By Tom Summer  Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Treaty 8 First Nations in Alberta have launched a class action lawsuit against the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada, alleging that indigenous children have been denied the Children’s Special Allowance Benefit (CSA) since 1993. The lawsuit was announced by media release on Nov. 27. In the release, Grand Chief Ivan Sawan claims the Alberta government has treated the benefits as “transfer payments” from Canada. Sawan is from the Loon River Cree First Nations. “CSA Benefits are earmarked for specific children in care and the money should flow to the child _ not to reduce Alberta’s cost to care for the apprehended child. They are stealing money from our children. We are standing up for our children to stop this discrimination,”

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