First Nations call for minister’s resignation over horrific child abuse case; demand complete overhaul of foster care system

THE First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) on Monday said it was deeply aggrieved at the inadequate approach of Mitzi Dean, Minister of Children and Family Development, and ongoing lack of accountability in response to the horrific abuse of two First Nations children in foster care.

The FNLC called for Dean to resign immediately, and for the Province to work with First Nations to eradicate the mistreatment of First Nations children in care, including supporting First Nations’ jurisdiction of First Nations children.

The First Nations Leadership Council is comprised of the political executives of the BC Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN), First Nations Summit (FNS), and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC).

On Friday, June 16, Chilliwack provincial court sentenced two former foster parents to 10 years in prison for manslaughter and aggravated assault that took place in Lake Errock between 2020 and 2021. According to the evidence, the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) hadn’t checked on the children in their care for seven months.

Regional Chief Terry Teegee of the BC Assembly of First Nations said, “This tragedy reminds me of the Savannah Hall case from 2001, in which a three-year-old Indigenous girl in foster care died of abuse and suffocation. The coroner’s verdict determined it was a homicide and included 17 recommendations to MCFD. And yet, here we are again. Case after case, the Province of British Columbia offers condolences and promises to ensure it won’t happen again. Clearly, this is not enough.

“The Ministry must conduct a thorough systematic review of its child protection and guardianship policies, practices, and procedures pertaining to First Nations children and youth, and all child protection cases and placements involving First Nations families. These tragedies are the result of negligence and a lack of systemic oversight, and First Nations children are the innocent victims of BC’s failures. I urge Minister Dean to recognize this and resign immediately.”

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, and Cheryl Casimer of the First Nations Summit Political Executive also slammed the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

The First Nations Leadership Council said it “anticipates, and would be very supportive of, the Representative for Children and Youth undertaking a fulsome investigation into the horrific systemic breakdowns that contributed to this child’s death, in an effort to identify the necessary systemic improvements to prevent similar injuries or deaths from occurring in the future. We call on the Province to proactively commit to implementation of the recommendations that will arise out of such an investigation, in recognition of the need for a drastic overhaul.”

 

MEANWHILE, Representative for Children and Youth Jennifer Charlesworth announced on Monday that her Office (RCY) will conduct a full investigation into the circumstances that led to the horrific abuse inflicted on two First Nations children in care in Lake Errock and ultimately resulted in the death of one of the children.
“This is an unbelievably tragic story, and one that has frankly brought me to my knees as I try to imagine what this child – and their siblings – experienced,” Charlesworth said. “In 46 years of practice in helping children and youth, this is one of the most egregious situations I have ever seen. I will do everything in my power as Representative to ensure that we learn what happened and – most significantly – what needs to be done to ensure that the system is transformed so that this does not happen to any child, anywhere in this province, again.”

Minister Dean said in a statement: “I am heartbroken at what these children endured and I extend our deepest apologies and condolences to the family, friends and communities that have been impacted by this tragedy, including Indigenous Peoples across the province who have experienced and continue to experience the trauma of a broken child-welfare system.

“My ministry is fully supportive of the representative for children and youth’s investigation. The ministry will support and participate in all efforts to bring the facts to light and will assist the representative in any way that she deems necessary. We will address all recommendations to improve the safety of children and youth in care.

“These children deserved safety, support and love and they were failed at every level. In partnership with First Nations leadership and Indigenous partners, we are determined to continue making the systemic changes that are needed to support Nations in exercising their inherent jurisdiction to provide their own services for their children and youth.

“Every young person in care must be able to trust the adults and caregivers in their lives to act with their best interests in mind, and to provide them with safety, care and support. Our focus is on protecting children and youth and ensuring their well-being.”