Media Advisory - Assembly of First Nations to Host First-Ever National Summit on Jordan's Principle September 12-13, 2018

OTTAWA, Sept. 11, 2018 /CNW/ - Hundreds of First Nations citizens and families will gather in Winnipeg September 12-13 for the first-ever national summit on Jordan's Principle. The Summit will bring together First Nations families, community-based practitioners and care providers to share experiences and promising practices related to accessing health, social, and education services for First Nations children, the implementation of Jordan's Principle to date, and the work required to fully implement it.

Summit highlights include a special honouring of the legacy of Jordan River Anderson, a keynote speech by Dr. Cindy Blackstock, a special presentation by Valerie Gideon, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Indigenous Services Canada, and a film trailer presentation by Alanis Obomsawin.  Panel discussions will feature perspectives from families and doctors.  Concurrent workshops will cover topics such as:  understanding the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruling related to Jordan's Principle, dialogue sessions on mental wellness and life promotion, and sharing circles on children with disabilities and special needs.

Jordan's Principle is named in memory of Jordan River Anderson, a First Nations boy from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba born with complex medical needs and who spent more than two years unnecessarily in hospital while the provincial and federal governments argued over which would pay for his at-home care. Jordan died in hospital at the age of five.

Jordan's Principle requires First Nations children have access to all public services in a way that is reflective of their distinct cultural needs, takes full account of the historical disadvantage linked to colonization, and ensures they do not experience any discrimination (e.g. service denials, delays or disruption) because they are First Nations.  In 2016 the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ordered the Government of Canada to fully implement Jordan's Principle so that all First Nations children have access to essential services without jurisdictional delays, disruptions or denials. This is a human rights obligation of Canada to First Nations children.

For more information visit www.afn.ca or https://www.afn.ca/jordans-principle-summit/#eventschedule

Media accreditation is required and encouraged to be obtained prior to the event from the below contacts.

The Assembly of First Nation is the national organization representing First Nation citizens in Canada. Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Comms, @AFN_Updates.

SOURCE Assembly of First Nations