Inuit Child First Initiative
What is the Inuit Child First Initiative?
The Inuit Child First Initiative (ICFI) ensures Inuit children have access to the essential health, social and educational products, services and supports they need, when they need them.
ICFI recognizes intergenerational trauma from the legacy of colonization and all requests are reviewed with a substantive equality lens.
Who can access the Inuit Child First Initiative?
All Inuit children, no matter where they live in Canada, can request funding through the Inuit Child First Initiative. The child must be recognized by an Inuit land claim organization and the child must be under the age of majority in their province/territory of residence. In some regions if your child is not a registered Inuit Land Claims Beneficiary but at least one of their parents are, you can provide their parent’s beneficiary registration information. If you have questions you can contact your regional focal point.
Any Parent/Guardian or a designate determined by the Parent/Guardian can submit a request.
A youth between the ages of 16 to the age of majority in their Province or Territory can apply directly for programs and services that they require
Toll-Free Line at 1-855-572-4453 Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Jordan’s Principle / Inuit Child First Initiative National Call Centre
Who was Jordan?
In memory of Jordan River Anderson
October 22, 1999–February 2, 2005
“Jordan could not talk, yet people around the world heard his message. Jordan could not breathe on his own and yet he has given the breath of life to other children. Jordan could not walk, but he has taken steps that governments are now just learning to follow.” – Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director First Nations Child & Family Caring Society
Jordan River Anderson was a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba who was born in 1999 with multiple disabilities. He lived over two years in a hospital because federal and provincial governments could not agree on who would pay for his at-home care. The reason for this is that federal and provincial/territorial governments cannot agree on which government should pay for services to First Nations children on reserves, so they typically do not provide the service until they can reconcile any payment issues. Unfortunately, Jordan died at the age of 5 before he could experience living in a loving home.
Jordan’s death ignited a movement to uphold human rights for all First Nations children through the creation of the child-first principle called “Jordan’s Principle.”
For more information, visit First Nations Child & Family Caring Society
Download the guide
How to Apply for the Inuit Child First Initiative in my Region?
Inuvialuit Settlement Region
Inuvialuit Regional Corporation Inuit CFI Coordinator
(867)777-7082 www.Inuvialuit.com
Indigenous Services Canada Regional Focal Point – Northern Region
1-866-848-5846 (Requests) sac.principedejordanrn-nrjordansprinciple.isc@canada.ca
1-866-848-5846 (Payments) sac.principedejordanfinancern-nrfinancejordansprinciple.isc@canada.ca
Nunavut
Arctic Children and Youth Foundation
867-975-3255
Indigenous Services Canada Regional Focal Point – Northern Region
1-866-848-5846 (Requests) sac.principedejordanrn-nrjordansprinciple.isc@canada.ca
1-866-848-5846 (Payments) sac.principedejordanfinancern-nrfinancejordansprinciple.isc@canada.ca
Nunavik
Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services: Nunavik Child First Initiative (CFI) | L’Initiative les Enfants d’Abord Nunavik (IEA)
1-833-405-1234 cfi.nrbhss@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Toll Free: 1-844-964-2244
nrbhss.ca/CFI
Indigenous Services Canada Regional Focal Point – Quebec
(All Inquiries) sac.principedejordan-qc-jordanprinciple.isc@canada.ca
Nunatsiavut
Nunatsiavut Child Services Workers
Nain: 709-922-2126 ext. 250
Hopedale: 709-933-3220
Postville: 709-479-9878 ext. 2006
Makkovik: 709-923-2340
Rigolet: 709-947-3328 ext. 268
Upper Lake Melville Area: 709-896-5494 -or- 709-896-5495
Indigenous Services Canada Regional Focal Point – Atlantic Region
1-833-652-0210
(All Inquiries) sac.principedejordanatl-jordansprincipleatl.isc@canada.ca
Ontario
Tungasuvvingat Inuit Child First Initiative Coordinator
(613) 565-5885 www.TIontario.ca
Inuuqatigiit Inuit Child First Initiative Coordinator
343-543-3500
Ottawa Health Services Network Inc (OHSNI)
613-523-7822 Ext. 127 CFI@OHSNI.com
Indigenous Services Canada Focal Point – Ontario
613-618-1833 (Requests) sac.jordansprincipleon-principedejordan.isc@canada.ca
613-618-1833 (Payments) sac.principedejordanfinance-on-financejordansprinciple.isc @canada.ca
Other Provinces and Regions
British Columbia
778-951-0716 (Requests) sac.principedejordancb-bcjordansprinciple.isc@canada.ca
778-951-0716 (Payments) sac.paiementsprincipedejordancb-bcjordansprinciplepayments.isc@canada.ca
Alberta
780-495-8340 (All Inquiries) sac.jordansprincipleab-principedejordan.isc@canada.ca
Saskatchewan
1-833-752-4453 (Requests)
1-833-752-4453 (Payment Inquiries) sac.jordansprinciplesask_finance-principedejordan.isc@canada.ca
Manitoba
204-391-6083 (Requests) sac.fnihbfnihmbrjp-spnirmbdgspni.isc@canada.ca
204-894-8858 (Payment Inquiries) sac.fnihbfnihmbrjp-spnirmbdgspni.isc@canada.ca
Manitoba Inuit Association
1-800-948-7804 child.first@manitobainuit.ca
Yukon, NWT and Nunavut
1-866-848-5846 (Requests) sac.principedejordanrn-nrjordansprinciple.isc@canada.ca
1-866-848-5846 (Payment Inquiries) sac.principedejordanfinancern-nrfinancejordansprinciple.isc@canada.ca
