There are many resources available to First Nations, Metis, and Inuit children and their biological and/or adopted parents. Below is an overview of resources pertaining to rights, status, and special programs. This includes information about status/beneficiaries, rights/funding, healthcare, and education. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions or would like to add a resource to this list. Thank you!
Rights
La Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse/Human Rights & Youth Rights Commission
The Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse was established in 1976 by the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. Its current name and mission come from the merger, in 1995, of the Commission des droits de la personne and the Commission de protection des droits de la jeunesse. The Commission is an independent body of government and carries out its mission solely for the benefit of the population and in the public interest.
Click here for website and information. See below some informational booklets!
Status
Makivik: beneficiary application
Makivik is an organization attending to the rights, business/jobs, language, culture, land, housing, and more for Inuit in Nunavik. Makivik also collaborates with Inuit from other parts of Inuit Nunangat.
Inuit can be beneficiaries under the James Bay Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA), granting access to certain benefits and programs. This page on Makivik’s website answers questions regarding JBNQA benefits.
For more guidance on enrolling your child under the JBNQA, contact Makivik’s enrollment office in Kuujjuaq, Nunavik by phone (819) 964-2925. You can also get in touch with us if you require support or information.
For a history of the JBNQA from an Inuit perspective, read “Wresting with Colonialism on Steriods: Quebec Inuit Fight for Their Homeland” by Zebedee Nungak available here.
Linked forms regarding JBNQA benefits include:
- Form A– Enrolment Nunavik Inuit Beneficiary Application Form (Adult)
- Form B– Enrolment Nunavik Inuit Beneficiary Application Form (Child)
- Form C– Enrolment Modification and Correction Form
- Form D– Re-establishment of Residence in Nunavik Application Form
- Form E– Removal from Nunavik Inuit Beneficiaries Register Application Form
- Form F– Request to Review a Decision Application Form
- Form G– Declaration of Inuit Customary Adoption Form
- Form H– Nunavik Inuit Beneficiary Card with Photo Application Form (Adult)
- Form I– Nunavik Inuit Beneficiary Card with Photo Application Form (Child)
- Form J– Access Nominative Information of the Nunavik Inuit Beneficiaries Register Application Form
Notice of Change of Address
Medical expenses reimbursement letter template
JBNQA Benefits Residing in Nunavik
JBNQA Benefits Residing Outside Territory (3 exceptions)
JBNQA Benefits Residing Outside Territory (no exceptions)
Community Enrolment Committees Contact Information
Canada Vital Statistics Contact Information
Indian Act: defines who can be registered on the Indian Register
The former Department of Indian and Northern Affairs has split into:
- Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
- Indigenous Services Canada
Quebec First Nations under the Indian Act:
- Abenaki
- Algonquin
- Attikamek
- Cree
- Huron-Wendat
- Innu
- Malecite
- Micmac (Mi’gmag)
- Mohawk (Kanien’keha:ka)
- Naskapi
How to apply if you are adopted?
Adoption Unit
Office of the Indian Registrar
Indigenous Services Canada
10 rue Wellington
Gatineau QC K1A 0H4
1-800-567-9604
There are status, non-status, on-reserve, and off-reserve First Nations. To find out if you or your child are eligible for status, ask yourself these questions:
- Do either or both of my parents have status?
- Do any of my grandparents have status?
- Is anyone in my immediate family (uncles, aunts, cousins) registered for or entitled to be registered?
Please get in touch with us if you have questions surrounding your child’s status and/or need guidance. We would be happy to help and point you in the right direction.
Special Programs
Jordan’s Principle
About (from Canada Gov website)
Jordan’s Principle makes sure all First Nations children living in Canada can access the products, services and supports they need, when they need them. Funding can help with a wide range of health, social and educational needs, including the unique needs that First Nations Two-Spirit and LGBTQQIA children and youth and those with disabilities may have.
Jordan’s Principle is named in memory of Jordan River Anderson. He was a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba.
Requests for Inuit children can be made through the Inuit Child First Initiative.
