The Trudeau government’s Indigenous child and family services act passed third and final reading in the Senate on Friday
Bill C-92 gives First Nations more control over child welfare services that affect their communities.
The bill was introduced by the federal government earlier this year.
In a press release, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations praised the passage of the legislation although the organization still has questions on specifics.
If the bill had not been passed by the end of June, it would have died on the order paper.
According to Statistics Canada, even though Indigenous children account for only 25 per cent of the child population of Saskatchewan, they make up 85 per cent of those in care.
The provincial ministry of social services also reports there were roughly 5,248 children in care in Saskatchewan in December 2017, a rate that has increased by three per cent over the past five years.
(PHOTO: The Trudeau government’s Indigenous child and family services act was introduced by Indigenous Services Minister Seamus O’Regan, center, earlier this year. File photo.)