Laws of Matriarch

I have been trying to communicate with the Women’s Hospital in Vancouver, BC, and the Ministry (MCFD) about the ongoing systemic racism in the maternity ward. It’s crucial that Aboriginal women are treated with the same respect and dignity as every other woman. Email 1 Subject: Concerns Regarding Maternity Care for Aboriginal Women Hi Claudia,   CC: Hospital Complaints and Government for Real Change I want to share my concerns regarding my daughter K* and her recent experience at Women’s Hospital. She had another baby who was born prematurely, possibly at around six months. The social worker, Johanna C, placed a no-contact order against Kaila, which forced her to leave the hospital without being able to see her baby. It is simply unacceptable to deny women even supervised visits with their newborns. Taking children away from their families and isolating them is inhumane. My daughter struggles with addiction, but she is not a criminal; she deserves compassion and support. Saint Paul...

Last night, I received a call from my daughter around 10 PM, sharing the news that she had a baby. At first, I felt a wave of sadness wash over me at the thought of another child entering this cruel and racist world. I also wondered if this was real or if my daughter was in a bad place with drugs. I rushed to see her at Grace Women’s Hospital. She told me she had a baby girl, but I was taken aback because I didn’t even know she was pregnant; usually, she keeps me informed. When I arrived at the hospital, everything seemed normal, and they let me see my daughter without any issues—no security stopping me, just a straightforward visit. This was unusual, as I usually have to go through security in the maternity ward. My granddaughter was born premature, and I ask you to please keep her in your prayers. I don’t even know her name yet, or if she will survive. It should be a happy occasion, but I can’t help but feel sadness and worry for her. I pray that God’s grace will cover her and that ...

No Medical Coverage for Aboriginal Children: A Grandmother's Perspective As a Gitxsan grandmother, I want to share my experience navigating the challenges of medical coverage for my grandson, Angel. I received guardianship under the CFCSA Section 54.01 at the end of June 2017, but on that very day, his medical and dental coverage was cut off. For those wondering about the medical and dental coverage issue we faced while at the dentist’s office, the truth is—nothing has changed. I still haven’t received Angel’s Indian Status card, which the Ministry ordered after he turned two years old. I can’t help but wonder if he might not be considered “status quality.” First Nations MSP only works with status cards, leaving us in a difficult spot. Meanwhile, immigrants and refugees have access to medical coverage and receive four times the social assistance that Aboriginal people do. It feels unjust that the government isn’t providing for First Nations children or for any children in the care ...