Lawmaking

Bill C-92: An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families is the first federal law focused on First Nation Child and Family Services (CFS). Bill C-92, affirms our inherent rights to care for our children, youth, and families in our way, protected under section 35 of the constitution. Following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations, the Act sets national minimum standards for how services must be delivered for Indigenous children and families. These standards apply to all First Nations, non-status, Métis, and Inuit children, whether they live on or off reserve.

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Our people fought in the courts and now Canada must recognize our inherent right to make our own Child and Family Laws. We are no longer told by Canada what we need. We tell them. Canada is forced to negotiate on our timelines, listen to our evidence, abide by our laws, and fund the needs of our children, youth, and families. Bill C-92 recognizes the inherent right for all Nations to care for our children, youth, and families in ways that honor our language, culture, and traditions. their traditions and culture.

Bill C-92 comes from decades of advocacy by our own First Nations People. It comes from the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and from the recognition that far too many of our children were taken into care. Our people had to live the damage that Canada has caused by under funding child, youth, and family well-being services, but now we get to take our childrens futures back.

Our Lawmaking Member Nations have begun their journeys of building new laws and systems that puts their families, culture, and Nation rights at the centre of decisions about children and keeping them connected to Nations and communities. YTL is supporting our member Nations that are building their own laws by building a Family and Well-being Commission. This commission will support our members, give Chiefs and Leadership a place to meet, share ideas, knowledge and come together to help create a new way forward.

We are building the processes and procedures to support our Member Nations Representatives, Prevention Teams, and building a new Child and Family commission to help our people. This work is focused on helping families most in need or at risk of intervention from the Government of Saskatchewan or other outside agencies. The goal is to create stronger supports so families can stay together and receive help earlier.

This work applies to the Child and Family Wellbeing Lawmaking Member Nations: Cote, Little Black Bear, Peepeekisis, Star Blanket, Nekaneet, Muscowpetung, Pasqua, Kahkewistahaw, Pheasant Rump.

Leadership of Member Nations have begun the development of their laws. They understand the importance and need to take time to get it right. They are learning from elders, knowledge keepers, and senior Nation members. They have been engaging with their communities, listening, learning, and preparing to ensure the law truly reflects who they are. Together, our Nations will work together with YTL to create a multi-nation model which we will support through our Child and Family Well-being Commission.

The timeline for full scale implementation of Bill C-92 depends on a Nations internal processes, which include: drafting law, negotiating coordination agreements with Canada/Saskatchewan, building services, and phasing in. Once that is complete, there is a maximum of 12 months before a Nations law is in place above provincial laws. There are several steps that have to be followed over the course of the creation of the law.

Step 1: The Nation runs engagements to discover what the specifics needs and requirements for the law should be.  
Step 2: The Nation then begins to draft its own laws.
Step 3: The Nation then notifies Canada and Saskatchewan of their intent to create their own CFS laws under Bill C-92.
Step 4: Negotiate agreements for funding and support.
Step 5: WBFN law takes full effect.

Our commission is actively reviewing information from Nations that have exercised jurisdiction and from Nations that have their own comprehensive protection, prevention, and post-majority programs and services on-reserve. YTL’s strategy is to engage as consistently as possible with our member Nations to discuss what is happening both regionally and nationally to understand how Nations laws are impacting the well being of their members.

As of August 5, 2025, over 90 notices of intent have been submitted by Indigenous governing bodies to exercise jurisdiction under the Act and over 50 requests have been made to enter into Coordination Agreements. 15 Coordination Agreements have been signed and 17 Indigenous laws have come into force.

Our commission is actively reviewing information from Nations that have exercised jurisdiction and from Nations that have their own comprehensive protection, prevention, and post-majority programs and services on-reserve. YTL’s strategy is to engage as consistently as possible with our member Nations to discuss what is happening both regionally and nationally to understand how Nations laws are impacting the well being of their members.

As of August 5, 2025, over 90 notices of intent have been submitted by Indigenous governing bodies to exercise jurisdiction under the Act and over 50 requests have been made to enter into Coordination Agreements. 15 Coordination Agreements have been signed and 17 Indigenous laws have come into force.

Our commission is actively reviewing information from Nations that have exercised jurisdiction and from Nations that have their own comprehensive protection, prevention, and post-majority programs and services on-reserve. YTL’s strategy is to engage as consistently as possible with our member Nations to discuss what is happening both regionally and nationally to understand how Nations laws are impacting the well being of their members.

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This work means that the families in our member Nations will have a stronger voice in CFS decisions and their children will be raised in ways that reflect their specific Nations values, culture, and community.

In the short term: Nations will begin to go through the process of setting up their own laws. This means more chances for engagement and learning from the community. We are working to create pathways so that the families of our member Nations have access to the resources they need to prevent harm in the first place, under funding will be defined by each particular Nation.

