Cindy Blackstock facts for kids

Cindy Blackstock is a Canadian activist and social worker from the Gitxsan Nation. She works tirelessly to make sure that First Nations children in Canada receive the same care and opportunities as all other children. She is the leader of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada and also teaches at McGill University.

Cindy Blackstock: A Champion for Children

Early Life and Education

Cindy Blackstock was born around 1964 in Burns Lake, British Columbia. She studied at several universities, earning multiple degrees. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia, two master's degrees (one in Management from McGill University and another in Children's Law and Policy from Loyola University Chicago), and a PhD in social work from the University of Toronto. People often describe her as a strong voice for fairness for First Nations people in Canada.

Cindy Blackstock has become a very important leader for Indigenous communities, social workers, and people who care about children's rights. She speaks out about how First Nations children, youth, and families often do not get the same public services as others. She works hard to change this situation.

Fighting for Fairness: The Human Rights Case

In 2007, Cindy Blackstock and her organization, the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, along with the Assembly of First Nations, filed a complaint. They said that the Canadian government was not providing enough money for child welfare services on First Nations reserves. This meant that First Nations children were not getting the same support as other children in Canada.

The government tried to stop the complaint, but the case moved forward. After many years of legal discussions, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal made a very important decision on January 26, 2016. The Tribunal agreed that the government's long-term underfunding of services for First Nations children was unfair and discriminatory. They also said that First Nations children should be able to access government services just like any other child. This is a principle known as "Jordan's Principle."

The Tribunal's Landmark Decision

The Tribunal ordered the Canadian government to stop this unfair treatment. They continued to monitor the situation, issuing several orders to make sure the government followed through. For example, in 2017, the Tribunal highlighted serious concerns about the impact of delays in providing services to children. In 2018, they ordered the government to fund important services like prevention, mental health support, and legal help at their actual cost. In 2019, they also made sure that "Jordan's Principle" applied to First Nations children who needed urgent help, even if they did not have official Indian Status yet.

Because of these orders, the federal government provided over 200,000 products and services to First Nations children who needed them in 2018 and 2019.

This important court case and Cindy Blackstock's role in it were featured in a 2016 documentary film called We Can't Make the Same Mistake Twice. The film was directed by Alanis Obomsawin.

Have a Heart Day: A Day for Kids' Rights

In 2012, Cindy Blackstock and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society started "Have a Heart Day." This special event takes place every year on February 14. It is a youth-led event where young people gather to show their support for equal rights and opportunities for First Nations children. It started on Parliament Hill and is now celebrated in many cities across Canada.

Recognized for Her Work

Cindy Blackstock has received many awards for her dedication to children's rights. She has more than 50 awards, including the Atkinson Charitable Foundation's Economic Justice fellowship (2009) and the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards (2011). She also received the Amnesty International Person of Conscience Award (2017) and the Janusz Korzak Medal for her work in advocating for children. She has been given 20 honorary doctorate degrees from various universities, recognizing her significant contributions.

In 2019, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest honors a Canadian citizen can receive.