On February 9, 2024, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Bill C-92, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth, and families was constitutionally valid in whole, following a challenge to the Bill's constitutionality by the Quebec Court of Appeal.

On this episode of the Spirit Bear Podcast, we're fortunate to be joined by two experts, Drs. Naiomi Metallic and Hadley Friedland, to talk about this decision, some of the strengths and weaknesses of Bill C-92, and the policy implications for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit seeking to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services.

In light of some of the monies that are finally starting to reach First Nations communities, as well as within the overall context of Bill C-92, the delivery of effective prevention services is an important topic. While some First Nations have made great strides toward implementing prevention services, others will be starting from ground zero.

On this episode of the Spirit Bear Podcast, hear from Laurence Allard, Child and Family Services Advisor with the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission, as she discusses how Nations can go from "0-60" when it comes to the delivery of community-based, holistic prevention services.

On this episode of Spirit Bear's Ask an Expert Podcast, we're joined once more by Drs. Barbara Fallon and Ashley Vandermorris, and Genevieve Sansone of the Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development Policy Bench as they discuss the importance of culturally appropriate, community-based substance use interventions in First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities.

On this episode of the Ask an Expert podcast, Cindy welcomes back Dr. Helaina Gaspard of the Institute for Fiscal Studies and Democracy (IFSD) to discuss Jordan's Principle, the child-first legal rule that ensures First Nations children can access the supports they need when they need them.

Tune in for a discussion on what we can learn from assessing the available data on Jordan’s Principle and what else is being done to help ensure First Nations kids are getting what they need.

For the full episode, visit: https://fncaringsociety.com/spirit-bear-podcast

This episode features a conversation between long-time friends and colleagues, Dr. Cindy Blackstock and Gary Mavis, RSW. Gary has spent his entire career supporting children and youth in care, as well as providing caregivers, both Indigenous and non, with the resources and training they need to provide culturally relevant, trauma-informed care to First Nations youth.

Tune in to hear more about what these terms actually mean, through a discussion of Gary's experiences working with the former Federation of Aboriginal Foster Parents and now as a key member of Teddy's Homes in BC.

Visit https://fncaringsociety.com/spirit-bear-podcast to listen to this episode in full!

We're thrilled to share this mini episode of the Ask an Expert Podcast, where Dr. Cindy Blackstock finds herself in the interviewee chair to discuss some important updates following the recent decision by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to endorse the revised Final Settlement Agreement on compensation put forward by the parties.

Tune in for more information about how compensation will be delivered and what to expect going forward.

Visit https://fnwitness.ca for the latest updates.

On this episode of Spirit Bear's Ask an Expert series, we are joined once more by the wonderful team of Dr. Barbara Fallon, Dr. Ashley Vandermorris, and Genevieve Sansone to talk about birth alerts.

Tune in to find out more about what birth alerts are, how they impact First Nations communities, and how eliminating the practice - when done alongside other methods of keeping kids safe and healthy - could impact the number of First Nations kids in care.

Visit https://fncaringsociety.com/spirit-bear-podcast to listen in full!

On this episode of Spirit Bear's Ask an Expert Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Helaina Gaspard of the Institute for Fiscal Studies and Democracy, who discusses some of the exciting opportunities that lie ahead for First Nations and agencies in the long-term reform of First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS). Ultimately, Dr. Gaspard shows how a reformed, bottom-up approach to funding can help support thriving First Nations children, families, and communities.

Visit https://fncaringsociety.com/spirit-bear-podcast to listen to the episode in its entirety!