Progress is being celebrated by First Nations leaders in Ontario after meetings with the province about Ontario’s Indigenous Children and Youth Strategy to provide full and equitable support for First Nations child welfare services.

The meetings reiterated the importance of fully implementing Jordan’s Principle for on reserve child welfare in Canada.

Providing equal funding, establishing capacity to carry out services and reviewing provincial child welfare systems were also discussed.

Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day said denying children on reserve equitable care is vital to preventing loss of First Nations children and youth to suicide, violence and poverty.