WEBVTT

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(Alanis): Here we are
in Kinosao Sipi,

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Norway House, Manitoba.

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A Cree community of 8000 people.

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Located more than 800 kilometres

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north of Winnipeg in Canada.

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This is where
the Anderson Family lives.

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When Virginia Anderson
was pregnant with Jordan,

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she had complications

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and had to be flown to Winnipeg
to give birth.

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This is why Jordan ended up
so far away from home

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in the Children\'s Hospital

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where he lived for such
a long time.

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(Therapist): Oh, there\'s
that guitar Jordan.

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Isn\'t that nice?

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Oh, I think he really
likes that, Marcie.

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He must get that from his Dad.

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(Marcie): Yeah.

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We got another
guitar player, here.

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- I think so.

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- Well, Jordan couldn\'t
talk,

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he never spoke.

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He never cried,
he didn\'t have any tears

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and he had cleft feet.

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They had to feed him through
his stomach.

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So many difficulties.

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(Therapist): So we\'re
practicing with Jordan.

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Shauna is teaching him

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what it feels like

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to stand up and sit down.
- Sit up, buddy.

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- So he\'s getting the practice.
- Get up, please.

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Push back, there you go.

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- Good job holding your head
up, Jordan.

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(Ernest): They explained to us
Jordan was born
with a rare syndrome,

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there is only eight cases
known since the dawn of time.

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(Therapist): That a boy.
Good standing.

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- Because of the conditions
that Jordan was born with,

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he... there were some things
about him that were different
than other kids.

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A big one was that his face
wasn\'t able to move,

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his face was like paralyzed
in a way.

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Most of the time with babies
you get a lot of reaction
from them.

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With Jordan you just got a lot
subtler reaction.

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(Therapist): There he goes,
look at those elbows,

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look at those arms.
- Good job!

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- Good job,
Jordan, you did it.

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- Good job!
- Hooray!

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- Nice work.

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- You worked hard,
Jordan. Good for you.

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Good for you, Jordan.

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(Stefanie): Jordan was
ventilator dependent
his whole life.

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He had a tracheostomy
so he breathed through his...

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... through a hole in his neck
that was connected
to the equipment.

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- Where\'s my nose?

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Do you know where my nose is?

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(children playing)

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(Stefanie): When children
are ventilator dependent,

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they\'re not able
to make noise in the same way

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because the air is no longer
going over the vocal chords.

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So you just have to be attentive
in different ways.

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- There\'s my nose!

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There\'s my nose!
Where\'s Jordan\'s nose?

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Where\'s Jordan\'s nose?

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- I remember his dark,

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full head of hair.

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- So I think we were trying
to encourage him

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to do, to help lift his head,

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have you showed him
how to do that?

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I remember him very
clearly in my mind.

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I got to work with him

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for the entire duration
that he was here.

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There was an instrument
he used to love to strum.

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It\'s got a little silver strip

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and all it takes
is to go back and forth,
and it\'s very touch sensitive.

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(woman): A little bit more.

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(therapist): See how hard
he\'s working to do it?
- He\'s trying!

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- Good job, Jordan.

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- Yeah!

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Alright!

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(woman singing)

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You\'re doing it, Jordan.

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(Cecilia): He liked to sweep
his hand back and forth

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and it would make it soundlike a piano, going up and down
the piano.

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They\'re learning. you know,

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that their hand
is playing that

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so that they can be more
responsive from the session.

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- Good job, buddy.

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(Cecilia singing)

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(Cecilia): What\'s neat
is we get to work within a team,

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so I would also work
with the physiotherapist.

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And whether she would be working
on helping support him to sit

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or to roll on his side,

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I could be doing music across
from him to just
keep him engaged

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and to try to improve
the quality of life

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that they\'re having here.

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(woman):... people touching
your face...

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(Cecilia singing)

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... pushing on her chin,
getting to open their mouths.

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- Each of them worked,
like these therapists,

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there were so many.

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I\'m happy to see that.

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I was very impressed.

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I watched them work

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and I learned from
them too.

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Really helpful.

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I\'m thankful for them.

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- Should we do rock-a-bye?

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♪ Rock-a-bye Jordan ♪

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♪ On the tree top ♪

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♪ When the wind blows ♪

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♪ That cradle will rock ♪

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♪ And rock and rock ♪

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- I was more or less
raising up my children here.

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I let my late wife,

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she wanted to look after him.

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Here comes Virginia,
Jordan\'s Mom.

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(Ernest): She\'d be gone
for months at a time

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and she\'d come home for a week
and she\'d go back.

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- And there\'s Mary Jane.

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(Ernest): That\'\'s more or less,
more or less how it happened.

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(Therapist): There\'s grandma
and grandpa

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to Mary Jane.
Mom and Dad to Jordan.

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- Hey, where\'s my kiss?
- Kiss for me.

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(Therapist): Kissing people
is like one of those
things isn\'t it?

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(baby babbling)

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(Ernest): I remember my baby
was two years old,

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my little girl
was two years old
when Jordan was born.

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Still in pampers.

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So I had to potty-train
her and all that.

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It was hard

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because they wanted their Mom.

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My two-year old,
my four-year old
and my six year-old,

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they would cry for their Mom.

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I cried with them.
(laughing)

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I\'m not ashamed to say
that because I really did
cry with them.

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Especially at night
when they wanted their Mom
to stay.

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- The doctors had informed us
that he\'d,

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he needed to be near...

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... a hospital at all times.

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Even if he

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got well enough to move
into a foster home.

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He would have to be near
the hospital.

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In 2002 a medical foster home

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was located in Winnipeg

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but certain things needed
to be done

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in the home to make
it wheelchair-accessible

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and to lift Jordan

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in and out of bed
to the bathroom, etcetera.

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That foster home was found

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but the wrangling between
the provincial and federal
departments

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began because they could not
decide

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which department
would pay for what.

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- It was very disheartening

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and disillusioning that...

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... the two levels
of government

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could not...

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... come to an agreement
at that table

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of a payment for Jordan
so he could leave the hospital.

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And he never did leave
the hospital.

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He had actually gone into a coma

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and he passed away in 2005.

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(woman) Hi Jordan.

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Are you looking at your book?

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(Trudy): The medical staff
were just so wonderful with him.

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They had it set up so warm

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but they knew that Jordan
deserved the opportunity

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to live in a home.

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(woman): Who\'s that?
Who\'s there?

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It\'s Christian!

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- Look at how Jordan is opening
his mouth for everybody.

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You can open your mouth
really wide.

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- If he had been
a provincial child,

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same situation, if he had been
deemed a provincial
responsibility

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here in Manitoba,
he would have been released,

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no questions asked
and the entire per diem
would have been covered.

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But it was because
of his Indian status,

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federal responsibility,
that he never had
that opportunity.

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I had raised the issue
with a colleague of mine

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in Ottawa, Cindy Blackstock.

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And the profile was raised
in regard to this injustice.

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- Cindy met with me and talked
about Jordan River Anderson.

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And about the plight
of Aboriginal children across
this country.

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And working with Cindy

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we developed a motion
to be presented
in the House of Commons.

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So Cindy was really
my first point of contact.

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(Judge): The question is
the following one.

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Ms. Crowder, seconded
by Ms. Wasylycia

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moved that in the opinion
of the house

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the government should
immediately adopt a child-first
principle

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based on Jordan\'s principle

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to resolve jurisdictional
disputes involving the care
of First Nations children.

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(woman): Yeas, pour: deux cent
soixante-deux,

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two hundred sixty-two,

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Nays, contre: aucun, none.

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Judge: Je déclare
la motion adoptée.

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(applauding)

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- We were pretty sure
it was going to pass

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with everybody in the house
because we\'d done the work
ahead of time

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making sure we told
people what it was about

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and giving them background
information.

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But I think the thing...

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...that was the biggest...

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... had the biggest impact
on me was all of the children.

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Families brought their children

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and they were in the Gallery
when the vote happened.

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And you have these families

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whose voices were not being
heard.

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They saw Members of Parliament

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vote yes.

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That children mattered, right?

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And for me,
that was the moment.

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Knowing that families
were seeing this
and hearing this,

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that their kids were there.
It was amazing.

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(Alanis): Jordan\'s Principle
established

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that when a child is in need

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the first government agency
that is contacted

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must serve the child
at that moment.

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If later, a different
government department

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is found to be responsible
for providing the services,

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the costs are then shifted.

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However, despite
the motion being passed,

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Indigenous children were still
not able to access services

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through Jordan\'s Principle.

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The Assembly of First Nations,

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The Child and Family Caring
Society

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and Jordan\'s community

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continued to fight

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for Jordan\'s Principle
to be fully implemented.

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- I have not seen any changes

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ever since, since
the Jordan Principle

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was introduced. There\'s been no
real meaningful changes

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for the kids that need help.

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The hospital helps those
that it can help
with its limited capacity.

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It\'s a very old building.

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With the new technology
and with the new equipment,

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you need to rewire it
and it just doesn\'t have
the capability to do that.

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So we would require
new infrastructure

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to be able to accommodate

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all the new technologies
that come in the area
of health care.

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All our people
from different communities

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that had to be housed
in Winnipeg

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because they couldn\'t get
to the health care treatment
in their community...

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As nice as Winnipeg is,
with all the conveniences
and everything else,

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most of our people would rather
be at home.

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They\'d rather die in their
home community

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because that\'s where
they\'re most happy, right?

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And so...

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... understanding that,

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so what we try to do here
is provide as much opportunity

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in our community

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and hopefully it will deliver
for us the results
we\'re looking for,

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which is more professionals
in our community, homegrown.

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n(Alanis): It was the same story

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for all Indigenous families
across the country.

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No one could access services
through Jordan\'s Principle.

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(soft music)

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- Put your head up.
Look up.

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This is Noah.

