More than $1.2 Billion in compensation provided for discrimination in First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordan’s Principle Class Action Settlement
August 17, 2026
Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ottawa, Ontario – National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak stated today that more than 30,000 First Nations Children who were removed from their homes have now received compensation through the First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordan’s Principle Settlement. Over $1.2 billion has been provided in compensation to eligible Claimants, marking an important milestone in one of Canada’s largest class action settlements.
“Behind every Claim is an experience that reflects Canada’s discrimination against First Nations children and families,” said Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak. “No amount of compensation can undo that harm. This milestone is important because it reflects the thousands of people whose experiences have now been acknowledged, while reminding us that others are still moving through the Claims Process.”
The Claims Period remains open for Removed Child Class and Removed Child Family Claimants. Claims can be submitted online, by mail or fax. Each Claim is individually reviewed to ensure that every Claimant has the opportunity to have their Claim assessed.
“Many eligible people have not yet submitted a Claim,” said National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak. “We encourage all those eligible to submit their Claim before the deadline of March 10, 2028. Claims Helpers are available to explain eligibility, help gather documents, and provide support with completing forms. Mental wellness supports are available 24 hours a day through Hope for Wellness. No one is alone in this process.”
Those who may be eligible for Compensation under the Removed Child and Family Class include First Nations individuals who were removed from their homes as children between April 1, 1991, and March 31, 2022, or in the Yukon and were placed into care funded by Indigenous Services Canada, as well as their Caregiving Parents or Caregiving Grandparents. To check eligibility, access supports, and to apply for compensation, visit www.fnchildclaims.ca.
Key facts
- The Claims Period for the Removed Child Class and Removed Child Family Class remains open. Claims continue to be submitted and individually reviewed.
- Eligible adults who reached the Age of Majority by March 10, 2025, can submit their Claim until March 10, 2028.
- As of August 2026, more than 30,000 Removed Children have received compensation, totaling more than $1.2 billion paid to date.
- Claims under the Removed Child Family Class will begin payments after March 10, 2029, when the one-year extension period for the Claims Period closes. This is so that eligibility can be confirmed across all potential Family Class Claimants.
- Submitting a Claim under the Family Class does not take compensation away from the Child Class. There are different funds for each Class.
- Free Claim support is available across Canada.
Who can submit a Claim?
Claims are being accepted for two of the Settlement’s nine Classes:
- Removed Child Class: Children removed from their homes between April 1, 1991, to March 31, 2022, and placed in care funded by Indigenous Services Canada. The removal from home must have happened while the Child or at least one of their family caregivers were living on reserve or in the Yukon.
- Removed Child Family Class: the family caregiver – the biological or adoptive parent or grandparent, or First Nations Stepparent of the Removed Child who was caring for the Child at the time they were first removed.
Who may not be eligible for compensation?
This Settlement does not include every child removal experience. Some people who were removed while living off reserve, or whose placement was not funded by Indigenous Services Canada, may not be eligible under this Settlement. Eligibility information is available at www.FNChildClaims.ca or by calling 1-833-852-0755.
When do I need to submit my Claim?
Class Members have two more years to submit their Claim. People who were already adults when the Claims Period opened on March 10, 2025, have until March 10, 2028, to submit a Claim. People who became an adult after March 10, 2025, have three years from the date they become an adult.
Why do some Claims take longer to assess?
Each Claim is individually reviewed and assessed against the requirements established in the Settlement Agreement. The Administrator reviews each Claim Form to make sure all the required information has been provided. In some cases, information may be missing which can lead to longer review times because the Administrator needs to gather additional information from the Claimant.
I received an Inconclusive Letter from the Administrator. What does “Inconclusive” mean?
An inconclusive status is not a decision.
It means the Administrator could not confirm eligibility at this time using available records from Indigenous Services Canada.
The Administrator and the Settlement Implementation Committee are developing a separate Claims Process, subject to approval by the Federal Court, to assess inconclusive Claims before they move to the next step and make a decision. The Administrator will share additional information as that work progresses.
Learn more about what inconclusive status means.
How can I get free help?
Claims Helpers are available to provide free help to anyone who needs support.
Claims Helpers can:
- Explain eligibility
- Answer questions about the Claims Process
- Help gather documents
- Provide support while completing a Claim Form
To speak with a Claims Helper, call the Administrator at 1-833-852-0755, choose your language, then press 2.
To date, Claims Helpers have supported more than 25,000 Claimants and delivered 2,542 sessions across Canada. Regional Liaisons have had 603 meetings and engagements, reaching 19,683 participants.
Mental health and wellness support available
Mental health and wellness support is available 24 hours a day through the Hope for Wellness Helpline at 1-855-242-3310 or www.HopeForWellness.ca, with counselling in English, French, Cree and Ojibway on request. Children and youth can also contact Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or by texting FIRSTNATIONS to 686868.
About the First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordan’s Principle Settlement
The First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordan’s Principle Settlement is one of Canada’s largest class action settlements. It provides financial compensation to nine Classes, including First Nations Children who were:
- Removed from their homes due to Canada’s discriminatory underfunding of First Nations Child and Family Services; and
- Denied or delayed receiving services due to jurisdictional disputes between the federal and provincial governments
- The parents and grandparents who cared for the Children when these situations occurred
Claims can be submitted for two Classes: the Removed Child Class and the Removed Child Family Class. The Claims Periods for the additional Classes will open at a future date.
More information is available at www.FNChildClaims.ca.
