Chiefs of Ontario and Nishnawbe Aski Nation ratified a Final Agreement on Long-Term Reform of First Nations Child and Family Services Program in Ontario at a Special Chiefs Assembly in Canada this week.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said Ontario's Final First Nations Child Care Agreement will create "sweeping positive changes for children and families across the Territory".

"We lift up Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict, Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler and all Ontario Chiefs for their leadership to help end discrimination in Canada's racist child welfare system. They have been good relatives to the next generations of First Nation children," she said.

"We also continue to remind Canada that it has not met its obligations under the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal Orders. That order is to end discrimination for all First Nation children on-reserve and in Yukon, and we repeat our call for Canada to come back to the table to negotiate a new agreement with the National Children's Chiefs Commission, as mandated by the First Nations-in-Assembly."

National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak said the Assembly of First Nations will continue supporting the National Children's Chiefs Commission and all regions as they pursue a long-term reform agreement nationally or regionally that "ends discrimination once and for all".

"The AFN will also continue to take all measures, including litigation, if necessary, to advance these needed long-term reforms," she said.

In October 2023, the Federal Court of Canada approved the First Nations Child and Family Services, Jordan's Principle, Trout and Kith Class Settlement Agreement, a First Nations-led agreement including a total of C$23.34 (AUD26.3) billion to compensate First Nations children and families who were harmed by discriminatory underfunding of the First Nations Child and Family Services program and those impacted by the federal government's narrow definition of Jordan's Principle.