Re: Update on Métis Foster Child SS
Dear BC Métis Federation team members,
BC Métis Federation is updating our Métis community regarding the Métis foster child situation impacting some of our members.
The Métis foster family continues to advance their Court of Appeal case and the judge has reserved the decision until Friday. This is an important part of the process and BC Métis Federation continues to support the family.
BC Métis Federation is also continuing to pursue other solutions. First, we applaud statements made by the Representative for Children and Youth (RYC) office yesterday. At this time BC’s Representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond called for all parties to slow down the process to ensure the best planning and best interests for SS. BC Métis Federation and the Métis foster family welcome a thorough discussion to working together to ensure the best interests of SS. BC Métis Federation will be following up with the Representative office this week to review how such steps can be taken.
Second, the matter was also brought up in the BC Legislature yesterday by the NDP opposition as well.
NDP Message:
We have been following the case closely and both Carole James and I questioned the Minister of Children and Family Development today. Here are links to the clips from Question Period: DONALDSON: https://youtu.be/GNFsshU47K0 JAMES: https://youtu.be/1kVm3IVw5ho Once again, thank you for your correspondence and we will continue to ask questions about this situation to the Minister and this government. Yours truly, Doug Donaldson Official Opposition Spokesperson for Children and Family Development
BC Métis Federation thanks all for their efforts to do what is best for Métis foster child SS and the Métis foster family. Last night, SS was back with the Métis foster family. BC Métis Federation continues to consider how the best interests of SS are paramount to the future.
This story reached significant media outlets yesterday including CTV National and all major media networks in BC.
In closing, the BC Métis Federation continues to assert that any Métis child in BC must meet our Constitutional asserted jurisdictional requirements which includes well defined Métis cultural planning. We do not believe this has been properly completed and ensuring Métis culture is protected and Métis children remain in the care of our community is not an option, it is our law.
Thank you,
Keith Henry President[ilink url=”https://bcmetis.com/wp-content/uploads/BC-Metis-Federation-Update-March-1st-2016.pdf” style=”download”] Click here to download this letter in PDF format.[/ilink]
