Jordan’s Principle
YFNED’s wrap-around service model is funded primarily by Jordan’s Principle.
Jordan’s Principle is a child-first principle that aims to eliminate service inequities and delays for First Nations children. Jordan’s Principle states that any public service ordinarily available to all other children must be made available to First Nations children without delay or denial.
Jordan’s Principle is named in honour of Jordan River Anderson, a young First Nations boy from Norway House Cree Nation in northern Manitoba, who spent his entire life in hospital while caught in a jurisdictional dispute between the governments of Canada and Manitoba, which both refused to pay for the in-home medical care necessary for Jordan to live in his home and community.
Jordan’s Principle funding comes from the Federal Government, thanks to a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal order.
In addition to receiving support from Jordan’s Principle for our wrap-around services, YFNED is a Jordan’s Principle service coordinator. We coordinate Jordan’s Principle requests, verify the achievement of various project objectives, contribute to reporting, ensure that funding requirements are met and make recommendations for the development of future projects. To date, YFNED has facilitated more than 75 individual requests for First Nations children in Yukon.
More information about Jordan’s Principle
May 10
Spirit Bear is the symbol of Jordan’s Principle. Spirit Bear was a stuffed animal that Indigenous lawyer Cindy Blackstock brought with her to court when fighting for the case that would become Jordan’s Principle. We honour Jordan River Anderson with Bear Witness Day on May 10th.
