Wendake, February 14, 2024—Gathered in General Assembly in Wendake, the Council of Elected Women of the AFNQL wishes to express its satisfaction with the ruling handed down by the Supreme Court of Canada on February 9.
Les Femmes élues recognize the historic importance of the ruling, but regret that it comes so late. The Supreme Court of Canada’s ruling can never erase the countless heartbreaking stories experienced by First Nations families affected by the provincial Youth Protection Act. The AFNQL Elected Women deplore the Legault government’s insistence on imposing its Youth Protection Act rather than recognizing the validity of the First Nations’ act, which has wasted four precious years and had serious consequences for many children.
“We are elected women, we are women, mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers, bearers of water, of life, of cultures, and of traditions. We have always had the authority to protect our children. The Supreme Court is finally doing us justice, at least partially removing the obstacles placed in our path by the provincial government, and we want to acknowledge that,” said Carina Dominique, advisor to the Innu Nation of Mashteuiatsh, on behalf of the AFNQL’s Council of Elected Women.
“Elected women will remain vigilant in the wake of this important Supreme Court ruling and will strongly denounce any obstacle to its implementation. We can no longer tolerate anyone putting our children and families at risk. Never again!” said Nadia Robertson, spokesperson for the AFNQL Council of Elected Women and advisor to the Mig’maq Nation of Gespeg, on behalf of the AFNQL Council of Elected Women.
About the AFNQL Council of Elected Women
The AFNQL Council of Elected Women is composed of all women duly elected to positions as chiefs or councilors in each of the First Nations communities in Quebec and Labrador. The AFNQL Council of Elected Women aims to promote a gender-equitable perspective within the Chiefs Table of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador, First Nations communities in Quebec, and all entities dealing with First Nations that recognize, respect, and support the role of women in leadership positions.