Canada still discriminating against First Nations kids, advocate says

Even with a recent landmark ruling, Canada hasn't done anything to stop discriminating against First Nations kids, child advocate Cindy Blackstock says.

On January 26the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal found that the federal government discriminates against children living on reserves by failing to provide them with the same quality of welfare services available to children elsewhere in the country.

Thatdecision came with an orderto stop the practice and was followed by a vow from the governmentnot to appeal the decision.

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ButBlackstock,executive director oftheFirst Nation Child and Family Caring Society which launched the initial human rights complaint against Ottawa in 2007 saidnothing has happened.

"The federal government doesn't want to do anything in the short-term,"Blackstocksaid. "They want to just continue with study and that makes me nervous."

Immediate relief requested

Weeks after the tribunal's decision, the First Nation Child and Family Caring Society submitted documents outlining whatthe federal government could doto address the lack of services for child welfare systems on reserves, including steps that could immediately be taken.

These first stepsoutlined on the Caring Society's websiteinclude an injection of $109million for First Nation child welfare agencies across Canada anda public announcement that the federal government will begin working with agencies to reform the on-reserve child welfare system.

However,Blackstockclaims the federal government has only sent a letter that indicated that they're studying the issue first.

"What's really important is not what government says. What's really important is what government does when it comes to First Nations kids," saidBlackstock.

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The Assembly of First Nationssaid they willalso by filing submissions on immediate relief to the tribunal, however, they wouldn't say what those recommendations will be.

Children at risk

CBC asked Indigenous Affairs what action has been taken since the tribunal decision. A spokesperson emailed a link to a joint statement first issued by Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett and Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould in January.

These little kids are out there and they're still suffering from this discrimination.- Cindy Blackstock,First Nation Child and Family Caring Society

"Child and family services issues are complex and require constructive dialogue through a renewed relationship built on trust and partnership," the statement reads. "Together, we will make the right changes for better outcomes for First Nations children."

Blackstock says the government is simply stalling and the lack of movement is putting First Nation children at risk.

"These little kids are out there and they're still suffering from this discrimination."

Hear Cindy Blackstockin conversation with Rosanna Deerchild, on Unreserved, CBC Radio One, 7:00 p.m. Sunday and 1:00 p.m. Tuesday.