A settlement agreement has been reached between the federal government and First Nations children and families harmed by chronic underfunding of child welfare on reserve. 

A settlement agreement has been reached between the federal government and First Nations children and families harmed by chronic underfunding of child welfare on reserve. 

Ottawa, the AFN and plaintiffs in two class-action cases reached an agreement-in-principle earlier this year and on Monday, it was announced that the agreement had been finalized.

The agreement, signed by all parties and filed with the Federal Court, is the largest of its kind in Canadian history. 

In total, $20 billion will be made available to:

First Nations children on-reserve and in the Yukon who were removed from their homes between April 1, 1991 and March 31, 2022.

Those affected by what the government called its "narrow definition" of Jordan's Principle, used between Dec. 12, 2007 and Nov. 2, 2017.

Children who did not receive an essential public service or faced delays in accessing such services between April 1, 1991 and Dec. 11, 2007.

Caregiving parents or grandparents of the children covered by the agreement who may also be eligible for compensation.

Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse said in a media statement that she expects to see the money start arriving next year.

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, and the courts, still need to make it official and approve the settlement before money is doled out.