AMC Commends Launch of Removed Child and Removed Child Family Class Compensation Claims Process

February 10, 2025

Treaty One Territory, Winnipeg – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) welcomes the launch of the Removed Child and Removed Child Family Class Compensation Claims Process, marking a significant step forward for First Nations families who have endured decades of systemic discrimination under Canada’s First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) program. Beginning March 10, 2025, affected First Nations individuals and families will finally have access to the long-overdue compensation they rightfully deserve.

“For too long, our children have been taken from their homes, their families, and their cultures,” said Grand Chief Kyra Wilson. “This settlement is not just about financial compensation—it is about justice. It acknowledges the immense suffering First Nations families have endured and affirms our right to raise our children within our own communities, free from government policies that have torn them away.”

This compensation process is the result of years of tireless advocacy. In 2016, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled that Canada had discriminated against First Nations children by chronically underfunding the FNCFS program. This led to the 2021 Agreement-in-Principle (AIP), securing $20 billion for First Nations children and families harmed by these policies. In 2022, the Federal Court approved a historic $23.34 billion settlement—the largest in Canadian history for First Nations people.

“Our focus now is on healing and rebuilding,” added Grand Chief Wilson. “We must ensure that this moment serves as a foundation for lasting change. This is about restoring what was taken—our children’s connection to their culture, language, and families. Our Nations remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting future generations.”

This milestone represents more than financial redress; it is about truth, healing, and the restoration of First Nations identity, culture, and family connections. It is a commitment to ensuring that future generations of First Nations children grow up within their Nations, free from the harms of colonial policies.

For more information on this claims process, visit https://fnchildclaims.ca/

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For more information, please contact:

Communications Team
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Email:  media@manitobachiefs.com

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