unity and collaboration to ensure that systemic discrimination is eradicated, and the rights of First Nations children and families are upheld.