Eligibility for last resort funds:
- under the age of majority in home province
- Registered as status Indian (on or off reserve), or Inuit land claims beneficiary (in region or out of region)
Examples of what funding can be used for:
Health
- wheelchair ramps
- addiction services
- cultural services from Elders
- mental health counseling
- assessments and screenings
- medical supplies and equipment
- therapeutic services (speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy)
Social
- land-based activities
- specialized summer camps
- respite care programs based on cultural beliefs and practices
Educational
- tutoring services
- educational assistants
- specialized school transportation
- psycho-educational assessments
- assistive technologies and electronics
How to apply?
- Contact your regional focal point
Philippe Moutquin: 514-608-6644, sac.principedejordan-qc-jordanprinciple.isc@canada.ca
This is for last resort needs when all other funding channels have been ruled out. The application needs to be very well prepared & fully documented.
Inuit Child First Initiative
Contact info
Email : cfi.nrbhss@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Phone: 833-405-1234
Web: Child First Initiative | Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services (nrbhss.ca)
Child First Initiative Nunavik primary role is to facilitate funding to ensure access to services that are either unavailable within a reasonable timeframe or non-existent. It’s important to note that CFI does not supplant existing funding, programs, or services. Additionally, please be aware that CFI does not provide upfront funds; rather, they operate on a reimbursement basis with proof of invoices.
Each child’s situation is unique.
Below are some examples of items covered:
- Service of professionals (orthopedagogue, special educator, occupational therapist, sexologist, speech therapist, etc.)
- Specialized respite for children with special needs;
- Support for assessment expenses (neuropsychological, psychoeducational, etc.)
- Specialized medical material;
- Adapted transportation;
- Support for the family (baby/children’s items, food assistance, rent support, etc.).
- Therapies (art therapy, sand play therapy, animal-assisted therapy, etc.)
- Education support (homework assistance, educational materials, support staff, etc.)
To be eligible for funding, the following criteria must be met:
- The child is a beneficiary of Nunavik.
- The child is under the age of majority (if residing in Quebec, they must be under 18 years old).
To submit your application, you must provide the following documents:
- The duly completed form.
- A detailed estimate of the costs for the products or services.
- A written and signed recommendation letter from a healthcare professional, educator, or social worker, outlining the child’s needs, diagnoses, and the family’s socio-economic context to justify the need for funding.
Please contact CFI directly for an application form.
Once your application is complete, please send everything to the following CFI address: cfi.nrbhss@ssss.gouv.qc.ca.
Please be aware that CFI Nunavik requires a comprehensive request containing both the form and all supporting documents in order to process your request. Without these essential components, we are unable to proceed with the processing of your request.
Healthcare
NIHB: Non-Insured Health Benefits of Nunavik
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The beneficiary number is required at all times (five-figure number appearing on the beneficiary card issued by Makivik).
- If the beneficiary card also includes an N number (on the right of the beneficiary card issued by Makivik), this means the beneficiary is covered by the federal NIHB program and NOT that of Nunavik. The beneficiary or his (in the interest of simplicity, the masculine or feminine form is used in this text to denote either sex) guardian must then send his applications to Non-Insured Health Benefits First Nations and Inuit Branch (sac-isc.gc.ca).
Eligibility:
Reside in Canada and be:
- A First Nation person who is registered under the Indian Act;
OR
- A child less than 2 years old whose parent is eligible; (must use eligible parent registration number)
OR
- An Inuk recognized by an Inuit Land Claim Organization, residing outside the James Bay Territory over 10 years. (N-number required to access the federal NIHB program)
Clients are eligible no matter where they live in Canada.
To find out whether the beneficiary is eligible for the program and if a required service is covered, contact Nunavik NIHB: ssna.rrsssn@ssss.gouv.qc.ca , 1-844-442-6442 (NIHB) Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Services are covered according to the program guidelines and criteria applicable to each service. It is up to the beneficiary or his guardian to pay the professional directly for the balance of fees not covered at 100%.
