DEI Initiative / People / Cindy Blackstock

Cindy Blackstock

Cindy Blackstock

Born in Burns Lake, British Columbia, Blackstock earned her BA at the University of British Columbia, two Masters degrees from McGill and Loyola University Chicago, and a PhD in social work from the University of Toronto. She published over 75 articles outlining the complex problems and sensible solutions regarding Indigenous children’s rights. In 2007 she launched a case against the federal government, accusing it of systemically denying Indigenous children the same quality of service as non-Indigenous children. (See also Jordan’s Principle.) The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal first ruled in her favour in 2016 but the government has appealed certain parts of that and subsequent rulings, so negotiations are continuing. As a professor at McGill University’s School of Social Work and Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, Blackstock continues to advocate for and bring about real change to improve the lives of Indigenous children.

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