fncaringsociety.com

The I Am a Witness campaign is an initiative of the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society that invites people to learn about the human rights case on First Nations child welfare and Jordan's Principle, and to decide for themselves whether they believe there is discrimination against First Nations children and youth. You can get involved by using the campaign's learning resources to understand the case, then taking peaceful and respectful action in support of reconciliation and equity — the same path thousands of children and adults have already taken, according to the Caring Society.

What the campaign is trying to do

The campaign is built around a simple premise: give people the information, then let them make up their own minds. Rather than telling visitors what conclusion to reach, it presents the case on First Nations child welfare and Jordan's Principle and asks them to judge for themselves whether discrimination exists against First Nations children and youth.

This matters because the case itself is a human rights matter before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. The campaign frames learning as the first step and personal judgment as the outcome — not a slogan to accept, but a conclusion to reach.

How to get involved

The Caring Society describes involvement as a sequence of learning followed by action. In practice, that means:

1. Learn the case. Start with the campaign's own materials on the First Nations child welfare case and Jordan's Principle. The site's "I Am a Witness" section is the entry point, and the FNCFS Resources page has been updated to gather material on the Loving Justice Plan and long-term reform in one place.
2. Decide for yourself. The campaign explicitly invites you to form your own view on whether there is discrimination against First Nations children and youth.
3. Take peaceful and respectful action. The Caring Society notes that thousands of children have committed to learning about the case and have taken part in peaceful and respectful actions in support of reconciliation and equity. That is the model the campaign holds up for others.

If you want a concrete recurring action rather than a one-time step, Orange Shirt Day on September 30 is the site's most visible annual moment. The Caring Society invites people to honour Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by learning about Canada's history, reflecting on the legacy of the residential school system, and taking action.

What you can use once you're involved

The campaign sits within a wider set of Caring Society resources, so involvement doesn't end at the campaign page:

• Knowledge Portal — a searchable database with annotated literature reviews, reports, guides, films, booklets, studies, journal articles, and presentations on Aboriginal children and families in Canada and similar countries.
• FNCFS Resources — a consolidated page for learning about the Loving Justice Plan and long-term reform.
• Spirit Bear — a member of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council who represents the 165,000 First Nations children impacted by the First Nations child welfare case at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, and who anchors much of the Society's public education work.
• Jordan's Principle Scholarship — applications for 2026 are open, with a deadline of September 7, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, for those whose involvement leads toward study in a related area.

Who this is for

The campaign is aimed at anyone willing to learn before forming a view — students, educators, community members, and people encountering the First Nations child welfare case for the first time. It is less useful if you are looking for a single petition to sign or a donation page; the site's emphasis is on education, reflection, and respectful action rather than a transactional ask.

A reasonable starting point: read the I Am a Witness material, check the FNCFS Resources page for the current state of the case and reform, and pick one action — attending or marking Orange Shirt Day, exploring the Knowledge Portal, or sharing what you learn — that you can repeat rather than do once.

Jordan's Principle is a legal rule in Canada that says when a First Nations child needs a service, the government department or level of government that can provide it first must pay for it — so the child isn't left waiting while governments argue over who is responsible. The First Nations Child & Family Caring Society (the Caring Society) is one of the organizations that pushed for this rule and continues to advocate for it, alongside the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal case on First Nations child welfare. The site fncaringsociety.com is where the Caring Society publishes its campaigns, resources, and updates on that work.

What Jordan's Principle actually does

The principle is named after Jordan River Anderson, a First Nations child from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba. Jordan was born with complex medical needs and spent years in hospital while the federal and provincial governments disputed who should pay for his home care. He died in 2005 before ever living in a family home.

Jordan's Principle is meant to prevent that from happening again. Its core idea:

• First to pay, not last to argue. Whichever government can act first must do so, and cost disputes get sorted out afterward.
• The child comes first. A child shouldn't be denied a service, or have it delayed, because of jurisdictional disagreements.
• It applies to services for First Nations children — health, education, and social services among them.

The principle was the subject of a motion in the House of Commons in 2007 and has since been shaped by subsequent legal and tribunal decisions.

