• First Nations people are outrageously over-incarcerated and over-represented in all areas of the criminal justice system. First Nations children are over-represented in the youth justice system, child protection system and poor education and health outcomes. Despite being the backbone in First Nations families and communities, First Nations women are over-represented in domestic and family violence, incarceration, and underrepresented in the workforce and economic development.
• First Nations peoples are calling for radical reform under the Closing the Gap Partnership Agreement and the National Agreement for Closing the Gap and this session will identify the changes needed to ensure the right for First Nations people to be able access culturally safe and responsive services and programs that will meet their needs. Delegates will explore the systemic issues that not only prevent First Nations people from accessing services and programs but will further explore the challenges in systems and policy that continue to disempower and disadvantage First Nations people.
• Delegates will be provided with a better understanding of their responsibilities, as well as identify opportunities in how to best build cultural safety and responsiveness in their practice and policy making.
• The session will bring into focus national and international levers and drivers for positive reform including Closing the Gap, the Uluru Statement, the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Convention of the Rights of the Child.