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Home » Resources » Settlement Cultural Safety and Inclusiveness Training

Registration is now open for Cultural Safety and Inclusiveness Training that will help service providers who may support Claimants throughout the Claims Process. The webinar series explains the history of the Settlement, the impact that systemic discrimination has had on First Nation Children, youth, families and communities, and the importance of taking a trauma-informed and culturally safe approach to support those affected by the Settlement.

This training is being provided as part of the Settlement Agreement’s requirements in Schedule I. It is designed for service providers who may support Claimants throughout the Claims Process. The four webinars will take place from February 18-21 and are 90 minutes each. The webinars will be recorded, and a link to the recording will be posted here after each session.

If you have questions about the administration of the Settlement, please contact the Administrator at no charge by calling 1-833-852-0755 (Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET excluding statutory holidays) or emailing Generalinfo@Contact.FNChildClaims.ca.

About the training

The Settlement Agreement outlines the need for training on the history of colonialism, residential schools, this Settlement and the systemic discrimination of Children, youth, families and Nations.

These sessions aim to support those working with and supporting Claimants by

  • Providing trauma-informed and culturally safe supports
  • Fostering a Claimant-centered approach

This information may be helpful to anyone supporting or providing services to those affected by this Settlement Agreement.

Webinars

An introduction to the Settlement Agreement

Speaker: Stuart Wuttke

Date & time: February 18, 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (ET)

Format: Webinar

Webinar 1: 90 minutes 

This webinar explores the First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordan’s Principle Settlement Agreement, Classes included, compensation and supports available.

By participating in this webinar, you will learn about:

  • The discriminatory underfunding of First Nations Child and Family Services and the federal government’s narrow interpretation of Jordan’s Principle
  • The history of the Settlement Agreement and the principles that guide the Claims administration process
  • The different Classes and timeframes covered

History of colonization and impact of residential and day schools

Speaker: Dr. Patricia Makokis

Date & time: February 19, 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (ET)

Format: Webinar

Webinar 2: 90 minutes

This webinar explores the historical and contemporary impacts of colonization on Indigenous Peoples and its socio-political and cultural consequences. Participants will review specific policies, such as the Indian Act and residential school systems, and explore their impact on First Nations identities, family dynamics and community structures. Participants will explore reconciliation, resilience, and the ongoing struggles faced by First Nations Peoples today.

By participating in this webinar, you will learn about:

  • Canada’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples and how it has been deeply impacted by colonialism
  • Treaties and policies like the Indian Act that disrupted communities, leadership and cultural practices
  • How life in Residential Schools involved harsh discipline, forced labour, and medical experiments
  • The lasting effects on families and communities, including intergenerational trauma, seen in issues like poverty, addiction and missing Indigenous women and Children
  • Review the process of reconciliation in Canada, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report

Child welfare: Policies and Child Removal History

Speaker: Francine Monroe

Date & time: February 20, 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (ET)

Format: Webinar

Webinar 3: 90 minutes

This webinar discusses the historical and contemporary practices of forced sterilization, the Sixties Scoop and birth alerts as systemic methods to control First Nations Children and families. Participants will investigate the socio-cultural, ethical and legal ramifications of these practices, their connection to colonial policies and ongoing effects on Indigenous communities.

By participating in this webinar, you will learn about

  • Indigenous Child removal policies, including residential schools, Sixties Scoop and contemporary birth alerts
  • Long-lasting harm to First Nations communities, including loss of language, traditions, and community structures
  • Disrupted family dynamics that perpetuate cycles of trauma and affect mental health, social services and the number of First Nations Children in care
  • Efforts toward healing and reconciliation, such as the 2007 Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruling, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which are part of the ongoing process to address historical wrongs

Indigenous cultural context

Speaker: Dr. Lana Potts

Date & time: February 21, 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (ET)

Format: Webinar

Webinar 4: 90 minutes

This webinar explores how to address anti-Indigenous Racism, the essentials of trauma-informed care, First Nations cultural competency and safety, wellness in the First Nations context, and the First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework.

By participating in this webinar, you will learn about

  • Indigenous-specific racism and its roots and how to identify systemic racism and institutional discrimination
  • Stereotypes, the portrayal of Indigenous Peoples in the media and its impact on Indigenous identity and community
  • Indigenous overrepresentation in child welfare
  • White fragility, privilege and its impact
  • Cultural disconnection and child welfare
  • The impact of racism on Indigenous communities

This webinar concludes the series by offering practical ways to move beyond land acknowledgements and place participants on a path to becoming allies for Indigenous Peoples.

If you require any additional support to ensure full participation or if you experience technical difficulties accessing the training, please email Generalinfo@Contact.FNChildClaims.ca.

