Dakota Tipi First Nation Chief Dennis Pashe condemns federal changes to Jordan’s Principle, a program mandating equitable access to health, education, and social services for First Nations children. The cuts, implemented without consultation, impose stricter eligibility criteria and reduce funding for sports, educational supports, and land-based healing programs.
Crisis in care criteria
Chief Dennis Pashe notes the abrupt shift in requirements.
“They changed the criteria where you have to have evaluations of children’s [needs] by doctors, psychiatrists, and social workers. A lot of times it’s not easy to access those professionals.”
The First Nations and Inuit Health Branch now mandates assessments only from pre-approved specialists, creating barriers for remote communities. Pashe estimates over half of local Jordan’s Principle funding could disappear, affecting food security, mental health supports, and extracurricular activities.
Election timing stalls advocacy
Pashe adds that the cuts’ timing during a federal election has paralyzed response efforts.
“They chose election time to make these changes. There’s no ministers in place to lobby. If we could meet, they say, ‘We can’t support it until after the election.’ Meanwhile, the block is still changing things.”
The First Nation plans to challenge the cuts through Canadian Human Rights Tribunal rulings while urging candidates to address the issue. Staff layoffs are expected as programs shrink. Jordan’s Principle resolved over 1.8 million requests nationally since 2016, per government data, but advocates argue new hurdles betray its original intent.