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He was born ten weeks premature
with cerebral palsy.

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He weighed four and a half
pounds.

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He will always be dependent
his whole life.

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He\'s always going
to need somebody
to look after him.

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He\'s 16 now, so he\'s...

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... he\'s pretty special.

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We tried to send him
to the same school

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that his older brother
and sister were attending

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because obviously we wanted
all of the children to be
attending school together.

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We were denied.

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The school wouldn\'t take him
because

00:14:43.625 --> 00:14:48.250
they needed funding
from the Provincial Government.

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The province of Alberta
provides,

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at the time it was
20,000 dollars

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towards; it could be
for a teacher aide

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or it could be for special
computers or other
special equipment

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that special needs children need

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to learn in school.

00:15:04.125 --> 00:15:08.041
And so they call it
Program Unit Funding
or PUF Funding.

00:15:08.041 --> 00:15:10.625
We were denied PUF Funding

00:15:10.625 --> 00:15:12.125
because we live on a Reserve.

00:15:12.125 --> 00:15:13.875
That was the only reason.

00:15:13.875 --> 00:15:15.834
If we lived off Reserve,

00:15:15.834 --> 00:15:17.500
they would have covered it

00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:21.333
but because we lived
on Reserve it was
a flat out no.

00:15:21.333 --> 00:15:25.417
So my children couldn\'t
go to school together.

00:15:25.417 --> 00:15:29.750
What we did is we enrolled him
at the school here in Montana.

00:15:29.750 --> 00:15:32.834
My husband was a teacher
and he worked there,

00:15:32.834 --> 00:15:34.458
so I don\'t know, costs,

00:15:34.458 --> 00:15:37.959
we bought our own van.
We had it retrofitted.

00:15:37.959 --> 00:15:40.125
It was made into
a handicap van.

00:15:40.125 --> 00:15:44.625
My husband would take Noah
to school with him every day.

00:15:46.417 --> 00:15:50.291
Noah did well in school.
He loves school.

00:15:50.291 --> 00:15:51.375
Right, dude?

00:15:51.375 --> 00:15:53.166
You really like school? So...

00:15:53.166 --> 00:15:55.792
he did really well,
he thrived there.

00:15:55.792 --> 00:15:58.625
Made lots of friends.

00:15:59.542 --> 00:16:02.834
But when he was in grade four,

00:16:02.834 --> 00:16:07.917
we decided to send him
to the Norwood School
in Wetaskiwin

00:16:07.917 --> 00:16:11.709
because that school
had a really excellent

00:16:11.709 --> 00:16:15.125
program for special needs kids.

00:16:15.834 --> 00:16:17.709
They were happy to have him,

00:16:17.709 --> 00:16:20.250
and he did really well there.

00:16:20.250 --> 00:16:21.208
He just thrived.

00:16:21.208 --> 00:16:23.625
He was actually in a
leadership role.

00:16:23.625 --> 00:16:25.166
He was a crossing guard

00:16:25.166 --> 00:16:29.875
and he also was the safety rep
for his class.

00:16:29.875 --> 00:16:36.542
So we enrolled him there.
Then we tried to sign him up
for bussing.

00:16:37.041 --> 00:16:38.917
We didn\'t get that.

00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:41.625
They didn\'t have, um...

00:16:41.750 --> 00:16:46.917
... bussing that was
handicap accessible.

00:16:47.458 --> 00:16:49.834
So what we had to do

00:16:49.834 --> 00:16:53.458
was, if we wanted our son
to attend there,

00:16:53.458 --> 00:16:55.542
we had to...

00:16:56.083 --> 00:16:59.041
... make some difficult choices.

00:16:59.583 --> 00:17:00.750
My husband had to,

00:17:00.750 --> 00:17:03.959
well, he couldn\'t work
for 14 months.

00:17:03.959 --> 00:17:07.375
He drove Noah two hours a day,

00:17:07.375 --> 00:17:10.291
and we lived on my income.

00:17:10.667 --> 00:17:11.792
(birds singing)

00:17:11.792 --> 00:17:14.417
I mean, who else has to make
those choices, right?

00:17:14.417 --> 00:17:18.458
Those were the only
alternatives we had.

00:17:19.250 --> 00:17:22.417
But it was worth it
because Noah loved school,

00:17:22.417 --> 00:17:24.166
he just loved the school there.

00:17:24.166 --> 00:17:28.709
And he thrived and he did
really, really well.

00:17:37.333 --> 00:17:42.875
(Richard): He\'s had one horse,
this old horse. Do you remember
your horse\'s name?

00:17:42.875 --> 00:17:44.000
- Amos.

00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:45.333
- That\'s right, Amos.

00:17:45.333 --> 00:17:49.291
But he was so old there wasn\'t
much life left in this horse.

00:17:49.291 --> 00:17:50.125
(laughing)

00:17:50.125 --> 00:17:54.583
An old roping horse
just about bomb-proof.

00:17:54.583 --> 00:17:58.875
Norwood School had this program
for special needs children

00:17:58.875 --> 00:18:02.333
and the idea behind
children with CP

00:18:02.333 --> 00:18:04.458
riding horses to try
to build their core.

00:18:04.458 --> 00:18:09.458
The only thing was that
funky-looking helmet
you had to wear.

00:18:10.250 --> 00:18:13.000
Everybody had to wear
the helmet.

00:18:13.250 --> 00:18:15.959
But for my little guy
like I said it\'s always

00:18:15.959 --> 00:18:18.834
trying to do something for him.

00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:21.542
I\'ve made hand drums for him.

00:18:21.542 --> 00:18:25.875
He\'s the only little guy
who\'s gone to Sun Dances,

00:18:25.875 --> 00:18:28.792
who\'s got his own hand drum.

00:18:28.792 --> 00:18:32.125
(beating on drum)

00:18:33.250 --> 00:18:37.375
I made him one and there\'s
this other drum he likes to use
as well.

00:18:37.375 --> 00:18:42.083
He prefers the deeper tone one
than the one that I made
for him.

00:18:42.083 --> 00:18:42.583
That\'s fine.

00:18:42.583 --> 00:18:45.208
That one was his
late grandfather\'s.

00:18:45.208 --> 00:18:47.792
I re-hided it,
I used buffalo hide.

00:18:47.792 --> 00:18:52.375
And that\'s the one he likes
to use every now and then.

00:18:55.875 --> 00:18:58.959
I said I wouldn\'t cry but I tear

00:18:58.959 --> 00:19:00.375
every time I think about

00:19:00.375 --> 00:19:03.291
how hard it\'s going to be
for my little guy

00:19:03.291 --> 00:19:04.959
when his parents are gone.

00:19:04.959 --> 00:19:06.917
Sooner or later we will go,

00:19:06.917 --> 00:19:09.250
it\'s always somebody\'s turn

00:19:09.250 --> 00:19:10.375
and I will go

00:19:10.375 --> 00:19:13.959
but that\'s fine, I accept it.

00:19:14.375 --> 00:19:16.083
So in between then and now

00:19:16.083 --> 00:19:20.250
I work as hard as I can
to provide what I can.

00:19:21.458 --> 00:19:22.250
What I can.

00:19:22.250 --> 00:19:25.208
I\'ve had to cash in my pension
twice

00:19:25.208 --> 00:19:27.125
to buy things for him.

00:19:27.125 --> 00:19:29.125
To buy a vehicle to get him
to school,

00:19:29.125 --> 00:19:32.208
to get him to doctor\'s
appointments.

00:19:32.208 --> 00:19:34.125
To take him wherever
he needs to go.

00:19:34.125 --> 00:19:36.500
Today, I don\'t worry about that
anymore.

00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:39.917
I\'ve still got my pension.
I\'ve got a fresh pension going.

00:19:39.917 --> 00:19:44.917
I haven\'t had to cash this one
in yet, right?

00:19:44.917 --> 00:19:48.208
(speaking Cree)

00:19:51.583 --> 00:19:55.083
(soft music)

00:20:22.750 --> 00:20:25.583
- It swam across...
- Uh huh.

00:20:25.583 --> 00:20:26.750
-... and it came out over there

00:20:26.750 --> 00:20:30.667
and we\'re hoping he\'s going
to come back out.

00:20:31.917 --> 00:20:35.375
He\'s right there on that rock
over there.

00:20:36.041 --> 00:20:37.792
(indistinct chattering)

00:20:37.792 --> 00:20:41.625
That bear just came right there,
see, on that rock there?

00:20:41.625 --> 00:20:42.834
He was looking at us.

00:20:42.834 --> 00:20:46.250
- A black bear?
- Yeah, he was quite big, eh?

00:20:46.250 --> 00:20:49.125
- Was it a black bear?
- Yeah, a black bear.

00:20:49.125 --> 00:20:52.250
- A grizzly one.
(Diane): No, not a grizzly one.

00:20:52.250 --> 00:20:55.166
Go, go play inside.

00:20:56.250 --> 00:20:59.291
(birds calling)

00:21:00.542 --> 00:21:02.917
(Diane): I was there
when Jordan went.

00:21:02.917 --> 00:21:05.041
He just went so peacefully.

00:21:05.041 --> 00:21:07.917
These machines are going
off, beeps...

00:21:07.917 --> 00:21:12.792
and then all of a sudden
it was quiet. It went silent.

00:21:12.792 --> 00:21:13.792
It was quiet.

00:21:13.792 --> 00:21:16.333
And then the doctor
came over to Virginia

00:21:16.333 --> 00:21:21.291
and informed them, you know,
that Jordan had passed, like...

00:21:21.291 --> 00:21:24.583
there was nothing more
they could do.

00:21:24.917 --> 00:21:26.166
So...

00:21:26.166 --> 00:21:28.542
I was with Virginia,

00:21:28.542 --> 00:21:31.875
I stayed with her and, um...

