School is a Time for DreamsNovember 17, 2020 marks the 10th anniversary of Shannen’s Dream which was named in loving memory of Shannen Koostachin. Shannen’s Dream is a campaign that works to make sure First Nations children and youth get the same educational opportunities as other kids in Canada and in ways that respect their languages and cultures.

Many First Nations young people still do not have safe and comfy schools and quality, culturally relevant education. School is a Time for Dreams invites people from all over the country to support equitable education for First Nations and all young people in the country.

Whether you’re in the classroom or learning remotely, you can celebrate this September and October by:

• sharing what you want to be when you grow up;

• hosting a socially distanced or online Shannen’s Dream party;

• reading Spirit Bear: Fishing for Knowledge, Catching Dreams;

• visiting shannensdream.ca to learn more about Shannen and her dream for safe and comfy schools;

• submitting your work to a special kids and youth issue of the First Peoples Child & Family Review all about Shannen’s Dream.

Find out more ways to participate at fncaringsociety.com/school-time-dreams!

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Fall 2020

Spirit Bear and Children Make History Virtual Film ScreeningThe Caring Society is thrilled to be offering an online film screening of Spirit Bear and Children Make History to young learners across Canada this November. Created by award-winning Michif director Amanda Strong and her team at Spotted Fawn Productions, the short film is a stop-motion animated adaptation of Spirit Bear’s first book by the same name. It tells the story of the historic case for First Nations children at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal that resulted in Canada being ordered to end its discriminatory underfunding of services for First Nations kids. Although Canada has yet to fully comply with these orders, kids continue to stand up for fairness. Highlighting how children and youth rallied in support of First Nations kids’ rights, the film offers opportunities for students to see themselves as actors for social justice and meaningful reconciliation.

In June, the Caring Society reached out to elementary educators in our networks in Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta to gauge their interest in bringing the film to their classrooms and receiving complementary learning materials on the film’s themes. Based on the early interest of educators and principals, we anticipate over 19 groups of young learners will be watching Spirit Bear on screen in November!

If you are an educator or know an educator who would like to participate in this event, please contact Emily Williams by emailing ewilliams@fncaringsociety.com. For more information, please go to fncaringsociety.com/films.

AwardsBe on the lookout in Fall 2020 to submit your nominations for the 2021 Spirit Bear Award and Peter

Henderson Bryce Award! We will also be welcoming applications for the 2021 Jordan’s Principle Scholarship starting Fall 2020.

For the latest updates and more information please visit fncaringsociety.com/awards-

scholarships.

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Orange Shirt DayEvery year on September 30, individuals across Canada celebrate Orange Shirt Day to honour the children who attended residential schools and to show their commitment to reconciliation. Based on her experiences while attending the St. Joseph Mission Residential School, Phyllis (Jack) Webstad started Orange Shirt Day as an opportunity for all Canadians to take action by not only wearing an orange shirt, but by also learning about the legacy of the residential school system.

Orange Shirt Day has been declared “a first step in reconciliation” by the Assembly of First Nations Chiefs-in-Council. It is also a chance to read (or reread) the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action to see how they can be implemented in your life.

Learn more about Orange Shirt Day by visiting orangeshirtday.org.

Spirit Bear’s Pawblishing News!Spirit Bear has been working hard this summer to publish exciting new resources!

Announcing Spirit Bear: Echoes from the PastSpirit Bear: Echoes of the Past, the latest addition to the Spirit Bear book collection, follows Spirit Bear and his family on vacation. They are visiting the Lekwungen-speaking peoples of the Songhees and Esquimalt territory

(also known as Victoria, BC) and they happen to see the statue of Sir John A. Macdonald being taken down. Spirit Bear and his family learn about the good and bad parts of history and how we can make better decisions now and for future generations of First Nations, Métis and Inuit kids.

Celebrating Language DiversitySpirit Bear’s third book, Spirit Bear: Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams is now available in French! Spirit Bear’s other books are also available in French and in some cases, Carrier and Cree! Read more at fncaringsociety.com/books-and-learning-guides.

Spirit Bear’s Guide to ReconciliationSpirit Bear is pleased to announce the release of his fourth Guide to Reconciliation Calendar for 2021! Spirit Bear was hard at work over the spring and summer months to create this guide for youth to follow along on a year-long journey full of free ways to make a difference and reconciliation-based activities. Learn more at fncaringsociety.com/SpiritBear/calendar.

New Reconciliation Plaque UnveiledThe Caring Society is proud to announce that, in partnership with the Reconciling History Committee and Beechwood Cemetery, a new plaque was unveiled on August 15, 2020 in honour of children who attended residential schools and their families. This plaque was unveiled with the help of witnesses and Elder Barbara Dumont-Hill at a special event attended by a small group of children, young people and families (following COVID-19 health protocols). The event also featured a first reading of Spirit Bear: Echoes of the Past read by special guests and an Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams activity.

The new plaque is the latest in a line of historically accurate plaques at Beechwood Cemetery. In keeping with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, the resting places of three individuals who each had a role in the residential school system, Dr. P.H. Bryce, Duncan Campbell Scott and Nicholas Flood Davin, are marked with plaques that tell balanced stories of their lives and legacies. For more information, please visit fncaringsociety.com/reconciliation-walking-tours.

and Spirit Bear’s COVID-19 Resource Pages

In early March, Spirit Bear and the Caring Society launched the #Hibernating4Health social media campaign to support kids and families in staying healthy, supporting each other, and learning during COVID-19. In the early weeks of the campaign, Spirit Bear shared important health recommendations, encouraging folks to stay home, wash their paws, and stay a moose length away from friends. Spirit Bear then shared learning activities for kids to engage in at home, including many of the Caring Society’s child-friendly resources. Spirit Bear’s COVID-19 resource pages on the Caring Society’s website keep child- and youth-friendly resources in one place, along with resource pages for professionals working with families and youth, families and educators, and Indigenous communities. These pages are updated so they continue to direct people of all ages to reliable resources and information.

