Update 7, Gitxsan Grandmothers Struggle with #ChildWelfare #Poverty #Genocide

Why is Christy Clark still forcing child protection on all families?

My grandson was born in June 2015, and ever since then, I’ve been navigating the arduous process with the Aboriginal Delegated Agency. It feels like a never-ending battle.

Under the Child in Home of a Relative program, children would usually return to their families within months by going through the Family Law Act, often with just two court appearances. Childcare was covered, children received CIHR support, and child tax benefits were accessible.

But now, every child who has family they can live with is forced into the child protection process. This means more expensive hours in court, and for many children, it takes a year or even two before they can return to their families—if they’re lucky. It also means high foster care costs for the Ministry.

The ministry has a long list of requirements that must be met before any home can be approved. These lists are often put together by nurses and social workers, creating a mountain of expectations that families must climb. When a child is finally returned to their family, childcare may be covered, but the child tax benefits are filtered through the Ministry, adding another layer of complexity.

The policies and procedures continue to weigh heavily on us. The CFCSA court dates drag on, renewing the Temporary Custody Order, and this process can last from six months to two years. There’s always the risk of removal depending on how biased or rigid the social workers are, leaving grandparents and children in a constant state of uncertainty until the child ages out. Once they reach that age, there’s often no support available for them.

As Indigenous people, we face barriers and systemic racism that strip away our freedom in Canada. We need your support to advocate for change. We need to lower the barriers that keep our families apart and challenge the biases that influence these decisions.

Let’s come together to create a system that truly supports Indigenous families. We deserve to have our voices heard and our rights respected. Together, we can work towards a future where all children are safe and can grow up with their families. Your support can help make this change a reality.

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