First Nations child advocate waiting for feds to end racial discrimination

A leading advocate for First Nations children and families says she would like to see a lot less talk and a lot more action from the federal government.

Cindy Blackstock's organization was one of two that brought a child welfare complaint to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal which ruled in January the existing system discriminated against First Nations children.

• Tribunal orders federal government to ensure services for Aboriginal kids

Blackstock told an international conference on child abuse and neglect in Calgary that the Canadian government has known how to help First Nations children for nearly a century but never had the will to do anything about it.

She says promises from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mean nothing until something is actually done.

Indigenous Affairs said in January it has begun working with First Nations child welfare agencies to reform the system and to eliminate any discrimination in levels of service.

Blackstock says any progress that has been made in the past year is not significant.