Syilx Okanagan Nation calls on government to RECONCILE outstanding Child Welfare Issues
EVENT: Syilx Day of Action for “National Day of the Child”
DATE: Friday, November 20, 2015
TIME: 1 to 3 p.m.
LOCATION: Commerce Place, 260 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna, BC
(Outside Ministry for Children and Family Development Offices)
On November 20, 2015, the National Day of the Child the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) stands with the Carrier Sekani Child and Family Services, Squamish Nation and other First Nations in a Day of Action. Our children and family are in dire straits. They continue to face a racist child and family service system that perpetuates systems and structure contributing to the breakdown of our families and our communities. And it is our children who are paying the price. Join us in this day of bringing Awareness and attention to these critical issues of Indigenous Peoples.
Together we call on Government to also make courageous and fast decisions to act on this situation and implement the recent Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action in building new relationships beginning immediately with Child Welfare. This Action is conducted on the National Day of the Child as we want to bring attention to the dire situation of our children and families.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip states, “This last week, BC First Nation’s Leaders met with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development (AANDC) Government representatives at the annual 2015 Joint Gathering as full active Partners. Child and Family Services topped that agenda. A plenary session “Creating Conditions for Well-Being in Communities” was hosted. It was clearly noted by both First Nations and the Federal government staff that effective solutions could only be found within a Tri-partite partnership. It is fact that Aboriginal Child Welfare in BC is in a state of crisis. Systemic and structural problems plague the Child Welfare System in BC. Change needs to take place immediately, not later.”
The Okanagan Nation Alliance calls for the Ministry of Children and Families to recognize and respect the Rights of Aboriginal Children and Families. Our children are still over represented in the Child Welfare system. ONA and Member Communities are forced to work amid chronic underfunding and ill planned processes over which we have little to no control. The Ministry of Children and Family Development and the Indigenous Northern Affairs Canada continue with the implementation of policies of chronic underfunding of services to our children and families.
“We are not only paying lip service to this call to action, we know what the core issues are and we have the solutions for those. We do not stand and ask for help, we are asking for full partnerships that will use solutions based in our ways. These ways have demonstrated much better outcomes for our children and families using cultural decision making tools and ways of empowering families. Ways that are as successful today as they have been for a millennium,’ as stated by Jennifer Houde, Child, Family, Youth and Health Services Manager, ONA.
The Syilx Day of Action is a time for First Nations and Canadians to stand together in the spirit of unity to urge the Government to put our children first. We are requesting equitable and flexible funding in order to do what works for our People.
Media contact:
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip
Chairman, ONA
250-490-5314
Jennifer Houde,
CFYH Manager, ONA
250-488-2448
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