(Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Squamish Nation Territory – September 22, 2025). The  National Children’s Chiefs Commission  (“the Commission”) announced in Saskatoon on September 10 that it is launching a crowd funding campaign to support its work after Canada has refused to provide a single dollar in funding.

In addition to Canada’s refusal to support the National Children’s Chiefs Commission, Canada has made the decision to apply for a Judicial Review of the  Canadian Human Rights Tribunal’s (CHRT) ruling in  2025 CHRT 80. The Commission is calling it yet another attempt to delay justice for First Nations children.

In 2016, after a decade-long legal effort led by the  Caring Society  and the  Assembly of First Nations, the CHRT ruled that Canada knowingly and willfully discriminated against First Nations children, causing egregious harm.

The CHRT ordered Canada to cease its discriminatory conduct and ensure it never happened again. Since then, the Tribunal has issued more than 20 additional orders against Canada, dragging them into compliance with the original ruling.

“Instead of finally ending its discrimination, Canada has once again chosen to fight First Nations children in court,”  said  Chief Pauline Frost ,   Chair of the National Children’s Chiefs Commission.  “Every year Canada delays, another generation of our children is harmed. Children should not have to wait a single day longer for justice.”

The Tribunal’s 2025 CHRT 80 decision was a major step forward. It set out a process and timeline for developing long-term remedies to once and for all end Canada’s discriminatory First Nations child and family services. In setting the path forward, the Tribunal recognized that the Caring Society and the Commission were ready to lead the work, and that decades of studies and evidence already exist. There is simply no reason to not move forward expediently in the best interests of our children.

Instead of working on solutions, Canada is now challenging the ruling.

“A child born the day this complaint was filed would be 18 today,”  said  Chief Vicky Chief, the Commissioner representing Quebec & Labrador.  “That’s an entire childhood lost while Canada fought us in the courts. Filing a Judicial Review is not leadership. It is not partnership. It is the same old colonial denial and delay.”

After filing the Judicial Review,  Minister of Indigenous Services Mandy Gull-Masty  claimed Canada is working “in close partnership” with First Nations rights holders to advance reform.

The record tells a different story.

Since its creation by First Nations Chiefs in October 2024, the Commission has written to Canada more than ten times, submitting a detailed workplan, budget, and proposal to begin negotiations. Until the Tribunal itself pressed Canada to engage, the Minister and her predecessor ignored every request.

Only then did the Minister permit a 20-minute phone call with the Commission’s Chair, later reporting to the Tribunal that Canada had discharged its obligation to “engage” with the Commission.

“This is not partnership—it is misrepresentation,”  said Chief Frost.  “Canada has deliberately excluded and undermined a body established by First Nations rights holders to protect our children. To claim they are working in partnership is deeply offensive and misleading.”

The National Children’s Chiefs Commission is calling on Canada to immediately withdraw its Judicial Review, respect the Tribunal’s direction, and sit down with the Commission to implement the reforms children have been waiting for far too long.

“As the Tribunal regularly reminds us—this case is about children,”  Chief Frost concluded.  “It’s time for Canada to stop litigating against them, and finally do the work to end its discrimination.”

Watch Dr. Cindy Blackstock, Ph.D. “Self determination: Idealism and realism” video filmed at the Loving Justice – Supporting Each Other Conference in Saskatoon:

First Nations created the Commission by resolution at a Special Chiefs Assembly in October 2024 to provide independent oversight and strategic direction on ending Canada’s discrimination in  First Nations Child & Family Services and  Jordan’s Principle. Despite this clear mandate, Canada has declined to engage with the Commission, leaving it to operate without resources since November 2024.

On August 20, 2025, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal imposed a four-month deadline on the development of a national plan to end systemic discrimination. The Commission is working with the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society to meet that deadline, while consulting with First Nations and drawing on expert evidence.

The work is historic, urgent, and critical — but Canada has chosen not to fund it.

First Nations have already stepped up. On September 4, 2025, the First Nations-in-Assembly voted to allocate $1,000,000 of the AFN’s budget to support the Commission. Just days later, during her keynote address at the Loving Justice conference in Saskatoon, Dr. Cindy Blackstock called on First Nations and their allies to support the Commission’s work.  Yellow Thunderbird Lodge  immediately pledged $10,000, inspiring several other First Nations organizations to quickly follow. By the end of the day, a total of $52,481.30 in pledges and cash donations had been collected.

On September 11, Dr. Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director of the Caring Society, said:

“I hope Canada does the honourable thing and provides the funding the National Children’s Chiefs Commission requires. The Commission has worked miracles: they are set up and ready to go with zero dollars. But if Canada does not come forward with the money, I am hoping all of us can step in. This work by the National Children’s Chiefs Commission is historic, it needs to be supported, and I absolutely believe we will complete this work together—for our kids.”

In addition, Chief Pauline Frost, Chair of the Commission, underscored the Commissioners’ determination despite Canada’s refusal to support them:

“The work we do as Commissioners is rooted in the cultural practices and history of our people. We do this work from our hearts. None of our Commissioners, technical team or legal team are getting paid. We will continue to push forward and to advocate for a plan that will meet our children’s needs. This is the only way forward.”

The Commission is now calling on individuals, First Nations, and allies across the country to step in where Canada has failed, and to contribute to the crowd funding campaign so this urgent work can be completed.

About the National Children’s Chiefs Commission

The Commission was established by First Nations-in-Assembly via AFN Resolution 60/2024 to work openly and transparently to provide strategic direction and oversight of long-term reform agreements for the  First Nations Child & Family Services program  and  Jordan’s Principle. The Commission consists of eleven Commissioners appointed by regions across Canada along with a team of technical and legal advisors.

National Children’s Chiefs Commission

2025 Sep 18 NCCC Commissioners & Alternates Contact List

Honour Dr. Blackstock on her birthday – September 30, 2025 (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation) by donating to the National Children’s Chiefs Commission