The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada wants people to 'bear witness' to Jordan's Principle on Wednesday by snapping a photograph of their favourite teddy bear and posting it on social media. The reason Spirit Bear was chosen to symbolize First Nation children at the tribunal hearings is because a teddy bear was the favourite toy of Jordan River Anderson, the young boy from Norway House, Man., the principle is named after.Īnderson died in 2005 in a Winnipeg hospital, while the federal and provincial governments argued over who would pay for his home care. "He has a ribbon shirt, a TRC pin given to him by Senator Sinclair, and some Hudson Bay trading beads given to him by Alanis Obomsawin. That bear is better dressed than I am." "For the last 10 years has been to all the hearings, and children at the hearings … would tell him their stories, and they would also dress him up," said Blackstock. "I thought we need something in the hearing room to remind us all who this is about - it's about real children and their families."īlackstock decided to bring Spirit Bear to all the tribunal hearings so he could "bear witness" to the stories of First Nation children who have been impacted by poor access to health services. "Spirit Bear … was gifted to me by Carrier Sekani Tribal Council just before the hearings started," Blackstock recalled.
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