Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being Law

Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being Law is a legal framework for child and family services.

In Anishinabek News

• July 2015: The draft law was approved in principle during the 2015 Grand Council. A resolution directs that this law be brought to a ratification vote before April 1, 2017. A strategic plan for the implementation of this legislation was passed at the 2015 Grand Council.
• August 2015: The Ontario government expressed readiness to implement this law during a 2015 summit.
• March 2016: A drafting session for this law was scheduled to take place at Fort William First Nation in April 2016. The law was set to have an effective date of April 1, 2017. The Anishinabek Nation Child Welfare Working Group was tasked with creating the implementation plan for this legislation.
• April 2016: Patrick Madahbee provided the Prime Minister with an update on this law in April 2016.
• April 2016: The Anishinabek Nation is developing an implementation plan for this law. The Anishinabek Nation Child Welfare Working Group and sub-committees address implementation issues for this legislation.
• May 2016: The Anishinabek Nation intends to have this law in place by April 1, 2017. An implementation plan is being developed by a dedicated working group to transition jurisdiction away from mainstream agencies. Meetings were held with provincial ministries in April 2016 to discuss the recognition of First Nation child well-being jurisdiction.
• January 2017: The law is intended to keep families intact and ensure children remain within their communities rather than being removed by Children's Aid Societies. As of January 2017, four communities including Algonquins of Pikwakanagan, Magnetawan First Nation, Nipissing First Nation, and Dokis First Nation have submitted resolutions to move forward with the law. The law is presented as a solution to child well-being needs and the negative impacts of colonialism.
• March 2017: This law is being developed to return children to their communities and replace a foreign, culturally insensitive system. Patrick Madahbee identified the development of this law as a priority for the 40 member First Nations.
• July 2017: The Child Well-Being Working Group aimed to have the law implemented by April 1, 2018. The law was reviewed during community meetings to address questions from First Nation members.
• September 2017: Six First Nations have passed Band Council Resolutions to adopt this law in their communities. The law is scheduled to become effective on April 1, 2018.
• September 2017: The law is scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2018, for participating communities. Seven First Nations have submitted Band Council Resolutions to adopt this law as their own. The law is based on community standards and beliefs and is intended to exercise the inherent right of First Nations to care for their children.
• November 2018: By November 2018, 12 Anishinabek Nation member communities had adopted this law.
• February 2019: As of February 2019, 14 First Nations have passed the Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being Law in their communities. The Anishinabek Nation social team aims to have the law passed by more than 20 First Nations by June 2019. The law is supported by the establishment of Koganaawsawin, a central body for child welfare matters.
• June 2019: This law represents an exercise of inherent rights by Anishinabek Nation member communities over child welfare. As of June 2019, 19 member nations had taken initial steps to adopt this legislation for their citizens.
• November 2019: Development of this law began in 2008 through initiatives led by the Anishinabek Nation. As of November 2019, 21 First Nations had chosen to enact this law as an exercise of their inherent rights. The Anishinabek Nation Children's Commissioner provides oversight for the compliance and enforcement of this legislation.
• February 2020: Participants at the Giiniwenama Elders Gathering expressed interest in engagement sessions and consultations regarding this law.
• March 2020: The Anishinabek Nation is developing an implementation plan for this law. A Children’s Commissioner was appointed to provide oversight over the implementation, compliance, and enforcement of this law.
• June 2021: The Anishinabek Chiefs-in-Assembly passed a resolution in 2008 to develop this law to assert jurisdiction over child well-being. The law ensures the safety of Anishinaabe children while maintaining traditional culture, values, and language. As of 2021, 22 First Nations have approved the implementation of this law for their members regardless of residency.
• June 2021: This law is designed to ensure the safety of children while maintaining their connection to culture, language, and community. It establishes a structure for community agreements and standards for child welfare among participating First Nations. The law requires that adoptions only happen with the consent of parents and the relevant First Nation.
• June 2021: The law is being implemented alongside a new system to support the well-being of youth within the Anishinabek Nation. Youth at a 2021 gathering provided recommendations on how to change policies that impact them under this law.
• January 2022: As of January 2022, 22 Anishinabek First Nations have agreed to move forward with this law in their communities. The law is intended to safeguard the well-being of Anishinaabe children and keep them within their own families and communities.
• January 2022: As of January 2022, 22 communities within the Anishinabek Nation had enacted this law to protect their children. The law is part of an effort by communities to reclaim their role in the well-being of youth and children.
• April 2022: The law supports the role of parents and communities in promoting the well-being of Anishinaabe children. Twenty-one member First Nations of the Anishinabek Nation have worked to assert jurisdiction through this legislation.
• June 2022: The Anishinabek Nation uses this law to exercise inherent jurisdiction over child welfare matters. It is part of a broader effort to promote the well-being of Anishinaabe families and future generations.
• August 2022: The law was approved in principle by the Anishinabek Nation Chiefs-in-Assembly in 2015. As of August 2022, 22 member communities have chosen to enact this law locally. It emphasizes the role of parents and guardians in promoting the safety of Anishinaabe children.
• August 2022: As of August 2022, this law is implemented in 22 member First Nations of the Anishinabek Nation. The legislation allows communities to develop their own standards based on traditional and cultural practices.
• October 2022: The Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being Law is used by the Anishinabek Nation to exercise inherent jurisdiction over the protection of children. This law is part of a broader system intended to promote the well-being of Anishinaabe youth.
• April 2023: This draft legislation is a relevant document for the National Indigenous Child Well-Being Summit.
• August 2023: The draft law is a document related to the Anishinabek Nation.
• August 2025: The Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being Law was drafted under the inherent jurisdiction of First Nations with input from citizens living on and off-territory. The law recognizes the primary role of parents, guardians, and families in the upbringing of Anishinaabe children. First Nations that enact this law become the lawmakers responsible for delivering child and family services to their citizens.