What Bill C-92 Means for Indigenous Families — And Why a Standard Is Still Missing

Bill C-92, in force since January 2020, gives Indigenous communities the legal right to exercise jurisdiction over child welfare. IFISC provides the measurable standard that makes that jurisdiction operational at the provider level.

In January 2020, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families came into force in Canada.

Known as Bill C-92, it was the first federal legislation to recognize the inherent right of Indigenous peoples to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services. It established national principles including cultural continuity, substantive equality, and the priority of keeping Indigenous children connected to their communities.

It was a significant legal step. It left a significant implementation gap.

What the law says

Bill C-92 establishes that Indigenous governing bodies can enter into coordination agreements with federal and provincial governments. It requires that service delivery respect the distinct cultures, identities, languages, and traditions of Indigenous children and families.

It does not specify what a certified, accountable child welfare provider looks like. It does not define measurable standards for cultural safety at the placement level. It does not create a mechanism for communities to evaluate whether a private foster agency or group home meets any Indigenous-defined threshold.

Why the gap matters

A law that grants jurisdiction without a standard leaves implementation to interpretation.

In practice, this means a family in a Bill C-92 coordination agreement can still have their child placed with a provider that has no meaningful cultural framework. The law says cultural continuity matters. No national body currently certifies that a provider has earned that right.

Judges citing placement decisions do not have a third-party benchmark to reference. MCFD workers do not have a public rating to consult. Families do not have a searchable record of which providers have been held to a cultural standard.

Where IFISC fits

IFISC is not parallel to Bill C-92. It is the operational layer beneath it.

The seven-pillar framework provides what legislation cannot: a measurable, community-verified, provider-level standard for cultural safety, family preservation, and Indigenous accountability.

When a jurisdiction is exercising authority under Bill C-92, IFISC gives that authority a way to certify who has earned the right to serve Indigenous children.

The law opened the door. The standard tells families what is on the other side.

If you are an Indigenous family navigating child welfare in BC and need peer support, contact KFT-Families Society at [email protected], call Lori at 604-512-3266, or visit keeping-families-together.com. IFISC operates weekly peer support circles, connects families with culturally grounded resources, and provides guidance to parents at every stage of the child welfare process — at no cost.