Legal Aid Ontario partners with Windsor Law to reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous families in child protection

Published: November 17, 2025

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) has partnered with Windsor Law to improve legal education and representation for Indigenous families in child welfare cases. The project began in May 2025 and will run for two years.

Supported by $425,000 in funding from the Law Foundation of Ontario, the initiative will educate lawyers and law students on Bill C-92 — An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families. It will help build culturally competent legal support networks. This project will also support a strategic and meaningful approach to developing culturally relevant curriculum, training and resources for students and lawyers who are working with Indigenous families.

The project will be focused in southwestern Ontario. It aims to engage local First Nations, in addition to researchers and legal professionals, to increase both the number and competence of lawyers working in child protection and wellbeing. Building relationships with First Nation and Indigenous communities will play a key role in shaping the learning materials and programming to ensure they reflect their lived experiences, cultural values, and community-driven approaches to child and family wellbeing.

“An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, affirms the inherent right that Indigenous peoples have over child and family services and supports a community’s ability to implement their own laws and solutions,” says Fallon Melander, associate vice president of Indigenous Services at Legal Aid Ontario.

“This landmark legislation acknowledges Indigenous legal traditions and affirms the vital importance of children maintaining connection to their culture. It significantly transforms how child welfare matters are approached. We look forward to working with the various Nations, the University of Windsor and other justice participants in southwestern Ontario to ensure the best possible outcomes for Indigenous children and families.”

The project responds to the ongoing overrepresentation of Indigenous children in child and family services systems and state wardship. Combatting this overrepresentation is an important strategic initiative at LAO. Despite representing approximately 2.9 percent of Ontario’s population, Indigenous clients account for more than 23 percent of legal aid child protection certificates. This partnership with Windsor Law will support meaningful steps toward equity in child protection matters and guide long-term systemic changes.