00:21:32.166 --> 00:21:32.625
She, um...

00:21:32.625 --> 00:21:37.125
you know, for the very
first time she was able
to hold her son

00:21:37.125 --> 00:21:39.875
without any tubes,
without anything.

00:21:39.875 --> 00:21:44.625
She crawled into bed with him
and she was hugging him.

00:21:44.625 --> 00:21:47.834
It seemed like he was just
at peace.

00:21:47.834 --> 00:21:50.667
Just like a little angel.

00:21:51.166 --> 00:21:54.208
It took its toll on the family

00:21:55.417 --> 00:21:57.458
which is sad because

00:21:57.458 --> 00:22:02.250
if they were here,
maybe things would have
been different.

00:22:16.125 --> 00:22:19.166
(crow cawing)

00:22:20.917 --> 00:22:24.125
(insects chirping)

00:22:24.208 --> 00:22:26.834
- But after that,
I couldn\'t take the pressure

00:22:26.834 --> 00:22:30.500
especially when I seen
my children suffer

00:22:30.625 --> 00:22:33.583
and my wife died.

00:22:36.125 --> 00:22:38.333
Well, she passed on

00:22:38.333 --> 00:22:41.917
about six months after
Jordan died.

00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:47.500
I have a hard time
with it.

00:22:48.458 --> 00:22:50.667
The loss, pain.

00:22:50.667 --> 00:22:57.291
Especially with your children,
they\'re having a hard time too,
as you are.

00:22:59.333 --> 00:23:01.542
It\'s hard.

00:23:07.542 --> 00:23:12.250
- Things didn\'t work out
so good, you know?

00:23:12.250 --> 00:23:14.542
So Virginia had to move to...

00:23:14.542 --> 00:23:17.875
Winnipeg to look after him.

00:23:18.458 --> 00:23:22.208
And that\'s when things
got worse.

00:23:22.208 --> 00:23:25.166
You know, loneliness

00:23:25.166 --> 00:23:27.667
and whatever. She had to...

00:23:27.667 --> 00:23:29.625
worry about her children
back here

00:23:29.625 --> 00:23:34.583
and then she had to go back
and look after that little one.

00:23:35.125 --> 00:23:38.291
It didn\'t work out too good.

00:23:42.333 --> 00:23:44.542
(woman): Sit still,
they\'re taking pictures of you!

00:23:44.542 --> 00:23:49.583
(Nora): When she left Winnipeg
to be with her son, Jordan,

00:23:49.583 --> 00:23:52.959
it was very hard on the family,

00:23:52.959 --> 00:23:54.250
especially the children.

00:23:54.250 --> 00:23:58.750
And like I know a lot of times
they were...

00:23:58.792 --> 00:24:02.208
...lonely and helpless

00:24:02.208 --> 00:24:04.875
and I knew...

00:24:04.875 --> 00:24:07.458
like, she was torn apart

00:24:07.458 --> 00:24:11.083
to leave the family.

00:24:11.542 --> 00:24:14.542
A lot of times she cried

00:24:14.542 --> 00:24:16.917
because she wanted
to be with her children

00:24:16.917 --> 00:24:22.041
and she didn\'t want to leave
Jordan in Winnipeg by himself.

00:24:28.667 --> 00:24:30.542
- Ernest didn\'t just lose a son,

00:24:30.542 --> 00:24:34.083
he lost his family,
he lost everything.

00:24:34.667 --> 00:24:35.834
That\'s the problem here,
is the government,

00:24:35.834 --> 00:24:39.959
the bureaucracy, people
don\'t want to hear the truth.

00:24:39.959 --> 00:24:43.875
This is reality for us
here with our children.

00:24:43.875 --> 00:24:47.125
We\'re having elections
this fall.

00:24:47.125 --> 00:24:50.500
I have yet to hear one

00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:52.917
of the parties come up
and say...

00:24:52.917 --> 00:24:57.458
\"We fully, we\'ll support
or implement
Jordan\'s Principle.\"

00:24:57.458 --> 00:24:59.333
No government party

00:24:59.333 --> 00:25:02.542
in this province has done
that except for one.

00:25:02.542 --> 00:25:07.291
- Trudy and I talk about
this often

00:25:07.583 --> 00:25:10.458
and have been talking recently

00:25:10.458 --> 00:25:12.333
with people in Norway House

00:25:12.333 --> 00:25:14.500
about the need to continue
this fight

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.917
because it\'s very apparent that

00:25:15.917 --> 00:25:20.208
we are not there,
in terms of where we should be.

00:25:20.208 --> 00:25:23.750
We don\'t yet have a guarantee
that if there\'s another child

00:25:23.750 --> 00:25:26.709
like Jordan Anderson
who comes along,

00:25:26.709 --> 00:25:28.375
that he wouldn\'t be...

00:25:28.375 --> 00:25:31.125
treated differently
and he would be...

00:25:31.125 --> 00:25:34.375
made sure that he would have
a chance to get home.

00:25:34.375 --> 00:25:36.500
- We talk about universal
health care in Canada.

00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:41.166
Well, why is it
that it\'s universal,
except for Indigenous kids?

00:25:41.166 --> 00:25:43.291
And that\'s what people
were advocating for.

00:25:43.291 --> 00:25:46.583
They were saying
if it\'s universal,
it has to be universal.

00:25:46.583 --> 00:25:49.166
And our treaties actually
talked about

00:25:49.166 --> 00:25:51.959
this right to health care
and this relationship

00:25:51.959 --> 00:25:54.250
and if we think about
the history of Canada

00:25:54.250 --> 00:25:57.375
and Indigenous people\'s
relationship with the Crown,

00:25:57.375 --> 00:26:00.917
if the Crown is controlling
the purse strings
on health care,

00:26:00.917 --> 00:26:03.667
funding, and spending,
and services,

00:26:03.667 --> 00:26:05.417
then that Treaty obligation

00:26:05.417 --> 00:26:08.750
to health, to the ability
to be well,

00:26:08.750 --> 00:26:10.709
should be right at the top
of the minds

00:26:10.709 --> 00:26:13.667
of every Crown Official
in government.

00:26:13.667 --> 00:26:16.417
There should have been no fight.

00:26:21.583 --> 00:26:23.625
(Alanis): Led by
Cindy Blackstock

00:26:23.625 --> 00:26:26.083
of the Child and Family
Caring Society,

00:26:26.083 --> 00:26:30.208
the case was brought before
the Human Rights Tribunal

00:26:30.208 --> 00:26:33.333
for equal rights
for Indigenous children

00:26:33.333 --> 00:26:35.291
nin education and health services

00:26:35.291 --> 00:26:41.625
which included
the full implementation
of Jordan\'s Principle.

00:26:41.625 --> 00:26:44.500
All other children in Canada

00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:47.291
were able to access
health services

00:26:47.291 --> 00:26:50.750
to the provinces
without any problems.

00:26:50.750 --> 00:26:53.917
For Indigenous families
on Reserves,

00:26:53.917 --> 00:26:55.709
the only way to gain access

00:26:55.709 --> 00:26:58.959
was by giving up their children
to the Welfare System.

00:26:58.959 --> 00:27:04.542
The Conservative government
fought to protect
its own image,

00:27:04.542 --> 00:27:07.834
through appeals
that lasted years

00:27:07.834 --> 00:27:11.166
and that cost
millions of dollars.

00:27:11.291 --> 00:27:15.417
Finally, in January, 2016

00:27:15.417 --> 00:27:18.417
the Human Rights Tribunal
found

00:27:18.417 --> 00:27:21.333
that Indigenous children
and families

00:27:21.333 --> 00:27:24.083
were being denied equal access

00:27:24.083 --> 00:27:29.000
to the provision
of child and family services.

00:27:29.458 --> 00:27:31.417
It\'s hard to believe

00:27:31.417 --> 00:27:33.166
that despite this ruling,

00:27:33.166 --> 00:27:37.083
Indigenous families were still
denied access

00:27:37.083 --> 00:27:38.500
to these services.

00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:41.750
So the struggle continued.

00:27:41.750 --> 00:27:42.917
(sirens wailing)

00:27:42.917 --> 00:27:47.500
(Cindy): You know what,
you are the reason why
we do all this, right?

00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:51.458
Jordan\'s Principle is something
that was gifted to all of us

00:27:51.458 --> 00:27:54.875
by Jordan River Anderson
and his family.

00:27:54.875 --> 00:27:56.458
And I am so hopeful

00:27:56.458 --> 00:28:00.750
that together with all
of our support,
with floats like these,

00:28:00.750 --> 00:28:02.542
with bears like those,

00:28:02.542 --> 00:28:03.542
we\'re going to make sure

00:28:03.542 --> 00:28:06.500
that no First Nations child
is told \"No\",

00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:09.583
or, \"You have to wait
for a service that\'s available

00:28:09.583 --> 00:28:11.667
to all other kids
in the country.\"

00:28:11.667 --> 00:28:13.375
Because our kids matter

00:28:13.375 --> 00:28:15.709
and all you have to do
to come to that conclusion

00:28:15.709 --> 00:28:18.000
is take a look at these
beautiful children.

00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:23.083
And they should not have to wait
in line because of who they are.

00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:26.083
(applause, cheering)

00:28:26.875 --> 00:28:31.291
So we\'re going to make sure
that other First Nations learn
from all of you.

00:28:31.291 --> 00:28:32.333
And with the love in your heart.

00:28:32.333 --> 00:28:35.417
And I just want to say
what a great honour it is
to be here.

00:28:35.417 --> 00:28:37.792
Thank you for the honour song.
Thank you so much

00:28:37.792 --> 00:28:41.125
Virginia\'s family from
Peter Ballantyne First Nation

00:28:41.125 --> 00:28:43.417
and most of all,
the Anderson family.

