Mr. Speaker, on September 30th, 2024, Canada's national Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Government of Canada, and Inuvialuit Qitunrariit Inuuniarnikkun Maligaksat made history by signing the Inuvialuit Coordination Agreement and Fiscal Agreement.
This historic agreement identifies how the implementation of the Inuvialuit Qitunrariit Inuuniarnikkun Maligaksat, also referred to as the Inuvialuit Family Way of Living Law, will be supported in the Northwest Territories. This is the first coordination agreement implemented under the federal Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families in the territory, and the first for Inuit in Canada.
Mr. Speaker, as part of this agreement, Maligaksat will administer child well-being and advocacy programs for Inuvialuit children, youth, and families across the territory, including voluntary child and family support services and agreements. This means the GNWT's community social services workers will no longer provide voluntary support services and agreements to Inuvialuit in the territory. Instead, Maligaksat will provide these services.
While the GNWT maintains responsibility for protection services to Inuvialuit in the Northwest Territories, our government and Maligaksat will collaborate in areas of protection services like investigations, cultural continuity, and housing continuity planning. The GNWT will also maintain responsibility for prevention, including voluntary support and protection services for First Nations, Metis, other Inuit such as the Nunavummiut, and non-Indigenous children, youth, and families.
Mr. Speaker, we understand the successful implementation of the Inuvialuit Coordination Agreement requires collaboration and a shared vision. To that end, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to working with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Maligaksat, Canada, and all frontline staff to ensure a smooth and effective transition.
For a long time, Indigenous communities have voiced concerns about the delivery of child and family services, both past and present, often highlighting the overrepresentation of Indigenous children and youth in the system. In response to these concerns, the Department of Health and Social Services continues to work to fundamentally shift child and family services to a culturally-safe system. We have a standing offer with all Indigenous governments in the Northwest Territories to meet and discuss the GNWT's implementation of the federal Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families, and to share information and opportunities for exercising jurisdiction related to child and family services outside of self-government agreements. I encourage all Indigenous governments to reach out to my office to continue this conversation.
Once again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation on this historic achievement and thank them, the Maligaksat and Canada, for working with us to finalize this agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.