A group of concerned family members in the Penticton Indian Band are calling recent actions from the provincial government a move from a century in the past.
Staff with PIB have typically worked with the Ministry of Children and Family Development to make their work run smoothly in PIB territory, and help children stay in the community, rather than moved away from their culture.
That has included making sure the family and community has full disclosure that MCFD workers are coming onto band land to deal with a family.
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But since the B.C. NDP government took over responsibility of the various ministries, including MCFD, Inez Pierre said ministry staff have come knocking on doors to apprehend children with little to no notice ahead of time.
香蕉视频直播淚n the past five, six weeks, they have attempted to apprehend on a couple of occasions without notifying anyone,香蕉视频直播� Pierre said in an interview. 香蕉视频直播淭hat puts our families in a turmoil.香蕉视频直播�
Pierre has also written an open letter to MCFD, calling on the ministry to 香蕉视频直播渞espect the fundamental human rights of Penticton Indian Band Children and Families to look after their own children, in their own way.香蕉视频直播�
In an attempt to start a dialogue on the issue, a group of 香蕉视频直播渃oncerned parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles香蕉视频直播� will be marching from the bridge at Green Mountain Road to the MCFD office Friday morning.
香蕉视频直播淣o one is going to set us back 100 years of apprehending children off of our community. We香蕉视频直播檝e been there, done that,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲ith the 香蕉视频直播�60s Scoop, with the residential school systems, our families have been through this past 150 years. So we香蕉视频直播檙e not going to go back.香蕉视频直播�
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The child welfare system in Canada has been likened to the residential schools of the past, with the federal government香蕉视频直播檚 own Truth and Reconciliation Commission saying child welfare 香蕉视频直播渉as simply continued the assimilation that the residential school system started.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淲e feel it香蕉视频直播檚 unacceptable behaviour for them to just follow the old governmental, paternalistic way of dealing with our communities,香蕉视频直播� Pierre said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 unacceptable. Especially when it comes to our children and our families.香蕉视频直播�
Pierre offered that the change in provincial government likely played a role in the change in operations at the local MCFD office.
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香蕉视频直播淚 understand there香蕉视频直播檚 a turnover in staff. That香蕉视频直播檚 fine. But there needs to be a sit down and communicate with us better, so that we can put our plans into place,香蕉视频直播� she said.
香蕉视频直播淲e do have somewhat of our own system of figuring out, problem solving for our families. But when you put a family in a panic without being notified by them that this is what they香蕉视频直播檙e going to do, is more harmful than anything.香蕉视频直播�
Pierre said it was particularly interesting that the change has come under an NDP government, which has often touted itself as the more Indigenous-friendly of the two major provincial parties.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e trying so hard to work with them. And they say all these wonderful words, and put them together, but let香蕉视频直播檚 sit down and build on it,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淟et香蕉视频直播檚 talk about it and make it meaningful.香蕉视频直播�
Pierre said she would like the local group to sit down with local MCFD workers, as well as with Minister of Children and Family Development Katrine Conroy, and up to the federal level.
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dustin.godfrey@pentictonwesternnews.com
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