I am a Witness: Tribunal Timeline & Documents

The timeline below chronicles the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal case on inequitable funding for First Nations child welfare, which the Tribunal ruled amounts to discrimination.  

View the pre-Tribunal timeline for a history of First Nations child and family services funding leading up the case. 

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2015

December 15, 2015

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission issues its final report. Volume 5, which deals with the legacy of Indian residential schools, includes a chapter which describes a child welfare system in crisis. 

December 1, 2015

The Caring Society provides a letter giving an update on the Tribunal and the timing of the decision.

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October 20, 2015

Caring Society executive director Cindy Blackstock calls on newly elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to put an end to inequalities for First Nations children, in a letter dated October 20, 2015. For more about the First Nations child welfare human rights case, and Cindy's hopes for the new government, read this story on APTN National News. 

July 17, 2015

The Aboriginal Children in Care Working Group, made up of departmental ministers across the provinces and territories, releases its report to Canada's premiers.

June 5, 2015

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal finds the federal government did retaliate against Cindy Blackstock.

June 3, 2015

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada publishes, after six years of research, its findings and calls to action

February 2, 2015

The Caring Society submits the report Canada knows better and is not doing better to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights working group. The document evidences discrimination in child welfare services on reserve and in the Yukon. 

January 14, 2015

Tribunal denies Canada's request to exclude documents.

January 7, 2015

Procedural Diagram: First Nations child welfare human rights case (2007- July 2015)

2014

October 20-24, 2014

Closing arguments on Canadian Human Rights Tribunal case.