Ottawa says it will work with Indigenous governments interested in exercising jurisdiction over child welfare after the Dene Nation requested direct funding to do so.
A resolution put forward by the Dene Nation to directly receive transfer payments, rather than have Ottawa send the cash to the NWT government, passed at an Assembly of First Nations meeting this month.
The resolution directed the AFN to call on Ottawa to make the change.
Currently, the federal government provides transfer payments to the territorial government to deliver things like healthcare and social services for NWT residents. They are a major source of the GNWT’s annual revenue.
The Dene Nation previously told Cabin Radio it is engaged in early discussions with Dene leadership to explore “greater jurisdiction over child and family services” and will gauge communities’ interest in the Dene Nation taking a larger role.
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“It is important for the Dene to be self-determined and self-sufficient,” Dene National Chief George Mackenzie was quoted as saying in a press release. “Long gone are the days when outsiders can make decisions on our behalf.”
In a statement to Cabin Radio, Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada said section 35 rights holders – meaning First Nations, Inuit and Métis people with rights under section 35 of the constitution – could pursue different pathways for exercising jurisdiction over things like child and family services.
“Rights holding groups may choose to pursue a coordination agreement through An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families or exercise jurisdiction through modern treaties and self-government agreements,” the departments stated.
They pointed to the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, which in 2024 signed a coordination agreement with the federal government to take control of child and family services for their members.
“The Government of Canada welcomes the opportunity to work with section 35 rights holders in the Northwest Territories who are interested in exercising jurisdiction over child and family services on behalf of their communities,” the federal government stated.
