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).
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Click below to learn more about inequalities in the education system.
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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.
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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.
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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-
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First Nations Child & Family Caring Society. (n.d.a). Have a Heart Day. https://fncaringsociety.com/have-a-heart
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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
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First Nations Child & Family Caring Society. (n.d.c). Jordan’s Principle. https://fncaringsociety.com/jordans-principle
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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