Bear Witness Day brings our attention to inequity between the standards of care for First Nations children and other children in this country.
Jordan River Anderson lived for two years in a hospital, while governments disputed who would pay for his at-home care. He passed away before he got the chance to live at home.
In his honour, Jordan’s Principle is designed to make sure that First Nations children get the care they need when they need it. Care should not be denied or delayed due to their First Nations identity. (There is a parallel Inuit Child First Initiative for Inuit children.)
“Jordan could not talk, yet people around the world heard his message. Jordan could not breathe on his own and yet he has given the breath of life to other children. Jordan could not walk but he has taken steps that governments are now just learning to follow.”
– Cindy Blackstock,
Executive Director, First Nations Child & Family Caring Society (the Caring Society)
The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal rulings on First Nations child welfare ordered the federal government to fully implement Jordan’s Principle by May 10, 2016. The Government of Canada did not meet this deadline and had to be pursued by advocates and further orders from the CHRT.
The Caring Society asks union members, and all people who care about First Nations children, to Bear Witness—to continue to call on the Government of Canada to fully implement Jordan’s Principle.
In 2026, the federal Senate recognized Bear Witness Day. The First Nations Caring and Family Society offers resources for both children and adults to learn more and to become part of keeping the pressure on the federal government to fully implement Jordan’s Principle. We stand in solidarity.
