Canada's Indigenous Child Welfare Laws
Where we began is essential in understanding where we are going, what to celebrate, and what to be critical of.
The following policy brief situates the history of Indigenous self-governance in Canada by analyzing important pieces of legislation and case-law.
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Jasmine Chauhan is a racialized settler from the unceded, traditional, and ancestral territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam Nations. She obtained her Juris Doctor from the Schulich School of Law in 2024 with Certificates in Criminal Justice and Aboriginal & Indigenous Law. Jasmine was called to the bar of Nova Scotia in 2025 after articling with Nova Scotia Legal Aid, where she represented Mi’kmaq, African Nova Scotian, and other community members from racialized and/or disadvantaged identities in criminal, child protection, and prison law matters. She is excited about continuing her legal career in criminal defence work and adjacent legal areas, with a focus on centering the lived experiences of her clients.
Maya Schofield grew up in the unceded territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam nations. She completed her Juris Doctor at Dalhousie University in May 2025 with specializations in Indigenous and Aboriginal Law and Health Law and Policy. Maya has worked with the BC First Nations Health Authority, British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, the Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society, and the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users. She is excited to be the incoming articling student at the Ontario Nurses' Association.