How the Caring Society is involved

The Caring Society describes its mission as standing with First Nations children, youth, and families so they have equitable opportunities to grow up safely at home, be healthy, get a good education, and be proud of who they are. Its work connects to Jordan's Principle in a few concrete ways:

• The human rights case. The Caring Society is a party to the case on First Nations child welfare and Jordan's Principle at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. The site's "I Am a Witness" campaign invites people to learn about that case and decide for themselves whether they think there is discrimination against First Nations children and youth.
• Public education. The Knowledge Portal is a searchable database of annotated literature reviews, reports, guides, films, booklets, studies, journal articles, and presentations related to Aboriginal children and families in Canada and similar countries.
• Symbolic and youth engagement. Spirit Bear, a member of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, represents the 165,000 First Nations children affected by the child welfare case, as well as other children who have committed to learning about the case and taking part in peaceful, respectful actions in support of reconciliation and equity.
• Scholarships. The Jordan's Principle Scholarship is administered through the site. Applications for 2026 are open, with a deadline of September 7, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

What you can find on the site

Who this is for

This material is most useful if you're a student, educator, researcher, or member of the public trying to understand the legal and policy side of First Nations child welfare in Canada — or if you're looking for the scholarship application or the FNCFS resource page. If you need to make an actual Jordan's Principle request for a child, that goes through the federal government's Jordan's Principle process rather than through this site; the Caring Society's role is advocacy, education, and the human rights case.

One practical note: the site lists specific dates for the scholarship and Orange Shirt Day, so check the current pages before relying on a deadline you saw elsewhere.

fncaringsociety.com is the official website of The Caring Society (First Nations Child & Family Caring Society). It is an information and advocacy hub focused on ensuring First Nations children, youth, and families have equitable opportunities to grow up safely at home, be healthy, get a good education, and be proud of who they are. The site is most useful if you want to understand the First Nations child welfare case and Jordan's Principle, find learning resources, or take part in reconciliation-related campaigns and events.

What the organization does

The Caring Society describes its work as standing with First Nations children, youth, and families so they have equitable opportunities in areas like safety at home, health, and education. The website presents this mission alongside campaigns, resources, and ways for the public to get involved.

Key initiatives featured on the site

I Am a Witness

The I Am a Witness campaign invites people to learn about the human rights case on First Nations child welfare and Jordan's Principle, and to decide for themselves whether they believe there is discrimination against First Nations children and youth.

Spirit Bear

Spirit Bear is a member of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council and represents the 165,000 First Nations children impacted by the First Nations child welfare case at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, along with other children who have committed to learning about the case and taking part in peaceful, respectful actions supporting reconciliation and equity. The site also features Spirit Bear books, including a board book for young children.

Jordan's Principle Scholarship

Applications for the 2026 Jordan's Principle Scholarship are open. The deadline is September 7, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. If you are applying, treat that date as a hard cutoff and plan to submit ahead of it.

Orange Shirt Day

The site invites visitors to join Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, 2026. The stated purpose is to learn about Canada's history in the spirit of truth and reconciliation, reflect on the legacy of the residential school system, and take action.

Resources available

Who the site is for

• People who want to understand the First Nations child welfare case and Jordan's Principle
• Educators, parents, and caregivers looking for children's resources such as Spirit Bear books
• Students and applicants seeking scholarship information
• Anyone looking for research material through the Knowledge Portal
• People who want to participate in events like Orange Shirt Day or support reconciliation and equity

How to use the site

1. Start with the FNCFS Resources page if you want background on the Loving Justice Plan and long-term reform.
2. Use the Knowledge Portal if you need reports, studies, or guides for research or teaching.
3. Visit the I Am a Witness campaign if you want to review the case materials and form your own view.
4. Check the scholarship page for eligibility and application details if you plan to apply before the September 7, 2026 deadline.
5. Look for event information if you want to take part in Orange Shirt Day on September 30, 2026.

The site does not present itself as a service provider for individual case support; it functions primarily as an educational, advocacy, and resource platform.

The Knowledge Portal is a searchable database hosted by the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society (fncaringsociety.com). It provides access to annotated literature reviews, reports, guides, films, booklets, studies, journal articles, and presentations related to Aboriginal children and families in Canada and similar countries. It is a research and learning tool rather than a service portal: you use it to find and read material, not to apply for programs or submit claims.

What you can find in the portal

Based on the Caring Society's description, the Knowledge Portal collects several distinct types of material in one searchable place:

The common thread is subject matter: the well-being of Aboriginal children and families in Canada, plus comparable contexts in other countries. If your question is about First Nations child welfare, Jordan's Principle, or related policy and research, this is the kind of material the portal is built to surface.

How to use it

The portal is described as a searchable database with related links, so the basic workflow is:

1. Go to the Knowledge Portal section of fncaringsociety.com.
2. Enter a search term related to your topic — for example, child welfare reform, Jordan's Principle, or a specific report title.
3. Review the results, which include the annotated entries and links to the full items.
4. Follow the links to read, download, or cite the material you need.

Because entries are annotated, you can often judge relevance from the description before opening the full document — useful when you are scanning a large set of results.

When the portal is the right starting point

• You are doing research or a school assignment on First Nations child welfare or related topics.
• You want a curated entry point instead of general web searching, with material already filtered for relevance.
• You need different formats — a film for a classroom, a report for a policy brief, an article for a literature review.
• You want to compare Canadian material with research from similar countries.

When it is not the right tool

• You need to apply for something. Applications, such as the Jordan's Principle Scholarship, are handled elsewhere on the site, not through the portal.
• You want news or campaign updates. Those live in the site's events and campaign sections, such as Orange Shirt Day and the I Am a Witness campaign.
• You need personalized legal, medical, or financial advice. The portal is a library of documents, not a source of individual guidance.

A practical example

Suppose you are preparing a presentation on long-term reform of First Nations child and family services. You could search the portal for reports and literature reviews on the topic, use the annotations to pick two or three central documents, and pull the films or presentations if you want visual material for the talk. The portal gives you the reading list; the analysis and conclusions remain yours.

For current details — what has been added most recently, and exactly how search and links are organized — check the Knowledge Portal page directly, since the collection is updated over time.

Spirit Bear is the child-friendly ambassador of the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society. According to the organization, Spirit Bear is a member of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council and represents the 165,000 First Nations children affected by the First Nations child welfare case at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, as well as the thousands of other children who have learned about the case and taken part in peaceful, respectful actions in support of reconciliation and equity. If you are a parent, teacher, or young reader looking for an approachable way into a serious human rights story, Spirit Bear is the entry point the Caring Society provides.

What Spirit Bear represents

The Caring Society frames Spirit Bear as more than a mascot. Two ideas sit at the center of the character:

• The children behind the case. Spirit Bear stands in for the 165,000 First Nations children the organization says were impacted by the First Nations child welfare case at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.
• The children who choose to act. Spirit Bear also represents the thousands of other children who have committed to learning about the case and who have taken part in peaceful and respectful actions in support of reconciliation and equity.

That second role matters because it turns the character into an invitation rather than a monument. The message the organization attaches to its Spirit Bear books makes the same point in plain language: "just because they're small doesn't mean they can't stand tall."

Where the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council connection comes from

The Caring Society states that Spirit Bear is a member of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council. This is a specific cultural affiliation rather than a generic "Indigenous-themed" character design, and it is the detail the organization itself uses when introducing Spirit Bear on its website. If you are explaining Spirit Bear to a class or a child, this is the part to get right: the character has a stated Nation connection, not just a symbolic one.

The Spirit Bear books

The Caring Society publishes Spirit Bear books as educational resources. The site highlights the newest title, Spirit Bear's first board book, aimed at welcoming young children into Spirit Bear's world so they can "learn, grow, & join kids everywhere." The quoted endorsement on the site calls it "a must-have resource" (attributed to Michelle McKay and Klara Redford).

The board book format is the tell: this is designed for the youngest audience, which means the entry point to the child welfare case and reconciliation is deliberately pitched at a level a small child can follow, with an adult reading alongside.

How Spirit Bear encourages learning and action

Spirit Bear functions as a bridge between a complex human rights case and the people most affected by it. The Caring Society's related campaigns show how that bridge is meant to work:

• I Am a Witness invites people to learn about the case on First Nations child welfare and Jordan's Principle and to decide for themselves whether they think there is discrimination against First Nations children and youth.
• Orange Shirt Day / National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30) invites people to learn about Canada's history, reflect on the legacy of the residential school system, and take action.
• The Knowledge Portal is a searchable database of annotated literature reviews, reports, guides, films, booklets, studies, journal articles, and presentations related to Aboriginal children and families in Canada and similar countries, for readers who want to go deeper than the children's materials.

Spirit Bear sits at the front of that sequence: a character a child can meet first, with the campaigns and the Knowledge Portal available when the reader is ready for more.

What Spirit Bear is not

Spirit Bear is not a legal party to the case, and the Caring Society does not present the character that way. The case itself is the human rights matter at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal; Spirit Bear is the organization's way of representing the children affected by it and of inviting other children into the conversation. Keeping that distinction clear helps if you are using the books or the website in a classroom or at home.

Where to start

If you want to use Spirit Bear as a learning tool, the Caring Society's own site is the place to begin: the Spirit Bear books for younger children, the I Am a Witness campaign for older readers and adults, and the Knowledge Portal for research-level material. The organization's stated purpose runs through all of it — standing with First Nations children, youth, and families so they have equitable opportunities to grow up safely at home, be healthy, get a good education, and be proud of who they are.