00:28:43.417 --> 00:28:47.500
What you have sacrificed.
no one can ever give words
to,

00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:49.542
but I am so grateful
for the changes

00:28:49.542 --> 00:28:53.959
that your son\'s legacy
has made in the lives
of thousands of children

00:28:53.959 --> 00:28:56.000
in Canada and around the world.

00:28:56.000 --> 00:29:00.333
We are all in your debt,
so thank you very much.

00:29:00.333 --> 00:29:03.125
(applause-_

00:29:03.667 --> 00:29:07.375
- It\'s worth the fight,
and it\'s a good fight

00:29:07.375 --> 00:29:10.375
and you\'re all in it.

00:29:10.458 --> 00:29:13.250
(Ernest laughing)

00:29:13.250 --> 00:29:15.834
We didn\'t choose it.

00:29:16.166 --> 00:29:19.250
but yet, it happened.

00:29:20.166 --> 00:29:23.208
(speaking Cree)

00:29:23.208 --> 00:29:27.041
I didn\'t know what to think,
my head spinned.

00:29:27.041 --> 00:29:30.083
I don\'t know where my heart was.

00:29:30.417 --> 00:29:31.667
Where is my heart?

00:29:31.667 --> 00:29:36.375
I think I lost my heart
for some time ago.

00:29:37.250 --> 00:29:41.208
- Living with somebody
with a disability is very hard.

00:29:41.208 --> 00:29:44.375
If you have a relative
or you know somebody,

00:29:44.375 --> 00:29:46.875
go help them out.
It\'s not that hard

00:29:46.875 --> 00:29:47.875
to offer your help.

00:29:47.875 --> 00:29:52.917
You know, those people will feel
very happy for it.

00:29:52.917 --> 00:29:56.250
I just want to acknowledge
those people,

00:29:56.250 --> 00:30:01.083
like the parents
of the kids with special needs.

00:30:01.083 --> 00:30:03.083
I know they\'re having
a hard time.

00:30:03.083 --> 00:30:04.917
My parents had a hard time too.

00:30:04.917 --> 00:30:08.083
So just please acknowledge them
and respect them,

00:30:08.083 --> 00:30:08.875
and, you know,

00:30:08.875 --> 00:30:12.875
support them in every way that
you can. Thank you.

00:30:12.875 --> 00:30:15.208
(applause)

00:30:17.333 --> 00:30:20.125
(soft music)

00:30:22.083 --> 00:30:23.500
(Alanis): Months passed

00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:28.083
and still the governmentnfailed to implement the changes

00:30:28.083 --> 00:30:30.333
ordered by the Tribunal.

00:30:30.333 --> 00:30:32.667
In April, 2016,

00:30:32.667 --> 00:30:36.291
the Tribunal filed
a compliance order

00:30:36.291 --> 00:30:37.750
against the government.

00:30:37.750 --> 00:30:41.625
Followed by a second
compliance order

00:30:41.625 --> 00:30:44.250
in September, 2016.

00:30:44.250 --> 00:30:47.000
In March, 2017,

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:50.500
fifteen months after
the original decision

00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:54.583
all parties were brought back
to the Tribunal

00:30:54.583 --> 00:30:58.458
to hear the issues
of non-compliance.

00:30:58.834 --> 00:31:00.583
- First I thank the Creator

00:31:00.583 --> 00:31:02.792
for allowing us to be here today

00:31:02.792 --> 00:31:06.583
on something that\'s very dear
to all of us,

00:31:06.583 --> 00:31:09.458
and that\'s the life
of our children.

00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:12.959
I was thinking about this
and I was thinking about

00:31:12.959 --> 00:31:15.875
all the little things
our children do

00:31:15.875 --> 00:31:20.250
and they remind us
of how important love is.

00:31:20.250 --> 00:31:24.542
And they remind us
that they came to this world...

00:31:24.542 --> 00:31:26.333
Free.

00:31:26.333 --> 00:31:28.208
They had freedom.

00:31:28.291 --> 00:31:33.792
And they also reminded us
that they had equal dignity.

00:31:34.959 --> 00:31:39.667
Some more little ones coming
into this world.

00:31:39.667 --> 00:31:41.792
With misfortunes.

00:31:42.166 --> 00:31:43.834
or mishaps.

00:31:43.834 --> 00:31:46.500
But does that mean we...

00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:48.834
we neglect them?

00:31:48.834 --> 00:31:52.083
Does that mean
we put them aside?

00:31:52.208 --> 00:31:55.750
We have to question ourselves.

00:31:55.834 --> 00:32:00.000
I don\'t care what level of
government you are,

00:32:00.834 --> 00:32:03.667
we have to question ourselves.

00:32:03.667 --> 00:32:06.583
How do we love our children?

00:32:06.583 --> 00:32:09.542
Or do we love our children?

00:32:11.125 --> 00:32:13.917
When you look at a little one,

00:32:13.917 --> 00:32:16.667
what do you see?

00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:21.000
You go through a stressful day,

00:32:21.333 --> 00:32:22.917
you go home,

00:32:22.917 --> 00:32:25.792
pick up that child

00:32:25.834 --> 00:32:29.083
and just hold that child

00:32:29.083 --> 00:32:31.834
and that child will take away

00:32:31.834 --> 00:32:35.625
all the stress that you have.

00:32:36.709 --> 00:32:38.667
It works.

00:32:38.917 --> 00:32:41.125
Powerful.

00:32:42.083 --> 00:32:44.834
Do justice,

00:32:44.834 --> 00:32:48.625
loving justice,

00:32:49.417 --> 00:32:52.125
caring justice,

00:32:52.125 --> 00:32:53.500
honest justice

00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:58.834
and the respectful justice
for our little ones.

00:33:00.750 --> 00:33:02.709
Simple.

00:33:03.250 --> 00:33:05.834
(man): Please be seated.

00:33:06.041 --> 00:33:08.750
- So good morning,
panel members.

00:33:08.750 --> 00:33:11.792
And good morning too
to those who are here,

00:33:11.792 --> 00:33:14.750
the children most especially.

00:33:14.750 --> 00:33:21.083
In my hands I carry
the baby blanket
of Jordan River Anderson.

00:33:21.750 --> 00:33:24.208
A gift from the Anderson family

00:33:24.208 --> 00:33:26.667
in honour
of Jordan\'s Principle.

00:33:26.667 --> 00:33:31.250
I\'ve said many times
that I was shocked
we had to file this case

00:33:31.250 --> 00:33:32.667
to bring equity for children

00:33:32.667 --> 00:33:36.542
and I cannot even find
a word in my vocabulary

00:33:36.542 --> 00:33:38.875
to tell you how shocked I am
to stand here today.

00:33:38.875 --> 00:33:44.583
And what about fifteen months
and the government\'s calls
to patience?

00:33:45.041 --> 00:33:47.083
The word \"patience\"...

00:33:47.083 --> 00:33:50.667
is really bound up
in this blanket.

00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:53.959
It\'s the same idea
they used

00:33:53.959 --> 00:33:55.792
to talk about Jordan\'s situation

00:33:55.792 --> 00:34:01.166
when they had repeated
case conferences
to resolve his dispute.

00:34:01.875 --> 00:34:05.250
And patience means to suffer...

00:34:05.417 --> 00:34:07.917
without complaint.

00:34:08.709 --> 00:34:12.583
First Nations children
have been suffering
without complaint

00:34:12.583 --> 00:34:15.792
for the ten years
since this case has been filed

00:34:15.792 --> 00:34:18.625
and for the fifteen months
since the decision was made

00:34:18.625 --> 00:34:24.083
providing a very clear plan
for the respondent
to move forward.

00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:25.875
And in many statutes,

00:34:25.875 --> 00:34:30.959
when a baby is removed
because of the lack
of prevention services,

00:34:30.959 --> 00:34:32.667
by the law, the provincial law

00:34:32.667 --> 00:34:35.083
the respondent requires
these supplies to our kids

00:34:35.083 --> 00:34:39.000
we only have six months
to reunite that child
with their family

00:34:39.000 --> 00:34:42.792
before they become
a permanent warden adopted out.

00:34:43.542 --> 00:34:44.417
So this patience,

00:34:44.417 --> 00:34:48.041
the burden of it
is placed with the children,

00:34:48.041 --> 00:34:49.750
their siblings
and their families.

00:34:49.750 --> 00:34:53.792
It must be properly shouldered
by the respondent.

00:34:53.792 --> 00:34:56.959
I pray this is the last time
I have to stand up in this room.

00:34:56.959 --> 00:34:59.625
Not because the company
isn\'t good

00:34:59.625 --> 00:35:02.875
but because every time
that we do stand here,

00:35:02.875 --> 00:35:05.166
every day that we stand here

00:35:05.166 --> 00:35:07.375
another child loses
their family,

00:35:07.375 --> 00:35:10.166
loses their culture,
loses their language.

00:35:10.166 --> 00:35:14.375
And in far too many cases,
loses their life.

00:35:14.375 --> 00:35:15.458
I thank you for your attention

00:35:15.458 --> 00:35:19.000
and I thank you again
for dedicating this space

00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:23.166
to loving and caring justice
for our children.

00:35:23.166 --> 00:35:25.875
(woman): Thank you.

00:35:27.333 --> 00:35:29.750
- Change is not in a decision.

00:35:29.750 --> 00:35:31.917
Change is when they implement it

00:35:31.917 --> 00:35:36.417
and make children\'s lives better
and their family\'s lives better.

00:35:36.417 --> 00:35:39.542
And it became pretty clear
to me very quickly

00:35:39.542 --> 00:35:41.792
that they weren\'t going to
comply.

00:35:41.792 --> 00:35:46.291
And one of the things
that brought it into focus

00:35:46.291 --> 00:35:46.917
was the budget.

00:35:46.917 --> 00:35:51.125
Budget 2016 was created
in the fall of 2015.

