Anishinabek Nation signs Memorandum of Understanding with Chief Coroner for Ontario

ANISHINABEK NATION HEAD OFFICE – The Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige and the Chief Coroner for Ontario Dr. Dirk Huyer, surrounded by special guests, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to guide the implementation of the Anishinabek Nation’s 30 recommendations for Child and Youth Death Review (CYDR) transformation on the morning of August 11.

“This work is about prevention of future deaths and implementing a process that is more respectful to our communities, families, and to the spirits of the loved ones who have journeyed home,” states Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Debassige. “In the past, Child and Youth Death Reviews and investigations have not been inclusive and meaningful processes for First Nation families and communities and have, in many instances, caused further traumas. It is important to have a formal mechanism in place to guide the ongoing collaborative work between the Anishinabek Nation and the Office of the Chief Coroner in CYDR transformation to ensure we can further protect those most vulnerable in our communities. We are grateful for the Anishinabek Nation leadership throughout the years who understood the importance of this necessary work and laid out the foundation for us to build upon.”

The Anishinabek Nation is leading the path forward regarding First Nation political advocacy towards culturally appropriate and meaningful CYDR and investigations, having commenced in 2022 based upon outreach from Chief Coroner Dr. Huyer and the direction of former Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe. The Legal Department held engagements with leadership, frontline child and youth well-being workers, and Knowledge Keepers, who shared their expertise and presented 30 key recommendations to the Office of the Chief Coroner on what is needed for the meaningful transformation of CYDR. A report and the recommendations were endorsed by Anishinabek Nation Chiefs-in-Assembly in 2024.

“The MOU was developed based on the guidance of representatives from our Nation Council, Political Office, Social Development Department, and the Anishinabek Nation Children’s Commissioner,” says Anishinabek Nation Legal Counsel Leanna Farr. “A Circle, which is similar to a working group, has been developed as a space for the Anishinabek Nation, the Office of the Chief Coroner, and Ministry of the Attorney General’s Indigenous Justice Division representatives to plan and collaborate for recommendation implementation. The Circle drafted the Anishinabek Nation/Office of the Chief Coroner MOU to formally guide our implementation work into the future. The MOU reflects ongoing commitments to collaboration and accountability for implementation of the Anishinabek Nation recommendations.”

The Circle ensured that the Memorandum of Understanding was guided by Anishinabek principles in its preamble: “Anishinaabe law recognizes that abinoojiinyag (children) are sacred gifts from the Creator. We have a profound responsibility to care for these sacred gifts and to honour them in both life and in their journey home (their death). In Anishinaabe culture, birth and death are rites of passage that are to be respected and honoured through special ceremonies. Ceremony for the spirits of our children is just as important in their death as during their time here in the physical world. Our collaborative work towards implementing the Anishinabek Nation recommendations on Child and Youth Death Review transformation must uphold these important Anishinaabe laws and teachings to honour the spirits of our young ones who have journeyed home to the Spirit World.”

“We know that when a death of a First Nations child or youth occurs, this impacts the entire community deeply, both at the First Nation level and the First Nations community as a whole,” states Grand Council Chief Debassige. “The Anishinabek Nation has been working with Dr. Huyer for some years now, and we are hopeful that with this partnership, our efforts will be strengthened in honouring the life and death of First Nations children and youth by focussing on what matters most rather than diverting energy to combating colonial and systemic barriers that affect exclusion of First Nations within the processes.”

The Chief Coroner for Ontario has committed to providing high-quality services that are responsive to Ontario’s diverse needs, both culturally and geographically, which includes a commitment to engaging with Indigenous leadership and community members for the purpose of enhancing death investigation services to their communities. Recognizing the importance of finding answers regarding deaths that occurred at Indian Residential Schools and potential unmarked burials, Dr. Huyer has developed a community-directed approach to assisting in this endeavour.

“It was an honour to participate in the ceremony and to sign the Memorandum of Understanding together with Anishinabek Nation leadership,” expressed Dr. Huyer. “The teachings shared throughout this work remind us that children are sacred gifts and that our efforts must be guided by respect, humility, and a commitment to protecting future generations. We look forward to continuing this partnership and working together to create a more meaningful and culturally responsive approach to Child and Youth Death Reviews.”

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding occurred at the Anishinabek Nation Head Office located in Nipissing First Nation, following a ceremony where members of the Nation Council and other special guests also participated.

To read the report on the Child and Youth Death Review recommendations, visit: Anishinabek Nation Report and Recommendations on OCC-CYDR Transformation.