As families and communities brace for a second wave of COVID-19, the Caring Society strives to provide high quality learning resources for kids at home on health and wellness, social justice, and reconciliation. Explore the resource pages by visiting fncaringsociety.com/spirit-bears-covid-19-resources, and follow Spirit Bear on Twitter for the latest #Hibernating4Health resources, activities, and more.

Spirit Bear is doing is his part to keep his community safe by wearing an extra special face mask!

Reconciling HistoryThe Caring Society has been busy working with our partners to create more learning opportunities for the Reconciling History initiative! This initiative invites people to learn from the past in the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its Calls to Action. By learning about the complete and true story of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada, we can all have a better understanding of how we can contribute to reconciliation in meaningful ways. Learning opportunities include the following features:

• The History of Inequity timeline provides an opportunity to learn about Canada’s treatment of Indigenous children and families. Canada has a long history of knowing about the inequities faced by Indigenous children and their families, and choosing not to act.

• The People in History section invites learners to read about historical figures who were involved in the residential school system, from the architects to the whisteblowers.

• The Reconciling History Walking Tour, a free self-guided walking route in downtown Ottawa, is an opportunity to learn about the opposing views of Duncan Campbell Scott and Dr. Peter Henderson Bryce and their roles in the residential school system.

To learn more about the Reconciling History initiative visit fncaringsociety.com/reconciling-history.

First Peoples Child & Family ReviewThe FPCFR is accepting new submissions for a special edition in honour of Shannen Koostachin and in celebration of Shannen’s Dream! This special edition is a chance for Indigenous and non-Indigenous children and youth across Canada to share their thoughts on Shannen’s Dream, to reflect on the past, and hope for the future. We welcome submissions in written, audio, visual and other academic and creative formats. Submissions can be in English, French, an Indigenous language or Sign Language.

Issue 15(2) will be available Fall 2020! This upcoming issue features powerful research contributions on topics related to child, family, and community-based

matters for Indigenous peoples in Canada and abroad.

To read the latest issue, browse the archives, learn more and to

upload submissions visit fpcfr.com.

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Announcing a Learning Guide for Professionals Working With Children and YouthBy Melisa Brittain

FNCARES is proud to present a new learning guide designed to accompany our documentary film (Dis)placed: Indigenous Youth and the Child Welfare System. The film centres the voices of youth formerly in care as they reflect on their experiences with the child welfare system and their strategies of resistance to assimilation and state control.

The guide was created for those working in the child welfare system and other allied professions involved in providing services to Indigenous children and youth impacted by the system. It is divided into four themed sections that provide crucial background information in the following areas:

• the connections between Canada’s colonial history and the ongoing inequities and discrimination that have led to the alarmingly high numbers of Indigenous children in the child welfare system;

• the importance of cultural continuity for Indigenous child well-being;

• the practice of moral courage in child welfare; and

• taking action towards social justice for Indigenous children in solidarity with Indigenous communities.

Each section of the learning guide includes suggested activities and discussion questions, making it ideal for running workshops for professionals. It can also be adapted for less formal group or individual learning.

You can access the new learning guide for free at bit.ly/DisplacedLearningGuideforProfessionals.

For more information about the film and for a link to the Teaching Guide for Grades 9 to 12, visit kingcripproductions.com/displaced.

CHRT UpdatesOn July 17, 2020 the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) issued a ruling (2020 CHRT 20) on the eligibility of First Nations children with regard to receiving services through Jordan’s Principle. Canada has been ordered to immediately consider eligible for services through Jordan’s Principle:

• First Nations children who will be become eligible for Indian Act registration/status under the S-3 implementation.

The CHRT found two other categories of First Nations children who will be eligible in the future following a further order from the CHRT:

1. First Nations children without Indian Act status who are recognized as citizens or members of their respective First Nations; and

2. First Nations children who do not have status and who are not eligible for Indian Act status, but have a parent/

guardian with, or who is eligible for, Indian Act status.

The CHRT ordered the parties to consult regarding the criteria and mechanisms to identify these two categories of First Nations children. The parties are ordered to provide their recommendations to the CHRT by October 19, 2020. Thereafter, the CHRT is

expected to release specific orders regarding eligibility for these two categories of First Nations children.

For more information on 2020 CHRT 20 and the case please visit fnwitness.ca.

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Membership InformationIf you would like to join the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society as a Member under one of the following categories:Individual Membership: $75 Student Membership with ID or Elder: $5 Small FNCFCS Agency Membership (1–50 employees): $500 Large FNCFCS Agency Membership (50+ employees): $1,000 Small Associate Membership (Organizations with 1–50 employees): $500 Large Associate Membership (Organizations with 50+ employees): $1,000

Please contact us at: 309 Cooper Street Suite 401 Ottawa ON K2P 0G5 613.230.5885 info@fncaringsociety.com

Design and Layout Leah Gryfe Designs leahgryfedesigns.comEditor Brittany Mathews bmathews@fncaringsociety.com

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