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Upcoming Events

 

Past Events

Bill C-92: The good, the bad and the unknowns - A panel discussion with Cindy Blackstock and Hadley Friedland 

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019 - 12:00-1:30 pm, Law Centre 231/237, University of Alberta, North Campus, Edmonton, Alberta

*Click here to watch VIDEO of Bill C-92: The good, the bad and the unknowns*

Bill C-92, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, became law on June 21, 2019. While many celebrate the bill’s unprecedented recognition of Indigenous People’s right to jurisdiction in relation to child and family services, others have raised grave concerns about the process of drafting the legislation, as well as its many remaining flaws, which could translate into maintaining the status quo in Indigenous child welfare, or could worsen the situation for Indigenous children and families. Organized by: First Nations Children's Action Research and Education Service, Faculty of Law, Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge, Indigenous Law Students' Association, Faculty of Native Studies, Faculty of Education.

 

Teddy Bear Tea Party and Book Launch - Spirit Bear: Fishing for Knowledge, Catching Dreams

Thursday, June 13, 10-11:30 a.m., Zeidler Hall, Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, Alberta. Over 180 elementary students joined Cindy Blackstock, Spirit Bear and other special guests for a reading of Spirit Bear's second book and a performance by students from Elk Island Public Schools of "A Place Like This." Watch video of performance here.

 

Teaching Guide Launch and Film Screening - (Dis)placed: Indigenous Youth and the Child Welfare System

Wednesday, March 13, 2019 - 5-6:30 pm, Room 122, Education South, University of Alberta, 11210-87 Ave NW, Edmonton

For more information about the film: http://www.kingcripproductions.com/displaced.html

To access the Teaching Guide: https://fncaringsociety.com/publications/displaced-indigenous-youth-and-child-welfare-system-teaching-guide-grades-9-12

 

Film Screening (Dis)placed: Indigenous Youth and the Child Welfare System

Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, 1:45 pm, River Park Church Auditorium, 3818-14A St., Calgary, AB. Entry is Free and venue is wheelchair accessible. For more information, visit Marda Loop Justice Film Festival.

 

Finding Peter Bryce: Story of a National Crime - Film screening & Panel Discussion

June 27, 2018, University of Alberta, Edmonton. Panelists Charlene Bearhead, Walter Brertton, and Dr. Jill Konkin discuss advocacy and resistance from within colonial systems.

 

Teddy Bear Tea Party and Book Launch in Edmonton - Spirit Bear and Children Make History

Feb. 5, 2018, Zeidler Hall, Citadel Theatre, Edmonton AB, 10-11:30 am. One hundred and fifty students from grades 2-5 joined Spirit Bear, Cindy Blackstock, and Mayor Don Iveson at the Western Canada launch of Spirit Bear's new book, where he tells his story of standing up for First Nations kids and how all children can make positive change. Written by Cindy Blackstock and Eddy Robinson, with illustrations by Amanda Strong. 

 

(Dis)placed: Indigenous Youth and the Child Welfare System - Film Screening & Panel Discussion

Oct. 26, 2017 , University of Alberta, Edmonton 7-8:30 pm, Telus Centre Room 150, 7-8:30 pm, Panelists: Jesse Downing, Donovan Waskahat, Derek Chewka, and Melisa Brittain. Spoken word by Donovan Waskahat

 

Incremental Equality = Discrimination: First Nations and Public Services

A free public lecture by Dr. Alika Lafontaine and Dr. Cindy Blackstock, September 14, 2017, 11-12:20, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Medical Sciences Building - Room 227

*Watch video of the lecture by Alika Lafontaine and Cindy Blackstock

 

(Dis)placed: Indigenous Youth and the Child Welfare System  

Film screening followed by panel discussion with Mr. Rick Lightning, Jo-Mary Crowchild-Fletcher, and Derek Chewka, chaired by Amber Dion

March 23, 2017, MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB, 12:30 - 2pm. Canada’s colonial practice of forcibly removing Indigenous children from their families did not end with the closing of Indian residential schools. It continues today in the form of provincial and territorial child welfare systems, which remove Indigenous children and youth at alarmingly high rates. This film features the voices of Indigenous youth as they reflect on their prior involvement with child welfare and share their multiple strategies of resistance to assimilation and state control. Adding to these insights, First Nations child advocate Cindy Blackstock traces the term ‘neglect’, the main rationale for child welfare removals, to its roots in the residential school system, and points to laws that codify structural discrimination as the leading cause of child welfare (dis)placements. Presented by MacEwan University with FNCARES

 

We Can't Make the Same Mistake Twice 

Film screening followed by Q & A with Director Alanis Obomsawin and Cindy Blackstock. Feb. 12, 2017, Metro Cinema, Edmonton, AB 

In 2007, the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada and the Assembly of First Nations filed a landmark discrimination complaint against the Canadian government. They argued that child welfare services provided to First Nations children on reserves are underfunded and inferior to services offered to other Canadian children. Veteran director Alanis Obomsawin's most recent film, We Can't Make the Same Mistake Twice (dir. Alanis Obomsawin, 2 h 43 min) documents this epic court challenge as it is led by Cindy Blackstock, the tenacious child advocate at its epicentre. 