00:35:51.125 --> 00:35:53.792
The government witnesses,
under sworn testimony

00:35:53.792 --> 00:36:00.041
confirmed that there were
no changes made to that Budget
after the Tribunal ruled.

00:36:00.041 --> 00:36:02.917
And in fact,
many of the top Officials
in the government

00:36:02.917 --> 00:36:05.417
didn\'t even read the decision,

00:36:05.417 --> 00:36:07.000
let alone change the Budget.

00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:10.250
And then when the compliance
orders were issued,

00:36:10.250 --> 00:36:11.792
still no changes in the Budget.

00:36:11.792 --> 00:36:13.917
- I will make it abundantly
clear at this point

00:36:13.917 --> 00:36:16.375
it is our position that Canada
has complied

00:36:16.375 --> 00:36:19.834
with the Tribunal\'s orders
with respect to immediate relief

00:36:19.834 --> 00:36:22.542
and as such, the motions
that are requesting

00:36:22.542 --> 00:36:25.166
either findings
of non-compliance

00:36:25.166 --> 00:36:26.875
or that we have not fully
complied

00:36:26.875 --> 00:36:28.625
ought to be dismissed
to that degree.

00:36:28.625 --> 00:36:32.458
- What Canada is saying
in this hearing,

00:36:32.458 --> 00:36:35.417
after Canada\'s role
in Residential School,

00:36:35.417 --> 00:36:38.417
which has been called
cultural genocide,

00:36:38.417 --> 00:36:40.875
after the sixties scoop,

00:36:40.875 --> 00:36:44.500
that Canada played a direct role
in the separation

00:36:44.500 --> 00:36:47.166
of thousands
of First Nations Children,

00:36:47.166 --> 00:36:48.583
and after three orders

00:36:48.583 --> 00:36:53.792
saying Canada needs to stop
racially discriminating against
this generation of kids

00:36:53.792 --> 00:36:57.208
in ways that separate them
from their families,

00:36:57.208 --> 00:36:59.458
Canada is arguing
in these proceedings

00:36:59.458 --> 00:37:04.542
that the Tribunal should
just trust it with
First Nations kids.

00:37:04.542 --> 00:37:05.750
- If you give it to NAN...

00:37:05.750 --> 00:37:09.125
(Cindy): You don\'t need
to retain supervision over us.

00:37:09.125 --> 00:37:13.083
And in fact you have no
legal authority over us

00:37:13.083 --> 00:37:18.208
because we\'re the government.
Just leave us alone.

00:37:19.375 --> 00:37:21.792
- We have put forth
an affidavit

00:37:21.792 --> 00:37:25.250
sworn January 27th of this year

00:37:25.250 --> 00:37:27.792
so just two months ago.

00:37:28.834 --> 00:37:29.875
By Dr. Kirlew.

00:37:29.875 --> 00:37:36.333
Dr. Kirlew is the family
physician for Wapekeka
First Nation.

00:37:37.208 --> 00:37:40.834
Tragically, in the early
days of January 2017

00:37:40.834 --> 00:37:45.834
Wapekeka First Nation lost
two girls who died by suicide.

00:37:45.834 --> 00:37:48.000
On January 8, 2017,

00:37:48.000 --> 00:37:52.083
Wapekeka lost twelve-year-old
girl, Jolynn Winter.

00:37:52.083 --> 00:37:55.250
Two days later
on January 10th, 2017,

00:37:55.250 --> 00:37:59.667
Wapekeka lost twelve-year-old
girl, Chantelle Fox.

00:37:59.667 --> 00:38:03.291
Wapekeka is currently
in a state of crisis
and on a high alert

00:38:03.291 --> 00:38:06.458
for other youths
contemplating suicide.

00:38:06.792 --> 00:38:08.208
Paragraph five,

00:38:08.208 --> 00:38:12.208
I believe that these deaths
were preventable.

00:38:17.583 --> 00:38:18.917
In July 2016,

00:38:18.917 --> 00:38:23.041
Wapekeka had actually filed
a proposal with Canada

00:38:23.041 --> 00:38:25.667
to try to protect
their children.

00:38:25.667 --> 00:38:28.667
A proposal
that wasn\'t responded to

00:38:28.667 --> 00:38:32.083
and a proposal we later learned
in cross-examination

00:38:32.083 --> 00:38:35.709
met all the criteria
for Jordan\'s Principle funding.

00:38:35.709 --> 00:38:41.000
It should have been funded
and to this day we don\'t know
why it wasn\'t.

00:38:41.500 --> 00:38:44.417
Wapekeka cites a reality

00:38:44.417 --> 00:38:48.625
that they knew
of a youth suicide pact.

00:38:50.750 --> 00:38:53.750
In January of this year,

00:38:53.750 --> 00:38:54.583
two youth die

00:38:54.583 --> 00:38:59.709
with that proposal being
absolutely unaddressed.

00:38:59.875 --> 00:39:04.458
- I heard a Senior Official
from Health Canada
say yesterday

00:39:04.458 --> 00:39:08.792
that when they received
that proposal from Wapekeka,

00:39:08.959 --> 00:39:12.834
it was a bad time.
It was an awkward time

00:39:12.959 --> 00:39:13.667
for them...

00:39:13.667 --> 00:39:17.709
to even consider
approving that request.

00:39:17.709 --> 00:39:22.583
I think that\'s the question
that our community
is asking today

00:39:22.583 --> 00:39:25.291
is when is it the right time?

00:39:25.291 --> 00:39:27.542
When is it the right time for...

00:39:27.542 --> 00:39:29.792
this government to act

00:39:29.792 --> 00:39:32.667
and support our communities,

00:39:32.667 --> 00:39:35.125
especially our youth
and our children?

00:39:35.208 --> 00:39:38.333
- We perpetrated the oppression.

00:39:38.333 --> 00:39:42.166
We are the beneficiaries
of Colonialism.

00:39:42.166 --> 00:39:44.792
We are the racists.

00:39:45.375 --> 00:39:50.917
And yet these things
continue to go unaddressed.

00:39:50.917 --> 00:39:52.000
And I say with respect

00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:57.250
that as a matter
of reconciliation, these things
have to be implemented.

00:39:57.250 --> 00:39:58.375
The time has to stop

00:39:58.375 --> 00:40:02.500
for us listing inventories
of things that haven\'t
been done.

00:40:02.500 --> 00:40:05.875
We have a responsibility
in these proceedings,

00:40:05.875 --> 00:40:08.667
to actually create results.

00:40:08.792 --> 00:40:12.500
Sixteen months is too long.

00:40:13.667 --> 00:40:15.917
There is a record before you

00:40:15.917 --> 00:40:17.625
that INAC and Health Canada

00:40:17.625 --> 00:40:23.667
are either not willing to change
or are incapable of change.

00:40:23.667 --> 00:40:26.834
You can create an apparatus
so large,

00:40:26.834 --> 00:40:28.250
so rooted in the Indian Act,

00:40:28.250 --> 00:40:33.250
that by its very definition,
it is a tool of oppression.

00:40:33.250 --> 00:40:38.542
I fear that despite
the best intentions
of some Officials,

00:40:38.542 --> 00:40:40.083
that\'s what happened.

00:40:40.083 --> 00:40:42.375
It needs an outsider.

00:40:42.375 --> 00:40:44.166
It needs you, it needs others

00:40:44.166 --> 00:40:49.542
to order them to do things
because they can\'t
do it themselves.

00:40:49.542 --> 00:40:51.333
They are unable to do it.

00:40:51.333 --> 00:40:56.917
Their own apparatus
has handcuffed
and paralyzed them.

00:40:59.000 --> 00:41:02.375
(soft music)

00:41:13.500 --> 00:41:16.333
(birds calling)

00:41:27.166 --> 00:41:28.417
(Alanis): More time passed

00:41:28.417 --> 00:41:33.583
and Carolyn continued
to battle the bureaucracy.

00:41:35.208 --> 00:41:38.875
- By this time,
they had money set aside

00:41:38.875 --> 00:41:43.333
for Jordan\'s Principle cases.

00:41:43.333 --> 00:41:47.125
We\'re still fighting our case.

00:41:47.208 --> 00:41:48.917
We weren\'t getting services

00:41:48.917 --> 00:41:51.750
and yet they had this money
set aside.

00:41:51.750 --> 00:41:53.667
Well, where was that
money going?

00:41:53.667 --> 00:41:56.333
What were they doing with it?
They actually had a story

00:41:56.333 --> 00:42:01.583
where they were asking people,
they had set up a Facebook Page

00:42:01.583 --> 00:42:06.208
where they were asking people
to contact them through Facebook

00:42:06.208 --> 00:42:10.750
if they had
Jordan\'s Principle cases.

00:42:11.166 --> 00:42:13.792
(stammering): I couldn\'t
believe it.

00:42:13.792 --> 00:42:15.667
I thought, seriously?!

00:42:15.667 --> 00:42:21.000
You know, our requests
go to Health Canada,

00:42:21.000 --> 00:42:22.125
they go to FNIHB,

00:42:22.125 --> 00:42:25.125
it\'s our doctors
and our therapists

00:42:25.125 --> 00:42:29.500
and our health care providers
that are making these requests.

00:42:29.500 --> 00:42:33.333
They\'re still saying no,
but they have this money
set aside.

00:42:33.333 --> 00:42:36.291
It was just unconscionable.

00:42:36.917 --> 00:42:38.375
I had no choice.

00:42:38.375 --> 00:42:43.041
I submitted my own complaint
to The Human Rights Commission.

00:42:43.041 --> 00:42:45.959
I made a submission,
they would respond
on my submission.

00:42:45.959 --> 00:42:51.041
I would respond to their
response. They would respond
to my response,

00:42:51.500 --> 00:42:55.542
and through that whole process

00:42:55.750 --> 00:42:58.750
the Commission, um...