- In the case where the beneficiary or his guardian directly pays a supplier for the purchase of medications, supplies or services covered by Nunavik NIHB and wishes to be reimbursed:
- the beneficiary or his guardian must apply for reimbursement by e mail to ssna.rrsssn@ssss.gouv.qc.ca;
- If the claim has been reimbursed by another insurance plan, private or public, only the amount that has not been reimbursed can be claimed;
- the receipt for payment made to the supplier and a copy of original receipts are required;
- the beneficiary or his guardian must provide the information enabling direct reimbursement into his bank account;
- reimbursement shall be made according to the program criteria;
- all applications for reimbursement for admissible benefits must be submitted no later than one year after the service was obtained.
Medications and Pharmaceutical Products
NIHB: 1-844-442-6442 option 1, extension 104
The Nunavik NIHB program covers prescription medications and some over-the-counter medications available in pharmacies and administered at home or in outpatient settings.
The beneficiary or his guardian must present to the pharmacist the beneficiary card as well as a prescription issued by a physician or other health professional authorized under provincial law.
- The beneficiary or his guardian must ask the pharmacist to contact Nunavik NIHB in order to obtain authorization indicating the applicable reimbursement after checking the eligibility of the beneficiary, the prescription and the pharmacist’s fee.
- The authorization issued by Nunavik NIHB will indicate the amount to be reimbursed directly for the pharmacist. In case the program does not cover the total amount, the beneficiary himself shall pay the difference to the pharmacist.
Some pharmacists are not familiar with the Nunavik NIHB program and might ask for the N Number; if you do not have an N number on your beneficiary card, ask the pharmacist to send his fee statement by e-mail to Nunavik NIHB at ssna.rrsssn@ssss.gouv.qc.ca.
Medical Equipment and Supplies
NIHB: 1-844-442-6442 option 1, extension 104
The Nunavik NIHB program covers only prescription medical supplies and equipment.
All purchases for items and services in relation to medical supplies or equipment are eligible to the extent that such items and services are found in the guides and lists of benefits classified as admissible medical equipment and supplies of the Nunavik NIHB program.
Medical equipment and supplies include:
- compression clothing;
- medical supplies such as bandages;
- medical equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs;
- orthotic devices and specialized footwear;
- hearing devices such as hearing aids as well as repairs;
- equipment and supplies for respiratory assistance and oxygen therapy; · prosthetics such as artificial limbs.
The beneficiary or his guardian must present a prescription issued by a professional recognized under the Nunavik NIHB program (physician, nurse practitioner, occupational therapist, physiotherapist or nurse with an extended role) and must obtain medical supplies or equipment from a recognized supplier.
- The beneficiary or his guardian must ask the supplier to contact Nunavik NIHB in order to obtain authorization indicating the applicable reimbursement after checking the eligibility of the beneficiary, the prescription and the supplier’s fee.
- The authorization issued by Nunavik NIHB will indicate the amount to be reimbursed directly for the supplier. In case the program does not cover the total amount, the beneficiary himself shall pay the difference to the supplier.
Dental Services
NIHB: 1-844-442-6442 option 1, extension 102
The program covers a range of dental services that are described in the Dental Benefits Guide for First Nations and Inuit: Non-Insured Health Benefits program (sac-isc.gc.ca).
Basic dental services include:
- diagnostic services;
- preventive services;
- restoration services;
- endodontic services;
- periodontal services;
- services for removable prosthodontics;
- oral-surgery services;
- orthodontal services;
- complementary services.
This program provides eligible beneficiaries with coverage for benefits not covered by another public or private -health-insurance plan.
To obtain services, the beneficiary or his guardian must make an appointment for an examination or obtain a treatment plan.
- The beneficiary or his guardian must ask the supplier to contact Nunavik NIHB in order to submit the treatment plan to obtain authorization indicating the applicable reimbursement after checking the eligibility of the beneficiary, the treatment plan and the supplier’s fee.
- The authorization issued by Nunavik NIHB will indicate the amount to be reimbursed directly for the supplier. In case the program does not cover the total amount, the beneficiary himself shall pay the difference to the supplier.
Eye Care
NIHB: 1-844-442-6442 option 1, extension 102
Eye-care benefits under the NIHB program cover eye examinations and corrective lenses, particularly:
- eye examinations when not insured by the province or territory; · corrective lenses such as eyeglasses and contact lenses prescribed by an eye care professional;
- eyeglass repairs.
Eye-care benefits are covered in accordance with the program policies. Care must be provided by a supplier recognized under the Nunavik NIHB program.
- The beneficiary or his guardian must ask the supplier to contact Nunavik NIHB in order to obtain authorization indicating the applicable reimbursement after checking the eligibility of the beneficiary, the prescription and the supplier’s fee.
- The authorization issued by Nunavik NIHB will indicate the amount to be reimbursed directly for the supplier. In case the program does not cover the total amount, the beneficiary himself shall pay the difference to the supplier.
Mental-Health Counselling
NIHB: 1-844-442-6442 option 1, extension 104
If you are going through problems of emotional distress and wish to talk to someone, dial 1-855-242-3310 or chat online at hopeforwellness.ca. The Hope for Wellness Help Line for First Nations and Inuit is free of charge. It is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, dial 9-1-1 or your community’s emergency-services number.
Counselling services as well as services for cultural and emotional support are also available through the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program for eligible former students and their families (Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program (sac-isc.gc.ca).
The Nunavik NIHB program covers professional counselling for mental health in view of providing assistance in situations of immediate need in the area of mental health and supplementing the services for mental well-being provided in the community.
Beneficiaries of Nunavik can access benefits of mental-health counselling through an admissible mental-health counsellor without the need for a medical referral.
The program covers a maximum of 22 hours of counselling every 12 months.*
The beneficiary who wishes to obtain this service must undertake the procedures himself to contact the mental-health counsellor of his choice.** The mental-health counsellor must be a member in good standing of a professional governing body recognized by law and must be qualified for an independent practice in the province of Québec.
BEFORE beginning sessions, the beneficiary must ask the mental-health counsellor he selected to communicate with the Nunavik NIHB team to check his eligibility and to issue written authorization.
The sessions may begin only after the mental-health counsellor has obtained written authorization from the Nunavik NIHB team.
The sessions must be held by telephone, by videoconference (ZOOM, Skype, Messenger, Teams, etc.) or in person.***
The beneficiary will not be required to pay any fee if the mental-health counsellor receives the confirmation before the sessions begin, as said confirmation issued by the Nunavik NIHB team will indicate the procedure for reimbursement.
IMPORTANT: The mental-health counsellor will not be reimbursed for any appointments missed or cancelled by the beneficiary. The beneficiary shall be responsible for paying any penalty fees to the mental-health counsellor if he misses his appointments.
If the sessions are scheduled to be held by videoconference, the beneficiary shall be responsible for obtaining the telephone number to contact his mental-health counsellor in case of computer problems at the time of the appointment.
* Additional hours during the same 12-month period may be covered exceptionally on condition that prior authorization is obtained under the Nunavik NIHB program.
** Upon request, the Nunavik NIHB team can provide a list of mental-health counsellors to help the beneficiary in the process.
*** The first session with a mental-health counsellor should generally be held in person in order to discuss a treatment plan and determine which between in-person and remote counselling would be preferable
Education
Pre-school
- First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative, administered by Employment and Social Development Canada
- Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve program, administered by Indigenous Services Canada
- Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities program, administered by the Public Health Agency of Canada
- Rising Sun Day care (phone: 514-769-9355)
Elementary & Secondary School
- No special funds for out of region or off reserve children usually coming from home community. Watch out for bursaries etc . Some home community School Boards may help with books and (rarely) tuition: eg Kativik Ilisarniliriniq (Resource for parents under the organization Kativik Ilisarniliriniq (KI) school board of Nunavik like tutoring, School material, etc.: Resources for Parents – Kativik)
Post-Secondary and University
Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP)
- eligible Status Indian or Inuit student
- part-time or full-time basis
- registered with an eligible post-secondary institution
University and College Entrance Preparation Program (UCEPP)
- Status Indian or Inuit student registered for university or college entrance programs to help you achieve the academic requirements necessary for entrance into a post-secondary degree or diploma program
