Aboriginal suspicions understandable: child advocate

New Brunswick's child and youth advocate says he understands the doubt and suspicion of aboriginal leaders toward his report on child welfare services in First Nation communities.

But Bernard Richard hopes they will be part of the solution to finally deal with the problems that have existed for years.

"I can't do much about the past and I don't worry too much about the past, but I am focused on the future," he said.

'We haven't done that well by them over the generations. So they have every reason to be suspicious.' Bernard Richard, child and youth advocate

On Wednesday, Richard released his report, which found aboriginal youth are six times more likely to end up in foster care and four to five times more likely to be charged in court. They also have higher rates of obesity and illiteracy.

He calledfor a sweeping reform of the system and made 93 recommendations, ranging from increasing funding, to the streamlining ofservices, and promoting native language and culture.

Elsipogtog Chief Jesse Simon had expressed frustration, sayingprevious studies have outlined similar problems, with little or no action. "I totally agree. We need to work together. But we've been saying that decade and decade after decade," he had said.

Richard said he doesn't blame First Nation leaders for raising doubts about his report. "They have every reason to be very skeptical about whatever comes out on non-Native society," he said.

"We haven't done that well by them over the generations. So they have every reason to be suspicious."

This time different

But Richard said he's confident this time will be different.

In addition to the recommendations, his report also includes a timeline for action, so he'll know within a couple of months whether it's making a difference, he said.

Richard also plans to lobby federal and provincial governments to do their part.

And he'll be working to get the private sector and non-Native society involved.

But to improve the lives of aboriginal children, First Nation leaders will have to have faith in the process, he stressed.

"We need all partners working together. That is the key. If the chiefs focus only on the past, we can't make the future better."

The plight of children on reserves in New Brunswick is something everyone should be working to improve, he said.

The Liberal government had asked Richard to review New Brunswick's 11 First Nations child and family services agencies last May after the death of a child receiving care from a First Nations agency.