Speaker Biographies

Indigenous Cultural Context
Dr. Lana R. Potts, Training Lead and Speaker

As the leader of this training development endeavour, Dr. Potts is a highly accomplished and esteemed physician, renowned for her exceptional expertise in healthcare management and leadership. With a passion for patient care and a commitment to advancing medical practices, Dr. Potts serves as the Medical Director at Aisokinaki Clinic, an Indigenous Led Health Care program grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing. Dr. Potts completed her medical education at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine where she demonstrated outstanding academic excellence and led ground-breaking research in utilizing social determinants as a leading cause of health deficits in First Nation communities. Following medical school, she pursued specialized training in Indigenous Health at UBC where she honed her clinical skills and developed a profound understanding of patient care and health policy development. Lana co-founded and implemented the only National Covid-19 vaccine program directed toward First Nation communities. She brings 23 years of experience in health care and is considered a content expert in Indigenous Health communities and governance structures.

An Introduction to the Settlement Agreement
Stuart Wuttke, Speaker

Stuart Wuttke is a leader in Indigenous rights and policy reform. A member of Garden Hill First Nation in Treaty 5 territory in Manitoba, Mr. Wuttke has been pivotal to the development of new legislation at the federal level which is rights based, such as the new child and family services legislation. As General Counsel at the AFN, Mr. Wuttke has successfully advanced many large class action settlements, including implementation of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (2006) and the more recent agreement in principle related to ending discrimination against Indigenous children and youth, and their families (2022). His profound expertise and involvement on the national stage in First Nations law has lent itself to the significant progress for First Nations and the advancement of reconciliation in Canada.

History of Colonization and Impact of Residential and Day Schools
Dr. Patricia Makokis, Speaker

Dr Patricia Makokis is one of Canada’s grassroots Indigenous servant leaders. Her dynamic experiences, strong relationships with Indigenous knowledge keepers and elders, heavy involvement in the community and her 25+ career in academia give her a very unique approach when sharing insights and offering solutions. Dr. Patricia Makokis is from Saddle Lake Cree Nation and is on a mission to inform, educate and gain allies to create a bridge between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples through her work. She is passionate to help facilitate the development of Indigenous wellness (economic, health, social, and education); fostering positive business/industry relations between Indigenous Peoples and industry/business (relational leadership) and rebuilding Nations (one person at a time).

Child Welfare: Policies and Child Removal History
Francine Monroe, Speaker

Francine Monroe, IMSW “Pretty Badger Women”, is a member from Piikani Nation. She is married to Jarrett Monroe from Blackfeet Nation in Montana and together they raise their children. Francine and Jarrett are also an open kinship home for children in care in southern Alberta. Francine has 24 years in the delivery of child protective services within the province of Alberta, addressing various social issues. She has engaged both independently and in collaboration with service providers to improve family preservation efforts. She possesses a profound understanding of identifying the underlying causes of familial discord. In June 2024, she applied for early retirement from her position as a Child Protection Supervisor with Piikani Child and Family Services. She is currently in the process of opening a receiving and reunification home for children and their families, to maintain the family unit. She is a trustee with the Peigan Board of Education Society where she can continue to advocate for children. Francine’s passion is her Blackfoot culture, and she knows the importance of reconnecting with our Indigenous way of life. She is a dedicated advisor who has transferred rights within the sacred societies and believes that the challenges faced by our children, youth, and families are rooted in the complexities of intergenerational trauma. As a child of a Residential School survivor, a child impacted by the Sixties Scoop and the foster care system, she has firsthand experience of how colonial policies and systems continue to affect our Indigenous communities. She has a strong commitment to working with Indigenous Peoples and is dedicated to assisting, empowering, guiding, encouraging, and supporting those that face challenging social conditions. Francine earned a Master’s Degree in Indigenous Social Work and was mentored by the late Dr. Betty Bastien. Her embodiment of our Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing is what guides her delivery of quality service.

Disclaimer

The information shared in training and on this website is for general purposes only and does not represent the views or opinions of Deloitte. Deloitte is not providing advice or services by sharing this information. It is important to seek professional advice or services before making any decisions or taking any actions that may impact Class Members or individuals supporting Class Members. Deloitte will not be held responsible for any actions taken based on this webinar or webpage.

Please do not share any personal or identifying information or ask any Claim-specific questions during the duration of training as this forum is intended for general informational purposes only. If you have Claim-specific questions, please contact the Administrator at no charge by calling 1-833-852-0755 (Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET excluding statutory holidays) or emailing Generalinfo@Contact.FNChildClaims.ca.