Watch Q & A session with Alanis Obomsawin and Cindy Blackstock

Watch Trailer

Co-Presented by Reconciliation in Focus, Metro Cinema Society and First Nations Children's Action Research and Education Service (FNCARES)

Read the POV interview with Alanis Obomsawin about making the film.

 

Premiere Screenings of (Dis)placed: Indigenous Youth and the Child Welfare System 

Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, 3:30pm, Metro Cinema at the Garneau Theatre,  Edmonton, AB

Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016, 4pm, Glenbow Museum Theatre, Calgary, AB

Canada’s colonial practice of forcibly removing Indigenous children from their families did not end with the closing of Indian residential schools. It continues today in the form of provincial and territorial child welfare systems, which remove Indigenous children and youth at alarmingly high rates. This film features the voices of Indigenous youth as they reflect on their prior involvement with child welfare and share their multiple strategies of resistance to assimilation and state control. Adding to these insights, First Nations child advocate Cindy Blackstock traces the term ‘neglect’, the main rationale for child welfare removals, to its roots in the residential school system, and points to laws that codify structural discrimination as the leading cause of child welfare (dis)placements.

Panel discussion following film featured youth from the film and Cindy Blackstock.

 

Public Lecture by Dr. Cindy Blackstock - The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal on First Nations child welfare

March 15, 2016, 8:30-10:00 a.m., 4th Floor Lounge, Education North Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton

 

In 2007, Dr. Cindy Blackstock and the Assembly of First Nations filed a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal alleging that Canada discriminates against First Nations children on the basis of race and/or national or ethnic origin by providing inequitable and insufficient funding for child and family services on reserves. In January 2016, the Tribunal ruled in favour of the complainants, ordering the government to cease discriminatory practices against 163,000 affected children and take measures to redress and prevent further discrimination. In this talk, Dr. Blackstock will discuss the Tribunal's findings, the remedies ordered, and what this means for First Nations children's rights in Canada moving forward. Presented by FNCARES and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Week, University of Alberta

 

For more information about the case:

https://fncaringsociety.com/i-am-witness

To read the ruling:

http://decisions.chrt-tcdp.gc.ca/chrt-tcdp/decisions/en/item/127700/index.doDecember 9, 2015: Release of FNCARES Annual Report, 2014-2015

 

FNCARES releases First Nations Child Poverty: A Literature Review and Analysis

December 7, 2015. Link to publication: https://fncaringsociety.com/publications/first-nations-child-poverty-literature-review-and-analysis-2015

 

 

Reconciliation in Post-Secondary: Implementing the TRC Recommendations, Free Public Lecture at University of Alberta

 

October 14, 2015: Speakers: Dr. Cindy Blackstock, Charlene Bearhead, and Dr. Eber Hampton; chaired by Dr. Keavy Martin. Co-hosted with Indigenous Peoples Education and Alberta Network Environments of Aboriginal Health Research. 

 

 

Reconciliation Means Not Saying Sorry Twice - Free Public Lecture by Dr. Cindy Blackstock

February 26, 2014, MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB

 

Followed: Access to Info and Surveillance, Free Public Lecture, University of Alberta

November 25, 2014: Presented in collaboration with the Information Access and Protection of Privacy program (IAPP) at UAlberta’s Faculty of Extension, this talk features Dr. Cindy Blackstock discussing the implications and impacts of having her privacy breached by Federal officials as she works towards ensuring equitable funding for First Nations children. Jill Clayton, Alberta’s Information and Privacy Commissioner, and Mary Marshall, lawyer and Health Information Law expert, will join Cindy as speakers and panel discussants. Watch video of event: http://livestream.com/ualberta/foe-followed-11-25-14

 

Hi-Ho Mistahey! in the schools

In the News:

November 28, 2016: Indigenous youth share stories of displacement in child welfare system | Metro News Calgary 

December 2, 2015: A MMIW Inquiry must examine the child-welfare system by Cindy Blackstock, Globe and Mail

October 20-24: Closing arguments of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal on First Nations child welfare, Ottawa, ON. Watch video of proceedings: www.fnwitness.ca