Supreme Court upholds Ottawas Indigenous child welfare law, denies Quebecs appeal [Video]

Indigenous communities and leaders across the country cheered Friday as the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the federal government’s child welfare law, affirming that First Nations, Métis and Inuit have sole authority over the protection of their children.

The unanimous decision is a setback for the Quebec government, which won a victory in 2022 when the  Court of Appeal found that parts of the act overstepped federal jurisdiction.

Indigenous leaders lauded the high court’s findings as  dozens of the very children at the heart of the decision ran rampant around an Ottawa conference room.

“Our peoples have compromised enough,” said Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador regional chief Ghislain Picard.

A group of children wearing ribbon skirts, kokum scarves and ribbon shirts sat in front of him as he spoke.

“It’s time now for other governments to do the same.”

Friday’s decision upholding the 2019 law ultimately affirmed that Indigenous Peoples …