In the medium term: Our member Nations will begin to share knowledge with each other through the Child and Family Well-being Commission. We will support the access of legal support and representation for families tribunals or courts

In the long term: Nations can choose to uphold the Rights of their own People to care for kids and youth using their own unique perspectives. This means grandparents rights, auntie rights, uncle rights, and greater community rights. Nations will have greater authority to intervene in unfair judicial matters affecting their children, youth, and families who have been harmed by provincial and federal systems.

We will be bringing the YTL Child and Family Well-being Commission to our seasonal Lawkeeping events to ensure engagement is consistent and that continuous improvement is part of the process. We are also exploring online tools to help us understand what Nation members want to see from our commission, engagements and how we can communicate CFS updates.

Nations can choose to uphold the Rights of their own People to care for kids and youth using their own unique perspectives. This means grandparents rights, auntie rights, uncle rights, and greater community rights. Nations will have greater authority to intervene in unfair judicial matters affecting their children, youth, and families who have been harmed by provincial and federal systems.

You can contact us and let us know what you want to see from our engagement events.

Our Commissioner will continue to lead our Member Nation Law Keepers to develop insights and better leadership, these will continue to be developed, honouring our seasonal ceremonies. We are prioritizing communication with our member Nation through our engagement events. We will invest resources into digital communication through our website, social media and other sources. We are also working with Child and Family Services experts to research the best way to structure Nation services so they remain fair and accountable.

Our Commissioner will continue to lead our Member Nation Law Keepers to develop insights and better leadership, these will continue to be developed, honouring our seasonal ceremonies. We are prioritizing communication with our member Nation through our engagement events. We will invest resources into digital communication through our website, social media and other sources. We are also working with Child and Family Services experts to research the best way to structure Nation services so they remain fair and accountable.

The Child and family Lawmaking commission are actively scheduling and working with Member nations to schedule engagements and support child and family well being law creation. The commission is seeking to better understand: What Children, Youth, and Families’ rights to care are, specific member Nations' needs and how to meet them, and how laws will be enforced.

Member Nation Chiefs will hold an important role in this work with Nation mandate supported by leadership. Nation Members, beginning with elders, knowledge keepers, and seniors help to pass on knowledge and leadership, providing insights into how we can support our member Nations.
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The YTL Child and Family Well-being Commissioner will continue to lead our Member nation Law keepers. Experts in CFS, and urban support will be developed as we move forward with our Nations. They will help us develop a broader communication strategy and help to build working groups.

A coordination agreement is a formal arrangement, typically between an Indigenous governing body and another body or entity, that defines roles, responsibilities, and processes for collaborative work, service delivery, or land management. For First Nations communities and organizations, solid coordination agreements are the foundation of strong inter-governmental relationships and achieving community goals.

These agreements can unlock opportunities for economic development, clarify jurisdictional boundaries for essential services like education and healthcare, and ensure that a community’s vision for its future is respected and formalized in relationships with external entities. Navigating their negotiation and implementation requires a deep understanding of both Indigenous legal traditions and Canadian law, ensuring that these partnerships serve the long-term well-being and aspirations of the community.

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More information can be found here

The primary function of a coordination agreement is to formalize and clarify relationships between an Indigenous governing body and other levels of government or external organizations. It helps to define roles, responsibilities, and processes for collaboration, ensuring the effective delivery of services, resource management, and the advancement of self-determination goals.

‍Nation-led Recognition of Rights: Affirm that the Nation’s inherent right to care for its children, youth, and families has been recognized in Canadian courts. Ensure Canada and the Province acknowledge that the care of children in Nation ways is a protected right. Build Nation capacity to take back jurisdiction in a sustainable and community-grounded way.

Jurisdictional Matters: Establish Nation authority over the care of its children on- and off-reserve. Clarify responsibilities for emergency and after-hours services. Document all protocols in the agreement text and operational manuals.

Transfer of Jurisdiction & Information Sharing: Develop processes for transferring child and family case files from provincial agencies to the Nation. Establish secure methods of information sharing that protect privacy and cultural protocols. Train staff in secure file handling and cultural safety standards.

Fiscal Arrangements: Define the full scope of funding required to build and run Nation-led child and family services. Identify and document current funding shortfalls. Secure long-term, multi-year funding agreements.

Roles and Responsibilities: Identify all parties to the agreement (Nation, federal, provincial, and First Nation organizations). Define responsibilities for service delivery in all contexts (on-reserve, off-reserve, emergencies). Record agreed duties in plain language.

Other Provisions: Other provisions may be included in the Coordination Agreement as areas of ongoing development. These are established based off of the recognition that a Nation cannot yet know all future needs or requirements, and that the agreement must leave space to adapt. This requires continued engagement will guide the identification of emerging needs and supports.

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Yes, once properly negotiated, drafted, and executed, coordination agreements are legally binding documents. They create enforceable obligations between the parties involved, providing a stable and recognized framework for ongoing relationships and shared governance responsibilities, ensuring clarity and accountability.