The Uashat mak Mani-utenam band council has officially assumed control of its youth protection services by implementing its own community-driven legal structure. In a significant development, the Innu Takuaikan Uashat mak Mani-utenam (ITUM) Council, alongside the federal and Quebec governments, signed a groundbreaking tripartite agreement. This agreement signifies a crucial step in enforcing the Tshisheuatishitau Law, adopted by ITUM in February 2025, to prioritize keeping children within their extended families and the wider Innu community.
Under the newly signed framework, the ITUM law will carry equal weight as federal legislation, with all current cases managed by Quebec’s youth protection authority, the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ), being transferred to the community for oversight through its governance system. To facilitate this transition, the federal government has committed $137 million in funding.
Federal Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty and Quebec Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant visited Uashat mak Mani-utenam to formally endorse the band council’s jurisdiction by signing the agreement. Carmant expressed enthusiasm for the deal, particularly emphasizing its positive impact on the community’s children. He highlighted the transformative approach taken by Ian Lafrenière, Quebec’s minister responsible for relations with the First Nations and the Inuit, and the election of Kateri Champagne Jourdain, MNA for Duplessis, in reshaping interactions with First Nations in Quebec.
A key aspect of the agreement is the establishment of a permanent oversight committee to ensure ongoing cooperation among the three governments. Marie-Claude André-Grégoire, the band council’s lawyer involved in drafting the legislation, was visibly moved by this significant milestone, emphasizing the coordinated services and transition process between the Tshisheuatishitau Law and the Youth Protection Act.
This agreement signifies a significant political shift for Quebec, being the first of its kind between the province, the federal government, and a First Nation since the implementation of the federal law, Bill C-92, in 2020. The Act respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children, youth, and families upholds the jurisdiction of Indigenous nations over child and family services while outlining national standards of care.
While Opiticiwan previously took control of its child welfare under Bill C-92, Quebec had initially resisted signing an agreement with that Atikamekw community, actively challenging the legislation. However, following a landmark 2024 Supreme Court of Canada ruling upholding the legislation, the path was cleared for the historic signing on Friday. This event sets a precedent for Quebec, with numerous other First Nations communities and coalitions currently preparing to follow suit in assuming control of their child welfare services.