Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Arlen Dumas Welcomes Delegates and Offers Opening Remarks at the Bringing Our Children Home National Conference

November 25, 2019

Treaty One Territory, Manitoba

AMC Communications

Treaty  1 Territory, Manitoba – Today, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) Grand Chief Arlen Dumas, along with the AMC Women’s Council, Elders, Chiefs, and advocates, welcomed over 400 delegates from across the country to the First Nations Family Advocates Office (FNFAO) hosted Bringing our Children Home National Conference.  The national conference is the first of its kind in Canada. It is an important opportunity for delegates to learn from one another and discuss approaches that ensure the rights of First Nations children and families are upheld and protected in the face of provincial and federal government policy and pan-Indigenous legislation designed to encroach on and undermine First Nations jurisdiction over child and family services (CFS).

“On behalf of the AMC, it gives me great pleasure to welcome all delegates representing all our Nations from across all our territories, to this very important national gathering for discussions on the preservation of our families and protection of our children. I acknowledge the Treaty One First Nations as our hosts on their traditional lands,” said Grand Chief Dumas.

“For many years, our First Nations leadership in Manitoba have been taking an active role in providing a path, and identifying the means to keep and bring our children home. Through the development of the Bringing Our Children Home Report, with the recommendation to develop the First Nations Family Advocate Office, it is our mandate at the AMC to support and advocate for First Nations families that are involved in the child and family services system.”

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