It has been less than a week since the Human Rights Tribunal ruled that Ottawa owes $2 billion to compensate Indigenous children for its longstanding failure to provide adequate child welfare services in Indigenous communities.

Yet two days into the federal election campaign, we still don’t know what Justin Trudeau thinks about the ruling. The Liberal party has essentially been silent and it took the televised Citytv/Macleans leaders debate to find out what Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer thinks — which was a whole lot of promises about giving all children equal chances in life.

This is the first time since the election call that I’ve heard any of the leaders prominently say anything at all about Indigenous issues and concerns.

Last election, Justin Trudeau put at the centre of his campaign a promise to improve Canada’s relationship with Indigenous people, saying it was the most important relationship this country has.

What a change four years can make.

On Wednesday, the first full day of the 2019 campaign, Trudeau addressed reporters, letting them know where his focus is — the middle class, climate change — but he seemingly forgot his most important relationship.

Well, we haven’t forgotten.

It is a sad statement on the state of Canadian politics that the two main parties seem set on ignoring the Human Rights Tribunal’s latest condemnation of the federal government’s failure to protect Indigenous children. The tribunal ruled on Friday that Ottawa has “wilfully and recklessly discriminated” against First Nations children.

Isn’t that the sort of conclusion an aspiring prime minister should rush to address?

For the record, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh did tweet shortly after the ruling that “you can absolutely count on us” to end all inequities against First Nations kids and reform the Indigenous Services ministry.

And, Green party Leader Elizabeth May gave her word she will “fight for the ruling to be honoured. No more court challenges from the federal government against the interests of #FN children.”

The tribunal said that all Indigenous children born after 2006 who were unnecessarily taken away by child welfare authorities are entitled to compensation, up to $40,000 each.

This victory came nearly 14 years after the death of 5-year-old Jordan River Anderson, a Norway House First Nation boy who lived his life in hospital because government agencies were fighting over who would pay his medical bills. It comes 12 years after Cindy Blackstock, executive director of the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society, began her fight in Jordan’s name for justice and equity for all First Nations kids.

Blackstock is under no illusion that the fight is over.

Before the election call on Tuesday, as she prepared to watch the TIFF premiere of “Jordan River Anderson, The Messenger,” she told me she fully expects an appeal. The government has 30 days to file with a deadline of Oct. 7.

The Assembly of First Nations says 54,000 children could benefit from the ruling and they are urging Canada not to seek a judicial review.

The tribunal lambasted the federal government. It called the removal of First Nations children from their homes a “fundamental human rights breach,” adding the suffering experienced by children, their families and communities was a result “of colonization, racism and racial discrimination.”

Considering Canada’s abhorrent history with Indigenous people over the last 154 years — 139 Indian residential schools, the Indian Act on the books since 1876, ignoring the treaties and stealing the land — you’d think this latest ruling would be a top election issue. You’d think every party leader would stand up and commit to end racial discrimination against children. But you’d be wrong. Their silence is a moral failure.

But the truth cannot be easily suppressed. It was serendipitous that the film on Jordan’s legacy was premiered at TIFF the day of the election call.

Blackstock attended along with Jordan’s sisters, Jerleen and Kristen, and with the legendary documentary filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin. The 87-year-old Abenaki filmmaker’s previous film, “We Can’t Make the Same Mistake Twice,” was about Blackstock and her tribunal fight.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

While some political leaders begin their election campaign by continuing the long colonial tradition of ignoring Indigenous concerns, our warriors and artists, like Blackstock and Obomsawin, will continue to amplify our stories and causes.

Despite the state of the political debate, Obomsawin is hopeful. “I have a feeling Canadians are fed up with this and they want to see justice,” she said.

While some politicians seem to think Obomsawin is wrong, that Canadians don’t care about the tribunal ruling or the long-standing injustice it is attempting to redress, voters will tell us on election day.

Read more about: