Abstract
Aboriginal children are currently overrepresented in out-of-home care in Canada; this extends a historical
pattern of child removal that began with the residential school system. The overrepresentation of Aboriginal
children persists despite legislative and structural changes intended to reduce the number of Aboriginal
children in care. Several recent developments suggest potential for improvement in services for Aboriginal
children and families in the near future. However, greater information about the structure of Aboriginal child
welfare in Canada is needed to support program and policy development. We present a broad overview of the
variation in Aboriginal child welfare legislation and standards, service delivery models, and funding formulas
across Canadian provinces and territories. We draw on this review to suggest specific priorities for future
research.