FSIN Vice-Chief David Pratt joined the NDP in the Legislature today in calling on the Sask. Party government to prioritize dealing with the rising number of Indigenous kids in care.
“This government has said this issue is important, but the fact that the numbers continue to rise shows they actually need to do something about it,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “We need to see a comprehensive child welfare review, something promised in 2010 but still not delivered by this government.”
The Minister of Social Services recently reported the 2018 numbers to be 3,199 children in care, but that number didn’t include the 2,038 non-wards, meaning the actual number is over 5,000, with 80 to 85 per cent of those children being First Nations or Métis. Those numbers have been continuously rising since 2013. There is an even higher percentage of the Indigenous children who die or are critically injured while in foster care.
FSIN Vice-Chief David Pratt is calling on the provincial government to work with First Nations to address these issues.
“The Saskatchewan government needs to commit to working alongside the federal government and First Nations leadership to support the transition to First Nations’ jurisdiction over child welfare,” said Pratt. “First Nations are ready to do the work.”