By Tanya Cronin

Métis in B.C. to take over control of their own child welfare by 2021

Jun 7, 2018 | 12:10 PM

KAMLOOPS — A historic day, and an announcement that will change the future of thousands of Métis children in BC.   

For the first time, The Métis Nation in BC will soon take control of its own children in government care. Minister of Children and Family Development Katrine Conroy was in Kamloops Thursday, to announce the signing of an agreement to transfer care by 2021. This will give the Métis Nation the right to develop its own laws, policies and practices around child welfare.  

“This is a very long time coming, this is true reconciliation, this is time to say that First Nations, the Métis are ready to make sure they have jurisdiction of their child welfare, that they are taking care of their children, that children are learning their cultures, traditions, and the bottom line is they want to keep children at home, they want to make sure children can stay with families, so let’s put the supports in place to make that happen,” says Katrine Conroy, Minister of Children and Family Development. 

There are 520 Métis children currently in government care. Lii Michif Otipemisiwak in Kamloops is one of two agencies officially delegated to serve children and families. Officials say the outcomes for children who age out of the foster care system are often harmful, many age with no sense of belonging, become homeless, or live with chronic addictions. 

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