Canada Indigenous Tell Pope of Abuses at Residential Schools
SnopesDec 29, 2021
Canadian Government, AFN Reach Child Welfare Settlement
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Image copyright: The Canadian Press [via CBC]
The Facts
The Canadian government and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) reached a $15.55B ($20B CAD) settlement to compensate Indigenous children who were harmed by the child welfare system.
The complaint was initiated in 2007, and in 2016, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal found that chronic underfunding of child welfare services on reserves was discriminatory.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This settlement is a victory that marks the end of years of advocacy and negotiations. It will help address the ongoing trauma and legacy of Indigenous Canadians and give them the compensation they deserve.
Establishment-critical narrative
While this is certainly good news, it's too soon to celebrate: the government has a history of exchanging goodwill words without following through with action. This settlement hasn't yet received final approval, and its implementation may prove to be more difficult than anticipated.
