Indigenous communities and leaders across the country cheered Friday as the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the federal government91裸聊视频檚 child welfare law, affirming that First Nations, M茅tis and Inuit have sole authority over the protection of their children.
The unanimous decision is a setback for the Quebec government, which won a victory in 2022 when the Court of Appeal found that parts of the act overstepped federal jurisdiction.
Indigenous leaders lauded the high court91裸聊视频檚 findings as dozens of the very children at the heart of the decision ran rampant around an Ottawa conference room.
91裸聊视频淥ur peoples have compromised enough,91裸聊视频� said Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador regional chief Ghislain Picard.
A group of children wearing ribbon skirts, kokum scarves and ribbon shirts sat in front of him as he spoke.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 time now for other governments to do the same.91裸聊视频�
Friday91裸聊视频檚 decision upholding the 2019 law ultimately affirmed that Indigenous Peoples have an inherent right to self-government that includes control over child and family services.
91裸聊视频淭he act as a whole is constitutionally valid,91裸聊视频� the court wrote in an 110-page decision, adding that it 91裸聊视频渇alls squarely within Parliament91裸聊视频檚 legislative jurisdiction.91裸聊视频�
Ottawa91裸聊视频檚 law affirmed the right of Indigenous Peoples to run their own child protection services and included sections that said Indigenous legislation had the force of federal law and could supersede provincial law.
Assembly of First Nations national chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak called the decision a significant step forward.
91裸聊视频淔irst Nations have never surrendered their jurisdiction over their children and families, which has existed since time immemorial,91裸聊视频� Woodhouse Nepinak said.
91裸聊视频淔irst Nations continue to have the inherent and constitutional right to care for our children and families, along with our sacred rights from Creator to raise our children surrounded by our cultures, languages, and traditions.91裸聊视频�
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Indigenous children have 91裸聊视频渇or far too long91裸聊视频� been put in foster homes, sometimes far away from their communities, that were not grounded in Indigenous language and traditions.
91裸聊视频淭hat has perhaps gotten them out of harm91裸聊视频檚 way in the immediate, but has left them with scarring 91裸聊视频� loss of identity, loss of language and a disconnection from their cultures that has had devastating impacts.91裸聊视频�
Asked whether, if elected, he would stand by the law, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said his party believes in 91裸聊视频渕ore autonomy for First Nations communities and less paternalistic control by government.91裸聊视频�
He said the Conservatives would 91裸聊视频渞espect the rights of First Nations families to raise their own children.91裸聊视频�
NDP MP Lori Idlout, who also serves as her party91裸聊视频檚 critic of Indigenous services, said First Nations, M茅tis and Inuit had their own laws prior to Confederation, and that she hopes Ottawa will respect their jurisdiction.
On Quebec, Idlout said she hopes the province realizes it has an obligation to foster positive relationships with Indigenous Peoples.
Nothing in the division of powers between the federal government and the provinces prevents Parliament from affirming that Indigenous Peoples91裸聊视频� inherent right of self91裸聊视频慻overnment includes legislative authority over child and family services, the high court said.
91裸聊视频淭he essential matter addressed by the act involves protecting the well-being of Indigenous children, youth and families by promoting the delivery of culturally appropriate child and family services and, in so doing, advancing the process of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples,91裸聊视频� the court wrote.
Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu said the decision paves the way for more Indigenous autonomy in areas like health care and water quality.
91裸聊视频淭oday is truly historic,91裸聊视频� Hajdu said.
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