Update 9, Gitxsan Grandmothers Struggle with #ChildWelfare #Poverty #Genocide

I’m a single grandmother raising my 15-year-old grandson and my 13-month-old baby grandson. Right now, I’m facing ongoing challenges with #ChildWelfare, and I’m struggling with daycare issues.

I’m about to lose my daycare at the end of this month, on August 29th. The daycare owner has realized she can't carry Angel down 19 flights of stairs in case of a fire alarm, and that puts us in a tough spot. I’m really worried because my options are limited if I can’t find a new daycare.

The daycare owner also mentioned that she will need to relocate her daycare, as she doesn’t think she can afford to stay in Vancouver with the skyrocketing housing costs. She said many daycare providers are finding it too expensive to operate in this city.

If I can’t find a daycare, I’ll be faced with some difficult choices:
- I could put Angel back into VACFSS Ministry care and start all over again.
- I might have to take an unpaid leave from work, risking my job.
- I could lose my home.
- I might have to move to my mom’s place in Hazelton on the Indian Reserve, putting my things into storage.
- I could end up homeless with Angel here in Vancouver.
- I could try to find family to stay with, which means more storage and uncertainty.
- I need to look for daycare options without a job and a stable home.
- Finding a daycare that accommodates my work hours of 8 to 4:30 is nearly impossible, especially since most daycares operate from 8 to 5. This gives me little time to get to work on time.

When I try to find a spot, I often face discrimination. When they see I'm Aboriginal and that the ministry is involved, I’m told there’s someone ahead of me or that the spot has already been filled. If I do find a spot out of the area, I’ll have to take my car to avoid being late, but parking downtown costs $200 to $350 a month—money I simply don’t have.

I share this not just to express my struggles, but to highlight the systemic barriers we face as Indigenous families. We need support and advocacy to lower these barriers and fight against the racism that makes our lives so difficult. 

Together, we can push for change and ensure that all children, including our Indigenous children, have access to the care and love they deserve. Your support can make a difference, helping us create a future where families are kept together and thriving. Thank you for listening.

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