The first thing that strikes you when you meet Spirit Bear is that he loves children. In spite of his broad recognition and a growing list of accolades, he has remained focused squarely on advocating for equity for First Nations children, youth, and families.
Spirit Bear, Cindy Blackstock, and their team at the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society (“the Caring Society”) have been working tirelessly to uphold the rights of First Nations children and their families. In their travels, Cindy and Spirit Bear have met thousands of people of all backgrounds. Spirit Bear has been hugged, cuddled, and celebrated by children and Elders across many territories. This contact makes him sacred. There is and will always be but ONE Spirit Bear.
Since joining the Caring Society in 2008, Spirit Bear has accumulated an impressive list of academic credentials, including a “Bearrister” degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, and he was subsequently admitted to the “Bear” of the Indigenous Bar Association!
Cindy says that discrimination against First Nations people has been normalized by society, and her mission has been to unrelentingly challenge attitudes and practices that perpetuate the wrongs. The Caring Society is not simply a critic but rather comes with solutions and alternatives that, when implemented, will make things better for kids.
In 1998, leaders in First Nations child and family services across Canada recognized the need to have a national body to provide research, policy, professional development, and networking to support First Nations child and family service agencies in caring for First Nations children, youth, and families. Out of that vision, the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society was formed.
The Caring Society is a registered charity and receives no government funding. They rely on donations to continue their independent work for First Nations children and youth.
Recent landmark accomplishments in the life of the Caring Society for First Nations kids include:
• Jordan’s Principle, “a gift from Jordan and his family,” was passed in 2007 with unanimous support in the House of Commons.
• Party to a historic human rights case for First Nations children that has yielded $25 billion in additional health, education and social services to First Nations children, youth and families.
• Compensation of $23.4B to over 300,000 First Nations children, youth, and families for discrimination by Canada.
• Over nine million supports for First Nations children approved via Jordan’s Principle due to the human rights case.
• In 2023, 30 million children worldwide learned about reconciliation through the World’s Children’s Prize—often called the “Children’s Nobel Prize”—awarded to Caring Society Executive Director, Cindy Blackstock.
These milestones were realized after decades of research, policy discussions, and negotiations with Canada, and finally, litigation, testimony, and legal wrangling. Only through impassioned determination and relentless leadership were they achieved.
Through it all, Spirit Bear sat quietly and confidently in the courtrooms, tribunals, chambers, assemblies, and wherever else he and Cindy were needed. While there have been gains, Spirit Bear and his colleagues at the Caring Society know that there is much remaining to be done. He will continue to put one paw after another until First Nations children and their families are able to live their dreams to the fullest—and you can get involved too. No matter who you are or where you’re from, Spirit Bear and the Caring Society have ways for people of all ages to make a difference. Learn more at fncaringsociety.com.
First Nations children and families living on reserve and in the Territories receive public services funded by the federal government. Since confederation, these services have fallen significantly short of what other Canadians receive. This injustice needs to end, and Spirit Bear has a plan to do just that. Read Spirit Bear’s Plan to End Inequalities in Public Services for First Nations Children, Youth and Families at: fncaringsociety.com/spirit-bear-plan
TryCycle Data Systems is an Ottawa-based company that works with Indigenous communities to improve wellness, using technology to facilitate human connection.
Read about Spirit Bear
All of Spirit Bear’s children’s books are available as PDFs for free online. Hard copies are available through majorretailers and independent bookstores. The first book in the series, Spirit Bear and Children Make History, introduces readers to Spirit Bear, including how he became a “Bearrister” https://fncaringsociety.com/spirit-bear/books-learning-guides
Images: First Nations Child and Family Caring Society