00:42:58.750 --> 00:43:01.125
Investigator...

00:43:01.291 --> 00:43:03.583
started to believe

00:43:03.583 --> 00:43:07.667
what the Officials
from Indian Affairs were saying

00:43:07.667 --> 00:43:08.917
in their submissions.

00:43:08.917 --> 00:43:11.500
Eventually,
the Commission investigator

00:43:11.500 --> 00:43:14.041
made a report to the Commission
saying

00:43:14.041 --> 00:43:18.458
\"We recommend that this
complaint be dismissed.\"

00:43:18.500 --> 00:43:21.000
The Department of Justice
lawyers were happy,

00:43:21.000 --> 00:43:25.208
they said, \"Yes, we agree,
this complaint
should be dismissed.\"

00:43:25.417 --> 00:43:27.041
Um...

00:43:27.041 --> 00:43:28.709
I was really upset

00:43:28.709 --> 00:43:31.500
so I contacted Cindy Blackstock

00:43:31.500 --> 00:43:36.417
and she said, \"Can I forward
this to our lawyers?\"

00:43:36.417 --> 00:43:40.333
And so, Anne Levesque,
one of the lead counsel

00:43:40.333 --> 00:43:42.959
for the Child and Family
Caring Society

00:43:42.959 --> 00:43:45.333
called me and she said,
\"I\'ve never seen

00:43:45.333 --> 00:43:49.959
a recommendation so hostile
to the complainant.\"

00:43:50.041 --> 00:43:53.667
And she offered to...

00:43:53.875 --> 00:43:56.750
To act for us pro-bono.

00:43:56.750 --> 00:44:00.000
And then things started
to change from there,

00:44:00.000 --> 00:44:02.917
finally things changed.

00:44:04.875 --> 00:44:06.625
I...

00:44:07.709 --> 00:44:09.875
...was really grateful that

00:44:09.875 --> 00:44:13.291
we had somebody to help us.

00:44:13.625 --> 00:44:17.125
Anne Levesque and David Taylor

00:44:17.125 --> 00:44:18.417
did such an excellent job

00:44:18.417 --> 00:44:21.750
and that\'s what really made
the difference.

00:44:21.750 --> 00:44:26.208
We finally reached resolution.

00:44:26.208 --> 00:44:30.375
And Noah will be going
into grade 11 this fall.

00:44:30.375 --> 00:44:34.083
We have a new Education
Authority established here

00:44:34.083 --> 00:44:39.166
and they have provisions
for special needs
transportation.

00:44:39.583 --> 00:44:43.000
I mean, if I weren\'t a lawyer

00:44:43.000 --> 00:44:43.583
and politician,

00:44:43.583 --> 00:44:49.208
and my husband - who was
a high school principal
at one time...

00:44:49.208 --> 00:44:52.875
Between the two of us,
and also with the support
of our families,

00:44:52.875 --> 00:44:58.375
you know we have been
able to advocate for Noah,
but...

00:44:58.375 --> 00:45:01.625
Just think of all the families
who are not in that position.

00:45:01.625 --> 00:45:04.834
It\'s heartbreaking
knowing that they\'re out there.

00:45:04.834 --> 00:45:06.917
That there are children
who have been put in care,

00:45:06.917 --> 00:45:09.000
or families had
to move off Reserve

00:45:09.000 --> 00:45:14.959
just so their children
could get access to services.

00:45:15.166 --> 00:45:17.417
- Shortly after he was born,

00:45:17.417 --> 00:45:19.041
one of the social workers

00:45:19.041 --> 00:45:21.667
asked us to give him up,
and put him in care.

00:45:21.667 --> 00:45:25.000
I was vulgar, I swore at them,
I said \"Eff you!\"

00:45:25.000 --> 00:45:26.834
and that\'s the polite version.

00:45:26.834 --> 00:45:28.625
That\'s my son, he\'s my son.

00:45:28.625 --> 00:45:33.291
It\'s my responsibility,
I\'m going to look after my son
as best as I can

00:45:33.291 --> 00:45:35.458
for the rest of my life,
because he\'s my son!

00:45:35.458 --> 00:45:40.583
you know, you can\'t take that
away from me. You\'re not gonna
take it away from him.

00:45:40.583 --> 00:45:42.625
So... he\'s been with us

00:45:42.625 --> 00:45:45.583
and he was not going
to go anywhere

00:45:45.750 --> 00:45:47.625
other than be with us.

00:45:47.625 --> 00:45:50.458
What do you think, huh?

00:45:50.583 --> 00:45:51.583
(Noah mumbling)

00:45:51.583 --> 00:45:54.959
You think so?
Yeah, I think so.

00:45:56.125 --> 00:45:58.917
(soft music)

00:46:06.083 --> 00:46:08.667
(Daniel): I was born
in the huckleberry patches

00:46:08.667 --> 00:46:13.583
in Carrier Sekani Territory
near Prince George,
British Columbia.

00:46:13.583 --> 00:46:14.917
It\'s my ninth birthday,

00:46:14.917 --> 00:46:18.917
Cindy and I are celebrating
with other children and grownups

00:46:18.917 --> 00:46:22.583
who bring their bears
to daycare, school and work

00:46:22.583 --> 00:46:26.041
to spread the word about
Jordan\'s Principle.

00:46:26.041 --> 00:46:30.166
See everybody bringing
their bears?
- Mm-hmm.

00:46:30.250 --> 00:46:31.750
I did that once.

00:46:31.750 --> 00:46:35.417
- You brought your Teddy Bear?
You brought Binko?

00:46:35.417 --> 00:46:38.917
I believe that children
can change the world

00:46:38.917 --> 00:46:41.667
because I saw it happen
at the Tribunal.

00:46:41.667 --> 00:46:45.250
Kids just like you
made a difference

00:46:45.250 --> 00:46:49.417
and how bears like me
and other animals too

00:46:49.417 --> 00:46:51.125
helped along the way.

00:46:51.125 --> 00:46:53.709
Let\'s join hands, and paws,
and hoofs,

00:46:53.709 --> 00:46:58.250
and keep working together
until every First Nations child

00:46:58.250 --> 00:47:00.667
is treated fairly. Remember...

00:47:00.667 --> 00:47:04.083
(both): Every child matters.

00:47:04.125 --> 00:47:06.375
- Our dreams matter too.

00:47:06.375 --> 00:47:07.792
- And you matter, tiny Girl.

00:47:07.792 --> 00:47:13.709
That\'s what Spirit Bear did.
He made sure that every
child matters.

00:47:14.750 --> 00:47:18.959
(Alanis): After all this time
without help, money

00:47:18.959 --> 00:47:21.583
or respect
for Jordan\'s Principle,

00:47:21.583 --> 00:47:26.709
change has come within
the government itself.

00:47:26.709 --> 00:47:28.750
nOur children with special needs

00:47:28.750 --> 00:47:35.291
are now finally receiving
services like never before.

00:47:35.542 --> 00:47:37.875
As of May, 2017,

00:47:37.875 --> 00:47:42.625
many good people, Indigenous
and non-Indigenous alike

00:47:42.625 --> 00:47:46.000
are now working together
within the department

00:47:46.000 --> 00:47:50.625
to implement the changes
the Tribunal ordered.

00:47:50.625 --> 00:47:54.250
One can feel the dedication
of all

00:47:54.250 --> 00:47:58.792
in making sure our children
can have a future

00:47:58.792 --> 00:48:02.417
and the benefit
of Jordan\'s Principle.

00:48:02.417 --> 00:48:04.375
- When you talk about
the history,

00:48:04.375 --> 00:48:08.709
I\'m curious to find out
what is told to the employees?

00:48:08.709 --> 00:48:13.208
- We would say that
that was based
on a discriminatory...

00:48:13.625 --> 00:48:14.458
...approach

00:48:14.458 --> 00:48:17.333
and not one that the government

00:48:17.333 --> 00:48:18.417
is currently committed
to implementing.

00:48:18.417 --> 00:48:22.959
The Tribunal had indicated
that that was not the definition
of Jordan\'s Principle

00:48:22.959 --> 00:48:26.083
that we should be utilizing,
and so we\'ve actually received

00:48:26.083 --> 00:48:29.500
an amended policy authority
under the Child First Initiative

00:48:29.500 --> 00:48:32.583
to reflect the May, 2017

00:48:32.583 --> 00:48:33.333
orders of the Tribunal.

00:48:33.333 --> 00:48:37.375
- There is a talk of maybe
the number of requests
plateauing at some point

00:48:37.375 --> 00:48:40.083
but it seems to me
in looking at these documents

00:48:40.083 --> 00:48:41.542
that there is no sense
of slowing down.

00:48:41.542 --> 00:48:44.792
- I certainly don\'t see
that happening.

00:48:44.792 --> 00:48:46.000
We had...

00:48:46.000 --> 00:48:48.083
just in terms of our spending,

00:48:48.083 --> 00:48:51.875
if you look at our spending
of 135 million

00:48:51.875 --> 00:48:54.250
in \'17-\'18,
I can tell you that

00:48:54.250 --> 00:48:57.792
as of last week
we were at 307 million

00:48:57.792 --> 00:48:58.583
just for this fiscal year.

00:48:58.583 --> 00:49:02.625
We\'re forecasting at least
spending around 612 million
this fiscal year.

00:49:02.625 --> 00:49:07.208
- And there\'s no signs
of any slowing down
in your view of the needs?

00:49:07.208 --> 00:49:08.208
- Not in my view, no.

00:49:08.208 --> 00:49:09.792
- And the needs that are being
funded right now,

00:49:09.792 --> 00:49:14.625
those are needs that were unmet
prior to this...
- Absolutely, absolutely.

00:49:14.625 --> 00:49:16.834
- Okay, thank you.

