(Treaty No. 6 Territory) – The Sovereign First Nations of Treaty No. 8 in Alberta have implemented a new law, superseding any and all government authority over First Nation children. The Nehiyaw and Dene Nations of Treaty No. 8 Adoption and Private Guardianship Law protects Treaty No. 8 children, ensuring they cannot be taken without written and willing consent from the child’s parents or guardians and the First Nation the child is a member of, or is eligible to be a member of.
“Our children are not for sale,” says Grand Chief of Child and Family Services Chief Ivan Sawan of Loon River Cree. “Treaty No. 8 First Nations maintain authority over our children, youth and families – that is not the right of the province or any other level of government. Currently, our children are being stolen from our Nations. The current government process of adoption and private guardianship continues to have devastating cultural effects stripping children of their identity and diminishing inherent Treaty rights. We are developing our own First Nation child and family services laws , and in the meantime we must protect our children and youth”
The Sovereign Indigenous Nations of Treaty No. 8 will no longer accept this continuation of the harms of Residential Schools and the Sixties Scoop under government systems. Treaty No. 8 First Nations are losing their children through the adoption and private guardianship process. There has been no stoppage from the Government of Alberta to repeated requests to cease and desist, this has required the creation of this new law.
By the protection of Treaty rights under section 35 of the Constitution Act and the Supreme Court of Canada’s affirmation of Bill C-92, Treaty 8 leadership has taken this matter into their own hands with the creation of this law. The Nehiyaw and Dene Nations of Treaty No. 8 Adoption and Private Guardianship Law now makes that perfectly clear.
