This event, Empowering Futures: A Gathering for Indigenous Child Welfare Sovereignty on February 27th at Grey Eagle Resort on Tsuut’ina land, was originally scheduled for October, but ALIGN made the respectful decision to postpone as the Assembly of First Nations was hosting Chiefs in Calgary to make historic decisions on the $48.7 billion child welfare compensation and reform agreement at the same time.
The rescheduled event allowed us to engage in deep discussions about Indigenous jurisdiction over child welfare, the barriers and opportunities in Alberta, and what meaningful action looks like moving forward.
At our gathering, we reviewed the current landscape in Alberta, including First Nations, Inuvialuit, and Métis groups that have given notice to assume jurisdiction under Bill C-92, those that have already enacted their own child welfare laws, and the rejection of the national agreement by many First Nations. We also examined how regional Chiefs are negotiating directly with the federal government to ensure agreements meet their specific needs.
One emerging opportunity for Alberta is to establish a dedicated working group, committee, or society to support Indigenous IGBs in reclaiming jurisdiction—similar to the Our Children Our Way Society in British Columbia. Such a group could:
- Provide capacity-building support for navigating jurisdiction
- Facilitate collaboration among Indigenous IGBs, child welfare agencies, and provincial/federal partners
- Ensure Indigenous-led solutions are prioritized in the Alberta context
Next steps and resources:
1. Presentation slides – in PDF format for your reference.
2. Themed discussions – We are processing the incredible ideas shared under the key themes of:
- Business planning and strategy development
- Governance and leadership
- Cultural revitalization and community engagement
3. Upcoming report – A summary report capturing key discussions, insights, and next steps will be published on ALIGN’s website in the coming weeks.
4. Stay connected – To keep informed of ALIGN’s future events and initiatives, we encourage you to sign up for our newsletters. Sector News & Connections.