00:49:18.583 --> 00:49:21.792
- I don\'t know whether
Canadians actually understand

00:49:21.792 --> 00:49:24.625
the extent to which Indigenous
People\'s in this country

00:49:24.625 --> 00:49:26.792
have faced discrimination
in the past,

00:49:26.792 --> 00:49:31.166
and the deep scar
that that has placed
on our country.

00:49:31.166 --> 00:49:33.917
The scars associated
with colonialism,

00:49:33.917 --> 00:49:39.125
domination, the forced
assimilation
of Indigenous People\'s.

00:49:39.125 --> 00:49:42.083
It\'s so important
to all Canadians

00:49:42.083 --> 00:49:44.917
that we reverse that past

00:49:44.917 --> 00:49:47.875
and move ahead
with reconciliation,

00:49:47.875 --> 00:49:48.875
move ahead
with affirming rights,

00:49:48.875 --> 00:49:53.542
move ahead with justice
and making sure that every child
in this country

00:49:53.542 --> 00:49:56.834
has access to outstanding
quality health care.

00:49:56.834 --> 00:49:58.625
And particularly in the case
of Jordan\'s Principle,

00:49:58.625 --> 00:50:04.291
you should not be
discriminated against because
you\'re a First Nations child.

00:50:05.333 --> 00:50:07.625
- When our government
came into office

00:50:07.625 --> 00:50:10.083
some of you may know
that the number of cases

00:50:10.083 --> 00:50:13.291
of which children
were approved for treatment

00:50:13.291 --> 00:50:17.709
on the basis
of Jordan\'s Principle was zero.

00:50:17.917 --> 00:50:20.041
And now I\'m very proud to say

00:50:20.041 --> 00:50:24.500
that there have been over
77,000 requests for care

00:50:24.500 --> 00:50:28.959
and 77,000 of the cases
have been approved.

00:50:28.959 --> 00:50:31.792
So merci beaucoup,Meegwetch.

00:50:31.792 --> 00:50:33.625
(applause)

00:50:33.625 --> 00:50:37.542
(Jane): Gail, I think
Spirit Bear needs a little help
blowing out candles,

00:50:37.542 --> 00:50:38.625
can you help him?

00:50:38.625 --> 00:50:41.417
You can? He would love that.

00:50:41.417 --> 00:50:43.625
(cheering)

00:50:44.083 --> 00:50:46.333
Thank yoU!

00:50:48.875 --> 00:50:54.125
- My little girl wouldn\'t be
where she is today without
Jordan\'s Principle program.

00:50:54.125 --> 00:50:59.208
The number of services
and the number of benefits
that she\'s...

00:50:59.208 --> 00:51:02.542
...been able to enjoy
has made a huge difference
in her life.

00:51:02.542 --> 00:51:06.000
And I know it\'s making a big
difference in a lot of lives

00:51:06.000 --> 00:51:10.875
and First Nations families.
So I\'m very grateful for that.

00:51:12.166 --> 00:51:15.000
(soft music)

00:51:21.291 --> 00:51:24.792
(Alanis): Members
from communities across
the country

00:51:24.792 --> 00:51:28.291
are meeting
in Winnipeg, Manitoba

00:51:28.291 --> 00:51:30.542
for a Summit
on Jordan\'s Principle.

00:51:30.542 --> 00:51:34.250
- So when we found out
that there was going to be
a presentation

00:51:34.250 --> 00:51:36.166
to the Anderson family,
Mawwi Council

00:51:36.166 --> 00:51:38.875
wanted to present something
to the family

00:51:38.875 --> 00:51:40.834
to show our appreciation.

00:51:41.125 --> 00:51:42.750
We had this star quilt made

00:51:42.750 --> 00:51:45.542
by an elder in my community,
Elsipogtog.

00:51:45.542 --> 00:51:48.542
And we wanted to make sure
that the family knew

00:51:48.542 --> 00:51:50.959
that Jordan is appreciated

00:51:50.959 --> 00:51:52.041
and that he\'s loved

00:51:52.041 --> 00:51:56.542
and that he\'s helped so many
children in our communities.

00:51:56.542 --> 00:51:58.750
(crying)

00:51:59.917 --> 00:52:02.458
(steady drumming)

00:52:02.458 --> 00:52:06.083
(singing in Native language)

00:52:26.500 --> 00:52:30.750
(Kevin):Hihi.Thank you
very much.

00:52:30.750 --> 00:52:32.625
(speaking Cree)

00:52:32.625 --> 00:52:33.834
I welcome you here

00:52:33.834 --> 00:52:39.500
to the first ever National
Jordan\'s Principle Summit.

00:52:39.500 --> 00:52:41.792
(applause)

00:52:43.959 --> 00:52:47.667
- The good news
is Jordan\'s Principle
is now Law.

00:52:47.667 --> 00:52:48.625
It\'s not a policy,

00:52:48.625 --> 00:52:52.959
it\'s not
the Child First Initiative,
it\'s none of that.

00:52:52.959 --> 00:52:54.208
It\'s Law in Canada

00:52:54.208 --> 00:52:57.542
and that means that they,
the government of Canada,

00:52:57.542 --> 00:53:00.166
has to be responsible
for the Law.

00:53:00.166 --> 00:53:04.291
There have been over 90,000
services approved

00:53:04.291 --> 00:53:05.709
under Jordan\'s Principle

00:53:05.709 --> 00:53:07.333
and that\'s in large
thanks to his family.

00:53:07.333 --> 00:53:09.625
That\'s always been
your commitment as a family,

00:53:09.625 --> 00:53:14.250
is you wanted to make sure
other little kids didn\'t suffer
the way that Jordan did.

00:53:14.250 --> 00:53:18.959
Can I ask anybody who knows
of a family who\'s been touched
by Jordan\'s Principle,

00:53:18.959 --> 00:53:23.834
and helped
by Jordan\'s Principle, to stand
so the family can see that?

00:53:23.834 --> 00:53:28.250
These are all the people
who have been helped
by your brother\'s legacy

00:53:28.250 --> 00:53:30.542
and by your family\'s legacy.

00:53:30.542 --> 00:53:33.458
Right? There are lots of kids...

00:53:33.458 --> 00:53:33.917
(applause)

00:53:33.917 --> 00:53:38.166
...right now, who are living out
that progress.

00:53:38.166 --> 00:53:40.041
- My children are so happy

00:53:40.041 --> 00:53:42.417
because of Jordan\'s Principle.
I have three boys

00:53:42.417 --> 00:53:44.959
who access resources
through Jordan\'s Principle.

00:53:44.959 --> 00:53:48.583
Makeisha is 12, Dakota is 8,
and Clifton is 7

00:53:48.583 --> 00:53:52.041
and all three boys have a lot
of challenges.

00:53:52.041 --> 00:53:55.750
They\'re aware of Jordan,
they know the story

00:53:55.750 --> 00:53:58.125
and my children will,
they\'ll say,

00:53:58.125 --> 00:54:00.667
\"Mommy, we have support
because of Jordan.\"

00:54:00.667 --> 00:54:02.709
And truly I am so thankful
to everyone

00:54:02.709 --> 00:54:07.667
who has fought so hard
for all First Nations children
to have these resources

00:54:07.667 --> 00:54:11.709
and so thankful
to Jordan\'s family,
from the bottom of my heart,

00:54:11.709 --> 00:54:14.709
I\'m really grateful,
and thank you so much.

00:54:14.709 --> 00:54:16.625
(applause)

00:54:18.667 --> 00:54:22.166
- It was the Truth
and Reconciliation Commission

00:54:22.166 --> 00:54:24.208
that recommended
Jordan\'s Principle.

00:54:24.208 --> 00:54:28.709
I had no idea who they were
or what they could provide
for me.

00:54:28.709 --> 00:54:32.625
They sent their caseworker
to my home,

00:54:32.625 --> 00:54:34.875
met with me and the children

00:54:34.875 --> 00:54:36.291
and interviewed us.

00:54:36.291 --> 00:54:37.959
And the following few days,

00:54:37.959 --> 00:54:42.375
they had a plan in place.
They sprung into action

00:54:42.375 --> 00:54:45.250
like I\'ve never seen before.

00:54:45.417 --> 00:54:46.417
- I\'d just like to say
thank you,

00:54:46.417 --> 00:54:50.750
because Jordan\'s Principle
has really given me
something to live for.

00:54:50.750 --> 00:54:54.083
I feel like I was
going nowhere before that

00:54:54.083 --> 00:54:56.959
and I\'d just like
to thank Jordan\'s family

00:54:56.959 --> 00:55:02.542
and everything that they went
through to help me in my life.

00:55:03.458 --> 00:55:06.000
(applause)

00:55:08.583 --> 00:55:11.458
- I would tell other families
not to give up.

00:55:11.458 --> 00:55:14.625
Jump through those hoops,
don\'t give up.

00:55:14.625 --> 00:55:17.125
There are people
who you can contact.

00:55:17.125 --> 00:55:20.166
If one doesn\'t help you,
go to another.

00:55:20.166 --> 00:55:22.417
There is somebody there to help

00:55:22.417 --> 00:55:25.291
and our children are worth it.

00:55:26.333 --> 00:55:27.125
(applause)

00:55:27.125 --> 00:55:29.417
- I\'m actually
a Jordan\'s Principle Mother
myself,

00:55:29.417 --> 00:55:35.417
and have gone through that whole
process of applying for
the Jordan\'s Principle services

00:55:35.417 --> 00:55:37.333
back before any of the funding
came out.

00:55:37.333 --> 00:55:41.333
And although I had met
that criteria,

00:55:41.333 --> 00:55:43.041
a very, very narrow criteria,

00:55:43.041 --> 00:55:45.959
we had met that criteria
back living on Reserve.

