Update 20,Gitxsan Grandmothers Struggle with #ChildWelfare #Poverty #Genocide

Today, I received the signed court order for my grandson, Angel, and I feel a mix of relief and concern as I move forward.

Here’s my latest email to the government of Canada and the province:

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To: "MCF PDCW MCF:EX" MCF.PDCW@gov.bc.ca (mailto:MCF.PDCW@gov.bc.ca);  
Cc: "Horgan.MLA, John LASS:EX"; John.Horgan.MLA@leg.bc.ca (mailto:John.Horgan.MLA@leg.bc.ca);  
"Dix, Adrian HLTH:EX"; Adrian.Dix@gov.bc.ca (mailto:Adrian.Dix@gov.bc.ca);  
"Brown, Stephen R HLTH:EX"; Stephen.Brown@gov.bc.ca (mailto:Stephen.Brown@gov.bc.ca);  
"Ghostkeeper, Cindy MCF:EX"; Cindy.Ghostkeeper@gov.bc.ca (mailto:Cindy.Ghostkeeper@gov.bc.ca);  

Hello,

I want to update you that I received a signed order today from counsel. I’m hopeful it won’t take long to add Angel as a dependent to an extended health plan. As a working parent, this means he will finally have the medical coverage he needs.

However, this gap in coverage has left many First Nations children without medical support for over six months. The reality is that most Indigenous children go without coverage for even longer, as many in our communities are unemployed, and the wait for Indian Status Cards can take around eight months. 

Even when we do get Indian Status medical coverage, it often falls short, leaving many children in pain and struggling with health issues.

I look forward to seeing real action to stop the racism against Aboriginal people and to end the painful era of removing Indigenous children from their families and communities. 

As Cindy Blackstock said, “Government policies that take an 'incremental' approach to equitable public services perpetuate government racism and should not be accepted. Equity in public services, especially for kids, needs to happen in a leap, not a 150-year shuffle.”

Thank you for your time,  
Stephanie  

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I also received a note from my legal assistant, Sandy, who attached a copy of the entered order made on June 28, 2017, for my records. I appreciate the update, but I still feel the weight of these ongoing challenges.

In a previous email, I expressed my frustration about the delays. I mentioned to Claudia that Laurie may have had good intentions, but there has still been no signed order completed. The VACFSS office seems mistaken about the timeline. It takes six months or more to get a signed order after a CFCSA judgment is made.

I look forward to hearing from Cindy Ghostkeeper about this situation.

Thank you for your support. 

As I reflect on this journey, I feel both sadness and hope. We must continue to advocate for our children and families. It’s vital that we stand together to dismantle the barriers of racism and ensure that Indigenous children receive the care and respect they deserve. Your support can help us create a brighter future for our grandchildren.

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