Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed a historic $533.5 million funding agreement with the NWT government and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) to support Inuit-led child and family services.
This means the federal government will provide the funding over the next ten year. The territorial government has also agreed to provide an additional $209,391 annually, with adjustments for inflation.
The funding will go toward supporting the coordination of services for Inuvialuit children and families and preserving children’s connections to their culture.
Trudeau signed the agreement with NWT Minister of Health and Social Services, Lesa Semmler, and IRC Chair Duane Ningaqsiq Smith on this year’s Truth and Reconciliation Day in Inuvik.
“Today’s agreement is a historic step toward ensuring that Inuvialuit can exercise their jurisdiction and have the necessary tools and resources to best care for their children and family,” Trudeau said in a Monday news release.
The IRC are the first Inuit group to enact their own child and family services law, the Inuvialuit Qitunrariit Inuuniarnikkun Maligaksat, which came into effect in 2021.
“This agreement is an important step in acknowledging inherent Inuvialuit rights, enhancing our relationship with Canada, and ensuring our children, our families and our way of life can thrive now and for generations to come,” Smith was quoted as saying.
Monday’s agreement offers precedent for other Inuit groups to create their own child and family law under the framework of An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families.
