Members of the Penticton Indian Band marched on the Ministry of Children and Family Development offices Friday morning to demand a more co-operative relationship.
Organizers of the march say until a couple of months ago, MCFD worked with the band to keep children in the community.
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Since the change of government staff, they say they have seen child welfare workers coming onto band land without contacting band staff, twice attempting to apprehend children.
香蕉视频直播淭hese actions have put our most vulnerable people in turmoil,香蕉视频直播� organizer Inez Pierre said, comparing the child welfare system with residential schools. 香蕉视频直播淥ne hundred fifty years, it香蕉视频直播檚 been a failed colonial system that香蕉视频直播檚 not working for our children. This is unacceptable and we request that the MCFD meet at the earliest convenience.香蕉视频直播�
Pierre said she found it uplifting to see nearly 70 marching Friday morning, having expected around 20 people to show up.
Among those in attendance was PIB Chief Chad Eneas, Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie, Okanagan Indian Band Chief Byron Louis, Upper Similkameen Indian Band Chief Charlotte Mitchell and representatives of the First Nations Health Authority.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e here because their future should be just as good as anyone else香蕉视频直播檚. The gaps that exist in this country today are a disgrace,香蕉视频直播� Eneas said.
Chief Chad Eneas addresses workers outside the local office.
香蕉视频直播� Godless Dustbin 馃巸 (@dustinrgodfrey)
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In all, Pierre said she felt the meeting with MCFD staff was successful, and she felt both sides showed respect for the other 香蕉视频直播� and she said that is the key to the relationship they hope to rebuild with the ministry.
香蕉视频直播�(It was) very successful in terms of having them come out and meet us at their office. That香蕉视频直播檚 a good sign, usually the doors are locked and we are unable to go in,香蕉视频直播� she said.
香蕉视频直播淚 think that everybody has a good sense of, going away, that we accomplished something, because we香蕉视频直播檙e generally never heard. We香蕉视频直播檙e generally hung up (on), or whatever it is. We just feel heard at this time, anyway.香蕉视频直播�
Joan Phillip, a grandmother in attendance, said she wanted to see the province removed from the equation, and allow the community to deal with family issues itself.
"If the parents are a problem, take the parents from the home. If dad's a problem, help mom."
香蕉视频直播� Godless Dustbin 馃巸 (@dustinrgodfrey)
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You don香蕉视频直播檛 have to drive far to get to an example of where that is practiced, she said.
香蕉视频直播淚n the United States, the Colville Confederated Tribes, and they do have absolute control over their children, because of the United State sand the way they configured (it),香蕉视频直播� Phillip said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut that was taken from us.香蕉视频直播�
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Joan Phillip香蕉视频直播檚 husband, was among those taken from his home, and put into foster care in the mid-20th Century, often referred to as the 香蕉视频直播�60s Scoop.
香蕉视频直播淭he apprehension of children doesn香蕉视频直播檛 allow us to learn language, culture and our ways, and (Stewart Phillip) missed out,香蕉视频直播� Joan Phillip said. 香蕉视频直播淯nlike the residential schools, you go alone. He went alone. He didn香蕉视频直播檛 have other members of the community to interact with.香蕉视频直播�
Joan Phillip talks about her husband Grand Chief Stewart Phillip's experience with residential schools. .
香蕉视频直播� Godless Dustbin 馃巸 (@dustinrgodfrey)
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When the now-grand chief香蕉视频直播檚 father came looking for him, only then did he realize his father wasn香蕉视频直播檛 the drunk purported to him by the foster care system, she said.
In a statement, Minister of Children and Family Development Katrine Conroy said senior staff in the ministry would be willing to sit down with members of the PIB leadership to address concerns.
香蕉视频直播淲e are implementing Grand Chief Ed John香蕉视频直播檚 recommendations to provide better supports and keep Indigenous children in the care of their families and communities,香蕉视频直播� Conroy said.
香蕉视频直播淎nd we香蕉视频直播檙e working with Indigenous and M茅tis communities to understand what they need most and how we can work together to improve the lives of children and families in B.C.香蕉视频直播�
Revised count at nearly 70 in attendance. Nearing MCFD office now.
香蕉视频直播� Godless Dustbin 馃巸 (@dustinrgodfrey)
dustin.godfrey@pentictonwesternnews.com
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