Sexualized violence most common injury among Metis females in care: B.C. report – CTV News
July 23, 2020
VICTORIA — The findings of an investigation into critical injuries and deaths among Metis youth are troubling, British Columbia’s children’s advocate says.
Jennifer Charlesworth’s report released Thursday analyzes data from 2015 to 2017 and shows sexualized violence is the most common type of injury among female children and youth.
All of those injuries reported occurred when the children were in care, the report said. Most of the children who were assaulted were between 14 and 18 years old, it said.
The children and youth who experienced critical injuries were rarely placed with Metis families and were not connected with their culture, it said.
Caregivers and families help foster connectedness for Metis children and youth in care and these “valuable” connections help them engage with their culture and learn about their cultural identities, it said.
