• N.W.T. premier commits to transferring child and family services to Akaitcho First Nations

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-29 12:24:40.0
  Tags: [National, Indigenous, Social Services, Governance]

  Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson has committed to transferring jurisdiction over child and family services to the Akaitcho First Nations following concerns raised at their annual general assembly regarding foster children being separated from their culture. The Yellowknives Dene First Nation has already indicated its intent to pursue the process, prompting the Department of Health and Social Services to initiate work on establishing a coordination agreement under the federal Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families. Previous audits by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada highlighted major failings in the territorial system, including unverified foster home safety, missed welfare checks, and excessive caseworker loads surpassing the internal maximum of 11 cases.

  Read Original

• Auditor presses N.W.T. child and family services to assess its own needs

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-22 20:17:39.0
  Tags: [National, Social Services, Governance, Indigenous]

  Canada's Office of the Auditor General (OAG) criticized Northwest Territories Child and Family Services—housed within the Department of Health and Social Services—for systemic staffing shortages, unmanageable caseloads triple internal maximums, and failing to systematically assess its own human resource needs. Deputy Auditor General Andrew Hayes reported that 98 percent of children in care in the N.W.T. are Indigenous, and persistent job vacancies continue to compromise welfare checks and foster home safety evaluations. In response, executive director of child and family services Arijana Haramincic stated the department has added 56 positions, expedited hiring, adjusted cultural training, and implemented bi-annual internal audits.

  Read Original

• Q&A | Navarana Beveridge looking ahead in her first week as NTI CEO

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-18 11:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Indigenous, Governance, Social Services]

  Navarana Beveridge assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer for Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) on October 5, 2026, bringing two decades of experience with Inuit organizations, including negotiating the Mary River Project Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement. In her first week, Beveridge outlined her priorities to focus on listening to leadership, preparing for the upcoming Annual General Meeting in Kugluktuk alongside President Gloria Uluqsi, and implementing the Inungnik Makipalliatittiniq strategic plan. She emphasized collaboration with government bodies and regional Inuit associations to address critical regional issues such as housing shortages, food insecurity, and family services.

  Read Original

• Nunavut’s Family Services admits reporting incorrect data on children in care, to the minister's surprise

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-13 09:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Social Services, Governance, Indigenous]

  Nunavut's Department of Family Services admitted that previously reported data stating 251 children and youth were in care as of June 30 was inaccurate and unverified, with actual figures reaching 440 children and youth living outside their family homes. Minister Gwen Healey Akearok stated she was unaware the department had provided incorrect numbers, which officials attributed to quality assurance capacity issues, staff summer leave, and vacancies reaching a 47 per cent rate as of March 31, 2025. The discrepancy reignited criticism from Nunavut's Representative for Children and Youth, Jane Bates, and Auditor General scrutiny regarding ongoing datakeeping failures and the tracking of vulnerable children.

  Read Original

• Nunavut land claims organization exploring taking over care for Inuit children

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-21 15:11:16.0
  Tags: [National, Indigenous, Social Services, Governance]

  Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) is exploring options to take over responsibility for Nunavut's child welfare system to establish an Inuit-focused approach utilizing federal Bill C-92, which recognizes the inherent rights of Indigenous governing bodies over child and family services. This potential transition towards Inuit self-government has sparked debate among territorial leaders, with supporters arguing it better serves Inuit families and detractors raising concerns over duplication of public government powers under the Nunavut Agreement.

  Read Original

• 3 new members named to National Council for Reconciliation's permanent board

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-18 23:43:59.0
  Tags: [National, Indigenous, Governance, Social Services]

  The National Council for Reconciliation announced its first permanent board of directors, adding three new members—Kilikvak Kabloona, Kluane Adamek–Aagé, and Barbara Filion—to join six interim members. Established following an act introduced in Parliament in 2022 that received royal assent in April 2024 and took effect in July 2024, the independent, Indigenous-led organization operates separately from government to monitor and evaluate the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 calls to action. The council, chaired by Julie Ann Wriston, released its first audited financial statements and annual report, with its inaugural report scheduled to be tabled in the House of Commons.

  Read Original