Chief Dr. Stanley Bird Calls for Termination of the Peguis Child and Family Services Coordination Agreement

The Southern Chiefs’ Organization is sharing this media release on behalf of Chief Dr. Stanley Bird of Peguis First Nation.

“The agreement has failed. It does not protect children. It does not meet the basic standards of safety, accountability, or transparency.”
– Chief Dr. Stanley Bird

ANISHINAABE AND DAKOTA TERRITORY, MB — Chief Dr. Stanley Bird is calling for the immediate termination of the coordination agreement that governs child and family services (CFS) in his community, citing grave risks to the safety and well-being of children and families.

“The agreement has failed,” said Chief Dr. Stanley Bird. “It does not protect children. It does not meet the basic standards of safety, accountability, or transparency.”

The agreement, signed by Canada, Manitoba, Peguis First Nation, and the CFS Agency under federal Bill C-92, was meant to provide culturally based services, rooted in the community. Instead, it has created a system with no independent oversight, no appeal process, and no quality assurance.

“Every day, I pray that a tragedy will not occur,” said Chief Dr. Bird. “But with each call I receive from concerned family members, my fear grows. Our children have no voice in this system. No appeals. No support. The government has failed its responsibility. The agreement must be terminated before more harm is done.”

Chief Dr. Bird pointed to recent events in Manitoba that underscore the risks. On September 24, a foster parent was reportedly charged with assaulting a child and failing to provide the necessities of life, resulting in life-altering injuries.

“That child was harmed in a system with oversight,” said Chief Dr. Bird. “Our system has none. I will not stand by while our families are denied basic protections.”

Peguis Child and Family Services was created under a coordination agreement enabled by Bill C-92: An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families. While the law allows Indigenous governments to assume jurisdiction over child welfare, these agreements are not required to include independent oversight, complaint mechanisms, or access to the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth.

Chief Dr. Bird is calling on the Province of Manitoba and the Government of Canada to immediately terminate the existing agreement and reconstitute the Agency with proper safeguards in place.

“Our children are sacred,” said Chief Dr. Bird. “They deserve the same protections as every other child in this province and nothing less.”

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Email: media@scoinc.mb.ca

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