First Nations Child Welfare: Research Contribution to the Human Rights Tribunal Case on Inequitable Funding

Une conférence avec Nico Trocmé, Directeur de l'École de service social et titulaire de la Chaire Philip Fisher en service social à l'Université McGill.

Résumé (en anglais seulement)

Dr. Trocmé is the principal investigator for the Canadian Incidence  Study (CIS) of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (1993, 1998, 2003 & 2008), and played an integral role in The First Nations Component of the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (FNCIS), a component of the CIS focused on child welfare investigations involving First Nations children. The first FNCIS report was released in November 2011, and is entitled Kiskisik Awasisak: Remember the Children. Understanding the Overrepresentation of First Nations Children in the Child Welfare System.

In 2007, the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and the Assembly of First Nations filed a complaint against the federal government with the Canadian Human Rights Commission, alleging that systematic underfunding of child welfare services for First Nations children on reserve amounts to racial discrimination. Dr. Trocmé appeared as an expert witness before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal in April 2013, having been called by the Caring Society to discuss his research on First Nations child welfare. The closing arguments in the case are being heard October 20-24.

Come listen to Dr. Trocmé reflect on this historic case and what its outcome might mean for First Nations children and families, and the country as a whole.

This event was organized by the Aboriginal Law Students’ Association and the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism.