October 8, 2024
Newly Signed Settlement Agreement will Expand Service Eligibility for First Nations Children Living on Reserve
– – –Human Rights Settlement Removes Eligibility Restrictions for Health and Social Services: Ministers
The Manitoba government has reached a settlement agreement with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission (MHRC) and the family of Alfred (Dewey) Pruden to mark the end of eligibility restrictions for Children’s disABILITY Services and home care for First Nations children residing on reserve, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara and Karen Sharma, executive director, Manitoba Human Rights Commission, announced today.
“We believe that who you are and where you live shouldn’t affect your ability to access the provincial services to which you’re entitled,” said Fontaine. “Our government welcomes the requirements set out in the Sumner-Pruden settlement agreement and looks forward to working with First Nations to implement these important changes.”
In 2010, Pruden’s family filed a complaint with the MHRC alleging the Manitoba government discriminated against him when he was a child living on reserve by denying the provincial disability-related services he needed. In 2020, an adjudicator found the Manitoba government had discriminated against the Sumner-Pruden family by denying, delaying or interrupting services offered to neighbouring non-First Nation communities. However, the adjudicator’s decision only applied to Pruden and not all First Nation children on reserve. This led to a court challenge to the decision, which is now resolved by this settlement.
“Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of children in our province,” said Asagwara. “This historic settlement will lead to lasting system-wide improvements that will ensure First Nations children, like all children across Manitoba, can have access to the health and social services they need to live their lives to the fullest.”
“It’s been a long journey to finally obtain a resolution to our human rights complaint,” said Harriet Sumner-Pruden (Kapimashid Migiziiquay, Flying Eagle Woman), Pruden’s mother. “I filed my son Dewey's complaint in 2010 when he was eight years old and he is now 22 years old. I am overwhelmed with relief that after this 14-year journey, Dewey’s human rights case has finally come to a resolution that will lead to positive change for all First Nations children with disabilities in Manitoba.”
The Manitoba government, the MHRC and the Sumner-Pruden family have reached a settlement with two main commitments requiring the province to:
- expand eligibility for Children’s disABILITY Services and home care to First Nations children residing on-reserve; and
- form a working group with invitations to the federal and First Nations’ governments to determine how best to deliver Children's disABILITY Services and home care services to First Nations children residing on-reserve without delay or disruption based upon residence on reserve.
“We believe that this settlement is an important step forward in advancing the equality rights of First Nation children in Manitoba,” said Sharma. “We commend the diligence and perseverance of Dewey Pruden and his mother Harriet Sumner-Pruden in making this human rights complaint and in protecting the human rights of First Nations children in Manitoba.”
To the signatories, the agreement represents an important milestone in ensuring First Nations children residing on reserve have equitable access to services as compared to children in Manitoba who reside off reserve, the ministers noted. It also acknowledges First Nations children with disabilities have the right to inclusion and First Nations have the right to self-determination in the delivery of services to First Nations.
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The Province of Manitoba is issuing this news release on behalf of the
Manitoba Human Rights Commission and the Manitoba government.