Jordan's principle

Jordan's Principle makes sure all First Nations children living in Canada can access the products, services and supports they need, when they need them. Funding can help with a wide range of health, social and educational needs, including children and youth and those with disabilities may have.

Jordan's Principle is named in memory of Jordan River Anderson. He was a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba.

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

What Jordan's principle does

Jordan's Principle supports children who need help right away and are making long-term changes for the future, such as through reforming child and family services.

For the long-term, Jordan's Principle is working to build better structures and funding models. These will make sure First Nations children living in Canada get the products, services and supports they need, when they need them. To do this, Jordan's Principe is working closely with:

provinces
territories
First Nations partners
service organizations

Since 2016, the Government has committed $3.5 billion toward meeting the needs of First Nations children through Jordan's Principle.

Local service coordinators have been hired in communities across Canada. They can help families who:

have questions about Jordan's Principle
would like to submit a request for products, services or supports under Jordan's Principle

Jordan's Principle funds these coordinators, who are staffed by:

local tribal councils
First Nations communities
regional health authorities
First Nations non-governmental organizations, etc.

Jordan's Principe also has dedicated full-time staff across the Country. They work closely with the local coordinators to make sure all requests are processed as quickly as possible.

Eligibility for jordan's principle

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