Missing and deceased Indigenous children

Support is available for families who are seeking records pertaining to Indigenous children who went missing or died after being admitted to a health and social services institution or residential school.

Bill 79

Searches for information pertaining to Indigenous children who went missing or died after being admitted to an institution is legislated by the Act to authorize the communication of personal information to the families of Indigenous children who went missing or died after being admitted to an institution.

Services offered

The Direction de soutien aux familles provides:

Information regarding the Act to authorize the communication of personal information to the families of Indigenous children who went missing or died after being admitted to an institution
Assistance to families searching for records and information from a health and social services institution, public body, religious congregation or any other organization that may be able to shed light on their child’s death or disappearance
Assistance to families applying for an order of disinterment
Assistance to families for gatherings and commemoration
Culturally and linguistically appropriate support for families at all stages of the process
Psychological and spiritual support as needed
Referrals to support and healing services

To provide these services, the Direction de soutien aux familles works with a number of Indigenous partners, including the organization Awacak – Petits êtres de lumière , as well as various government departments, organizations, experts and institutions.

These services are confidential.

Our work is rooted in the values of listening, respect, empathy, privacy and inclusivity.

Contact the Direction de soutien aux familles

Filing a complaint

Families that are dissatisfied with the service they receive from a health institution, body or religious congregation may file a complaint through the organization’s own complaints procedure, and may also file a complaint through the procedure specified in the Act.

The person responsible for the procedure specified in the Act may provide support if a family requests it when filing a complaint, and as the complaint is processed.

Once the complaint is reviewed, the complaints coordinator will take steps with the institution, body or religious congregation to improve its practices, in particular by raising awareness.

Before filing a complaint

1. Target your complaint effectively

If you are not satisfied with a service you have received, you can file a complaint directly with the healthcare institution, public body or religious congregation concerned using their own complaints procedure.

If you need assistance in order to use the procedure, the complaints coordinator at the Secrétariat aux affaires autochtones can help you draw up and submit your case.

If you do not want to use the procedure, the complaints coordinator can process your case concerning the services received when seeking information from an institution, body or religious congregation, in accordance with sections 19 and 20 of the Act.

2. Know what to expect from the complaints process in the Act

After analyzing your file, the complaints coordinator at the Secrétariat aux affaires autochtones will contact the institution, body or religious congregation concerned, to target better understanding and an improvement in practices, in particular by raising awareness among the relevant staff members.

For this purpose, the complaints department will send its conclusions, giving reasons, to the institution, body or religious congregation concerned. The conclusions will also be forwarded to the complainant in the form requested (in accordance with the public health measures in effect during the pandemic – for example, the conclusions may be sent in writing and a telephone conversation or videoconference call may be arranged). The arrangements may change, depending on the public health measures in force.

3. Make sure you have all the necessary information

Some information is of key importance for the processing of your complaint, including

the names of the people you have spoken to or contacted at the healthcare institution, body or religious congregation concerned;
the actual or approximate date on which you interacted with them, and the situation you experienced or observed at the time;
a summary of the comments made, actions taken and results obtained;
a copy of any documents you sent or received.

If you do not have all the key information, you can contact the complaints coordinator at the Secrétariat aux affaires autochtones, who will provide guidance in the preparation of your file.

How to file a complaint

To file a complaint under the Act, or for more information on complaints, please contact the Secrétariat aux relations avec les Premières Nations et les Inuit.

First Nations and Inuit