Update 2, Gitxsan Grandmothers Struggle with #ChildWelfare #Poverty #Genocide

A Grandmother's Plea for Support

My grandson Angel is just 9 months old, yet he’s already in the care of the ministry. As his grandmother, I am fighting to bring him home, but the path ahead is riddled with obstacles.

I recently sent a letter to Team Leader Claudia, with @Puglaas CC'd, to express my concerns about the system. If I could apply for guardianship through the Family Law Act (FLA), I would have had my grandson in my arms within a few months. But the BC government has cut the 'Child in Home of a Relative' program, leaving low-income families like mine with no options. The FLA is now out of reach, forcing us into a convoluted Child Protection process under the CFCSA.

It’s disheartening to face delegated agencies meant for Aboriginal children. There’s nothing truly Indigenous about them; their policies and procedures are often just as oppressive, if not more so. 

Last month, I was fortunate enough to secure a legal aid lawyer through an exception review. My lawyer Tony Prkasin


and I met with VACFSS, along with Ministry Lawyer Gordon, Team Leader Claudia, and social workers Betty and David. We discussed the options available under the FLA guardianship and CFCSA 41.1B and 54.01.

I would prefer the FLA route, as it would allow me to maintain my dignity and self-respect. Claudia mentioned she had reduced the list of 30 requirements for a Home Assessment to just two: a First Aid kit and step gates, which she assured me would be ordered promptly.

The day of the last home visit has been set for March 16. Although I have no criminal record, Claudia insisted they need to obtain reports on all 911 calls made, suggesting that even a clean record won’t protect me. The ministry seems to wield anything they can find against families to prolong the separation.

Tony and Gordon are pushing to get into court on March 30, hoping to secure a temporary custody order under CFCSA 41.1B. This temporary order would last 6 to 9 months, with monthly home assessments. However, I know this will come with an intensive investigation into our family history, biological parents, and a series of sensitive questions. After that, we would face another court application for CFCSA 54.01.

To add to the stress, I will be getting yet another social worker—my fifth in just 9 months. David is leaving VACFSS, and I’m not sure if he was fired. 

This whole experience is long, exhausting, and humiliating. There have been many moments when I’ve felt like giving up, wanting to let my grandson go. It’s heartbreaking, dehumanizing, and sadly, socially accepted. 

Tony has advised VACFSS that if I do not gain temporary custody by March 30, we will proceed with an application for guardianship through the FLA, regardless of the financial barriers. 

I share this not just as a plea for help but as a call to action for everyone. We need to recognize the systems that perpetuate these injustices. Support for Indigenous families is not just a matter of policy; it’s a matter of humanity. 

To my non-Indigenous brothers and sisters, I urge you to reflect on this reality. Imagine the pain of being separated from your family, the fear of losing a child, the struggle against a system that seems stacked against you. Together, we can advocate for change, pushing for policies that protect all families, regardless of their background.

Let’s stand together to ensure that no child is left behind and that every grandmother has the right to keep her family together. Your support can help us reclaim our futures and ensure that the voices of Indigenous families are heard. 

#SupportIndigenousFamilies #EndTheOppression #MMIW #JusticeForOurChildren

He was the greatest lawyer, rest in peace.

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