00:55:45.959 --> 00:55:50.041
And went through
the whole process
with Health Canada,

00:55:50.041 --> 00:55:52.333
with Manitoba Health.

00:55:52.333 --> 00:55:55.166
Everybody at every level
in our community

00:55:55.166 --> 00:55:57.625
from Chief in Counsel,
Health, Education, CFS

00:55:57.625 --> 00:56:02.250
and ultimately in the end,
after going through it all
for a year,

00:56:02.250 --> 00:56:03.458
nobody could help us

00:56:03.458 --> 00:56:05.667
and, you know, we were given
that option to,

00:56:05.667 --> 00:56:08.834
or I was given that option,
because I\'m a single parent,

00:56:08.834 --> 00:56:12.166
to put my son in care.

00:56:14.291 --> 00:56:16.291
(sniffles)
Sorry.

00:56:16.291 --> 00:56:18.333
(Mathieu): It\'s alright.

00:56:19.125 --> 00:56:21.375
Take your time.
- Thank you.

00:56:21.375 --> 00:56:23.500
What are we going to do
with our kids

00:56:23.500 --> 00:56:24.500
once they age out of this?

00:56:24.500 --> 00:56:30.083
That\'s always my big question
because my son is sixteen now.

00:56:30.208 --> 00:56:32.500
He can only stay in this program

00:56:32.500 --> 00:56:35.500
you know, up until 21,
if he\'s in school.

00:56:35.500 --> 00:56:37.417
If he\'s not in school
it\'s only until 18

00:56:37.417 --> 00:56:41.291
and I worry one day
that I might not be here
for him.

00:56:41.291 --> 00:56:43.750
And I\'m sure all of you
have that same worry too,

00:56:43.750 --> 00:56:46.750
that you won\'t be there one day
for your child.

00:56:46.750 --> 00:56:49.125
So we still need
to keep working,

00:56:49.125 --> 00:56:53.417
to continue this, and to have it
right through until...

00:56:53.417 --> 00:56:54.125
you know...

00:56:54.125 --> 00:56:56.333
until the end
of everybody\'s life-spans

00:56:56.333 --> 00:56:57.667
because it shouldn\'t
just get cut off

00:56:57.667 --> 00:57:00.458
because certainly disabilities
and medical conditions

00:57:00.458 --> 00:57:05.000
do not go away
once you turn 18 or 21.

00:57:05.000 --> 00:57:06.208
Thank you.
-Meegwetch.

00:57:06.208 --> 00:57:09.583
- And I agree.
The common denominator here

00:57:09.583 --> 00:57:12.166
is Child Welfare.

00:57:12.166 --> 00:57:14.125
Why should we be forced

00:57:14.125 --> 00:57:19.083
to support that system
by putting our special needs
children there,

00:57:19.083 --> 00:57:21.667
instead of supporting
the families?

00:57:21.667 --> 00:57:23.875
Our son has Treaty rights

00:57:23.875 --> 00:57:25.750
just like the rest
of these children.

00:57:25.750 --> 00:57:28.625
They have rights to be
in their communities,

00:57:28.625 --> 00:57:29.667
to be in their homes,

00:57:29.667 --> 00:57:31.667
to be with their families
that love them,

00:57:31.667 --> 00:57:36.875
and not in the Foster System
with strangers
who don\'t love them.

00:57:36.875 --> 00:57:38.875
However well-meaning
they may be.

00:57:38.875 --> 00:57:42.375
They don\'t love them
like we do and they never will.

00:57:42.375 --> 00:57:44.083
Racism and discrimination

00:57:44.083 --> 00:57:47.959
is what\'s keeping services
away from our children

00:57:47.959 --> 00:57:50.458
and that\'s the bottom line.

00:57:50.458 --> 00:57:52.875
(speaking Cree)

00:58:56.959 --> 00:59:00.333
Do not give up, carry on.

00:59:01.333 --> 00:59:03.458
You panel...

00:59:03.667 --> 00:59:06.333
You who care for your children,

00:59:06.333 --> 00:59:09.250
when I go back to my community.

00:59:09.250 --> 00:59:15.709
When we have our pipe ceremonies
and when we have
our sweat ceremonies,

00:59:16.125 --> 00:59:18.875
we will pray for you.

00:59:19.333 --> 00:59:21.500
We will pray for you.

00:59:21.500 --> 00:59:27.625
So your spirits can rest,
so your hearts can rest.

00:59:27.625 --> 00:59:31.625
Remember, remember...

00:59:31.917 --> 00:59:34.583
You are not alone.

00:59:34.583 --> 00:59:37.458
(speaking Cree)
-Meegwetch.

00:59:37.458 --> 00:59:39.583
(applause)

00:59:41.000 --> 00:59:44.667
(Cindy): I\'ve always felt
that the law is just the law.

00:59:44.667 --> 00:59:47.709
It can be a shield
or it can be a sword.

00:59:47.709 --> 00:59:48.834
And for us,
it\'s been both.

00:59:48.834 --> 00:59:53.000
And it was the means
by which we were taken
to residential school.

00:59:53.000 --> 00:59:57.458
It was the means by which
our lands were taken.

00:59:57.709 --> 01:00:00.208
nBut in this case it was a shield

01:00:00.208 --> 01:00:01.959
nfor this generation of children.

01:00:01.959 --> 01:00:05.375
It could be used to restore
their dignity

01:00:05.375 --> 01:00:09.291
and their ability to grow up
in their families.

01:00:09.625 --> 01:00:12.291
Justice is possible.

01:00:12.291 --> 01:00:14.291
- Yeah!

01:00:14.875 --> 01:00:16.750
Yeah.

01:00:17.083 --> 01:00:20.333
It\'s been well looked after.

01:00:20.333 --> 01:00:22.500
(laughing)

01:00:22.625 --> 01:00:24.917
It\'s, um...

01:00:25.125 --> 01:00:27.875
(soft music)

01:00:33.542 --> 01:00:35.291
Ah...

01:00:35.291 --> 01:00:40.583
I think this speaks
of the generosity of the family,
that they...

01:00:40.583 --> 01:00:44.458
gifted such a precious gift

01:00:44.458 --> 01:00:47.500
from a little boy
that didn\'t...

01:00:47.500 --> 01:00:50.834
get to live his life
with them.

01:00:51.625 --> 01:00:53.208
And that they...

01:00:53.208 --> 01:00:56.333
shared with everybody in Canada.

01:00:56.333 --> 01:01:00.917
And I think this blanket
is a symbol of...

01:01:00.917 --> 01:01:03.250
the heart of the family.

01:01:06.208 --> 01:01:09.959
(men and women singing)

01:01:14.375 --> 01:01:17.792
♪ No more clouds in the sky ♪

01:01:17.792 --> 01:01:22.875
♪ No more tears
to dim the eye ♪

01:01:23.625 --> 01:01:27.250
♪ All is peace forever more ♪

01:01:27.250 --> 01:01:32.083
♪ On that happy golden shore ♪

01:01:33.208 --> 01:01:37.125
♪ What a day, glorious day ♪

01:01:37.125 --> 01:01:40.333
♪ That will be ♪

01:01:41.083 --> 01:01:44.500
♪ What a day that will be ♪

01:01:44.500 --> 01:01:48.709
♪ When my Jesus I shall see ♪

01:01:48.709 --> 01:01:51.208
(singing continues)

01:01:51.458 --> 01:01:55.000
(Alanis): By February, 2019

01:01:55.000 --> 01:01:59.542
216,000 Jordan\'s Principle
services

01:01:59.542 --> 01:02:03.333
were approved
in Jordan\'s name.

01:02:03.667 --> 01:02:07.041
This law needs to be
carefully protected

01:02:07.041 --> 01:02:10.083
to ensure that no family
goes through

01:02:10.083 --> 01:02:13.667
what Jordan and his family
experienced.

01:02:14.291 --> 01:02:17.709
(singing in Native language)

01:02:39.208 --> 01:02:41.125
(song ends)

01:02:41.125 --> 01:02:44.041
(woman): That\'s beautiful.

01:02:46.083 --> 01:02:48.583
(Jerleen): You know,
Jordan has a strong spirit.

01:02:48.583 --> 01:02:51.709
(therapist): There he goes,
he pushed that button!

01:02:51.709 --> 01:02:52.667
Atta boy, Jordan!

01:02:52.667 --> 01:02:56.667
(Jerleen): He didn\'t live long,
but he had an impact

01:02:56.667 --> 01:02:59.291
on so many people\'s lives.

01:02:59.458 --> 01:03:01.417
It\'s an honour to know
that Jordan,

01:03:01.417 --> 01:03:05.875
Jordan River Andersonnand his legacy is still living,

01:03:05.875 --> 01:03:08.041
still going on.

01:03:09.083 --> 01:03:12.583
(soft Native music)

01:03:13.250 --> 01:03:14.458
(Alanis): In bear country,

01:03:14.458 --> 01:03:19.375
strange behaviour was witnessed
in some black bears,

01:03:19.375 --> 01:03:22.667
Who started pacing the land.
(bear growling)

01:03:22.667 --> 01:03:28.125
These bears could feel
Jordan\'s spirit flying by.

01:03:28.125 --> 01:03:33.750
They wanted to welcome
Jordan to the spirit world.

01:03:34.583 --> 01:03:37.000
Jordan was at peace

01:03:37.000 --> 01:03:41.458
making new sounds and smiling.

01:03:41.458 --> 01:03:43.500
A renewal of goodwill

01:03:43.500 --> 01:03:47.500
and recognition of the sacred
in life

01:03:47.500 --> 01:03:50.333
for all children.

01:03:50.583 --> 01:03:53.417
Jordan River Anderson,

01:03:53.417 --> 01:03:57.375
you are our hero.

01:04:00.166 --> 01:04:02.917
(soft music)

01:04:02.917 --> 01:04:06.083
Subtitling: difuze