KINGFISHER LAKE – While on his first campaign stop, Sol Mamakwa of the NDP Kiiwetinoong candidate took the time to show his advocacy for Jordan’s Principle.
“Booshoo to @SpiritBear on his birthday today. We’re travelling with one of your relatives across Kiiwetinoong today to honour #JordansPrinciple and #BearWitnessDay.” Sol Mamakwa wrote on Twitter.
Jordan's Principle ensures all First Nations children living in Canada can access the services and supports they need when they need them. The funding can help with a wide range of health, social and educational needs, including the unique conditions that First Nations Two-Spirit and LGBTQQIA children and youth and those with disabilities may have.
Moreover, the long-standing history of federal and provincial governments’ denial of support for First Nations communities is the reason to bear witness.
Jordan's Principle is named in memory of Jordan River Anderson, a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba born with complex medical needs. Jordan spent more than two years hospitalized and waiting to go home while the Province of Manitoba and the federal government argued over who should pay for his home care. Jordan died in the hospital at the age of five.
These payment disputes between federal and provincial governments over children’s aid for First Nations children happen far too often. The federal government did not implement Jordan’s Principle as the family intended, despite the House of Commons’ unanimous support in 2007. The Government of Canada provided $11 million in new funding to Health Canada to implement Jordan's Principle to be administered by the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch. This implementation focused on jurisdictional disputes involving First Nations children living on reserve with multiple disabilities requiring services from various service providers.
With the support of their Norway House Cree Nation community, Jordan’s family gifted his name to create a child-first principle to ensure First Nations children could access the services they need without denial, delay, or disruption.
However, the government the first document was broadly defined and barely reflected the rights of First Nations communities in obtaining health care services for children. The federal government implemented Jordan’s Principle in a manner so narrow that few First Nations children qualified.
In a landmark ruling on Jan. 26, 2016, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal) ruled that Canada’s definition of Jordan’s Principle was discriminatory and ordered the federal government to take immediate measures to implement the full and proper scope of Jordan’s legacy.
Show your support and "Bear Witness" to ensure Jordan's Principle is fully implemented. Here are some COVID-19 safe things you can do at home:
Step One: Education
- Start by reading Spirit Bear and Children Make History for free so you can learn more about Spirit Bear and Jordan's Principle
- Take part in watching the film Spirit Bear and Children Make History. It will be available on the link from May 1 – to May 11. Save the link and come back to watch the film on Vimeo from May 1 until May 11
- Learn about the importance of Jordan's Principle by reading Spirit Bear's Guide to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action
- Watch the documentary Jordan River Anderson, The Messenger, to learn more about Jordan River Anderson and Jordan's Principle. Available to watch for free through the National Film Board
Step Two: Spread Awareness
- Spread the word and post photos on social media using the hashtags #JordansPrinciple and #BearWitnessDay and tag us on Twitter at @SpiritBear and @CaringSociety, on Instagram through @SpiritBearandFriends, and follow and like our page on Facebook
- Host an online teddy bear tea party or bear birthday party to honour Jordan River Anderson and to learn about Jordan's Principle
- Reconciliation is all of us! Read this information sheet for ways you can help make a difference
- Hang out with your bears or favourite stuffed animal at home! Ask loved ones in your home to participate too. You can let your neighbours know that you are participating in Bear Witness Day by placing your teddy bear or drawing a bear in the window
Step Three: Take Action
- Reach out to provincial and territorial governments to make Spirit Bear Day a recognized holiday in every province and territory! So far, the province of Manitoba is the only province that has begun the process of enacting Spirit Bear Day as a recognized holiday on May 10! Please click here to learn more about the Act in Manitoba and download the document below called "Bear Witness Day 2022" for how you can take part in making this day recognized in all provinces and territories
- Implement the #SpiritBearPlan and write to your federally elected representative. First Nations children and families living on reserves and in the Territories receive public services funded by the federal government. Since Confederation, these services have fallen significantly short of what other Canadians receive. This injustice needs to end, and Spirit Bear's Plan will do just that
