CASW is pleased to announce that Cindy Blackstock is the recipient of the 2010 CASW National Award for Outstanding Service. Blackstock received the award on May 30, 2010 at the opening ceremonies of the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE) Annual Conference in Montréal.
A member of the Gitksan First Nation, Blackstock is the Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada (FNCFCSC). Overall, her work in child and family services has spanned over 20 years.
“Blackstock’s dedication to community and the advancement of the best interests of Aboriginal children is the hallmark of her contribution to strengthening First Nations cultures, knowledge and rights,” stated CASW President Darlene MacDonald. “She has been a passionate and tireless advocate for human rights in her pursuit of equitable treatment for First Nations children.”
Under Blackstock’s leadership, FNCFCSC, together with the Assembly of First Nations, successfully launched a historic human rights complaint against the federal government related to the long-standing pattern of unequal treatment of First Nations Children in the funding of services. Blackstock’s other impressive accomplishments include her service as both an Atkinson Foundation Economic Justice Fellow and a J. W. McConnell Family Foundation Social Innovation Generation Fellow. She is also Co-Director of the Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare and a Board Member of the National Aboriginal Youth Organization.