By Government of Canada

Jordan’s Principle Can Help First Nations Children With School Expenses and More

Aug 17, 2022 | 10:08 AM

Jordan’s Principle responds to unmet needs of First Nations children no matter where they live in Canada.

Different levels of government fund different services for First Nations children. As a result, it can be hard to figure out how to access necessary products, services and supports.

Under Jordan’s Principle, we can:

• inform families about the help available for their child and how to access it
• coordinate access to products, services and supports
• provide funding when it’s needed to make sure products, services and supports are accessed without delay

What is funded

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Each child’s situation is unique. Please confirm coverage in advance with your regional focal point for Jordan’s Principle.

Funding can help with a wide range of health, social and educational needs, including the unique needs that First Nations Two-Spirit and LGBTQQIA children and youth and those with disabilities may have. Some examples of what has been funded under Jordan’s Principle include:

Health

• mobility aids
• wheelchair ramps
• addiction services
• services from Elders
• mental health services
• specialized hearing aids
• traditional healing services
• services for children in care
• assessments and screenings
• transportation to appointments
• medical supplies and equipment
• long-term care for children with specialized needs
• therapeutic services for individuals or groups (speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy)

Social

• social worker
• land-based activities
• personal support worker
• specialized summer camps
• respite care (individual or group)
• specialized programs based on cultural beliefs and practices

Education

• school supplies
• tutoring services
• teaching assistants
• specialized school transportation
• psycho-educational assessments
• assistive technologies and electronics

Who is covered

On November 25, 2020, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) released a ruling about Jordan’s Principle eligibility. A child under the age of majority in their province or territory of residence can access Jordan’s Principle, if they permanently reside in Canada and if the child meets one of the following criteria:

• is registered or eligible to be registered under the Indian Act
• has one parent or guardian who is registered or eligible to be registered under the Indian Act
• is recognized by their nation for the purposes of Jordan’s Principle
• is ordinarily resident on reserve

The eligibility above replaces the CHRT interim motion ruling of February 2019.

To find out more about how to confirm with a First Nations official that a child is recognized by their nation (for the purposes of Jordan’s Principle), contact your regional focal point for Jordan’s Principle or the Jordan’s Principle Call Centre.

If you are a First Nations leader or official, looking for more information about what this means to your nation, please contact your regional office or regional focal point for Jordan’s Principle.

Ordinarily resident on reserve means that an Indigenous child:

• lives on reserve
• normally lives on reserve even if the child or one of the members of their household (such as a sibling, parent, extended family living with child) may have been required to spend some time away temporarily from the community to access services such as health care or education where there are no other comparable services available in the community
• was ordinarily resident on reserve immediately prior to accessing Jordan’s Principle
• is a dependent of a family that maintains a primary residence on reserve
• returns to live on reserve with parents, guardians or caregivers during the year, even if they live elsewhere while attending school or to receive medical care or other services
• meets student eligibility requirements in Yukon Territory

A child taken into care of a Child and family services agency or into a kinship or informal agreement is considered ordinarily resident on reserve where:

• the child’s parent or guardian lived on reserve at the time the child was taken into care
  or
• a child goes into the care of a guardian who lives on reserve

Requests for Inuit children can be made through the Inuit Child First Initiative.

Please contact us if you’re not sure how to help an Indigenous child who needs access to products, supports and services.

Who to contact

Update

Requests for access to products, services and supports for Inuit children through the Inuit Child First Initiative can also be sent to the regional focal points listed on this page.

Update: On September 6, 2019, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) released a decision related to compensation for certain individuals under Jordan’s Principle. This is a complex decision which the Government of Canada is reviewing. Although you may have questions about this, the 24/7 Jordan’s Principle toll-free line and regional contacts, are intended to help with requests for products, services and supports, and not for requests related to the CHRT order of compensation of individuals.

For more information:

• The Government of Canada’s assessment of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal’s ruling on compensation

Contact us to:

• get more information about Jordan’s Principle
• request funding for a product, service or support
• get copies of forms
• seek reimbursements
• start an appeal

You can reach us through:

• Jordan’s Principle focal points across Canada
• local service coordinators for First Nations communities

Regional focal points across Canada

If you can’t reach a regional focal point, please contact the Jordan’s Principle Call Centre.