Have a Heart Day
The Early Childhood Studies degree program at the University of Guelph-Humber in collaboration with the Humber College Early Childhood Education diploma program recognizes Heart Day to advocate for Indigenous Children’s rights. Have a Heart Day is a reconciliation event to advocate for equal funding and access to services in the same way funding and services are available to non-Indigenous children. This day unites Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to advocate for the rights of Indigenous children (First Nations Children & Family Caring Society, n.d.a).
Inequality
Children's services in Indigenous communities receive 22% less funding than child welfare services in other communities (Amnesty International Canada, 2019).
Indigenous children living on reserve receive 30% less funding for education than Canadian children in provincially funded schools (Porter, 2016).
Click below to learn more about inequalities in the education system.
Jordan's Principle
Jordan River Anderson died in a hospital at the age of 5 years old after never spending a day in his family home because the provincial and federal governments couldn't agree on who would pay for his at-home care. Jordan's Principle was established to ensure Indigenous children have the same access to the care they need as all Canadian children do (First Nations Child & Family Caring Society, n.d.c).
Click below to learn more about Jordan's Principle.
Take Action
On February 12, 2021, the University of Guelph-Humber and Humber College will be joining the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society for their annual Have a Heart Day campaign.
Students will be given the opportunity to participate in a virtual postcard to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to advocate for the rights of Indigenous children and demand change.
Click below to participate in our virtual postcard and learn more about our event.
(First Nations Child & Family Caring Society, n.d.b)
References
Amnesty International Canada. (2019, Dec. 7). Have a Heart Day 2020. https://www.amnesty.ca/blog/have-heart-day-
2020
First Nations Child & Family Caring Society. (n.d.a). Have a Heart Day. https://fncaringsociety.com/have-a-heart
First Nations Child & Family Caring Society. (n.d.b). Have a Heart Day - Send a Letter to the Prime Minister or Your MP.
https://fncaringsociety.com/have-heart-day-send-letter-prime-minister-or-your-mp
First Nations Child & Family Caring Society. (n.d.c). Jordan’s Principle. https://fncaringsociety.com/jordans-principle
Porter, J. (2016, Mar. 14). Doing the Math on the First Nations Education Funding Gap. CBC News.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/first-nations-education-funding-gap-1.3487822