STC - Child & Family

Grand Chief Clarence Pennier

For the Families and Children, we began discussing Snoyelh te emimeth with Chehalis over the past 4 months. We have to look back in our history and understand that we did a better job of looking after our families and children. Our way of life dictated how we lived. Our teachings came from the “Elders”. Our Grannies became caregivers when the parents were busy. Aunties and Uncles could help with the teachings when the grannies were not around.

We did not need the government to look after our families and children.

We need to have healthy individuals and healthy families so that once again we will be responsible for looking after our families and children .

I am a Board Member for the Stehiyaq Aboriginal Healing Society. We are in the process of developing the programs and the facility for occupation possibly in January. The main focus at this time is to help youth-at-risk. The program will be supported by the Ministry of Child and Family Development.

I know that we need treatment for those that have problems with addictions. That will come.

Children & families:

In 2006 the STC, Chehalis, In-SHUCK-ch, Fraser Valley Metis and the United Native Nations Fraser Valley Chapter incorporated the Fraser Salish Children and Family Services Society (Fraser Salish).

Earlier this year Fraser Salish and Stó:lō Nation Society each appointed four interim directors, who under the leadership of Gwen Point are to develop a constitution and bylaws to replace Xyolhemeylh. The four and four directors was a concession as Fraser Salish by organization represent 10,000 of the 12,000 Aboriginals in the area.

The provincial and federal government was too weak to support the obvious majority so we are making one last attempt to work with Stó:lō Nation Society on childwelfare.

It is important that they bylaws adequately reflect community connection through representation, accountability and responsibility as well as being steeped in culture and traditions. One of the failings of the 19 member tribal council was that each community had a single vote. This is extremely unfair as a community of 1000 has much more and different need than a community of 100.

The bylaws must also show the relation to the Chiefs and Councils of the communities as they have an obligation to care for the well being of their membership. The deadline for the bylaws and their support is September 30th. We have made it clear that when the bylaws are clear and concise, has representation that relates to size of community, is accountable and responsible and is based on culture and tradition then the majority of the Aboriginals will support and continue to move forward.

Should Stó:lō Nation Society continue to hinder progress then after September 30 Xyolhemeylh may fully convert to the Ministry of Children & Family Development. We will continue to do our best.

Stó:lō Family Law:

We have been meeting with Chehalis to discuss and develop traditional laws for our children and families. In Halq’emeylem this is called Snowoyelh te Emimeth.

Snowoyelh are our traditional laws and emimeth are grandchildren. This was chosen to highlight the relation between grandparents and grandchildren as traditional while parents were working or learning about life, it was the grandparents raising the children. Chief Willie Charlie has also brought this to provincial First Nation gatherings and is developing a great amount of support. This effort is in line with what we have been hearing from our community members. It speaks of keeping families together and supporting them. It speaks of providing prevention before intervention. It speaks of community based and controlled supports.

When we speak of Stó:lō laws no government has a right to tell us or dictate to us. As we map out Snowoyelh to Emimeth we will be in a better and stronger position to negotiate with government for more meaningful change to support our children, families and communities. Much more to come on this.

Betty Henry - Cultural Tribal Chief and Child and Family Advocate - Report Sept 16th 2008

In point form

Attended the 2nd indigenous Child at the Centre
Forum @ the Chief Joe Mathias Centre, Capilano July 21, 22, 2008
Attended another meeting in this same regard at Chehalis – Chiefs of the Fraser Region Child Welfare on Sept 04, 2008.
Attended a supper meeting with Tribal Chief Tyrone McNeil, Kevin Patterson and Gwen Point, to discuss the interim boards constitution and bylaws on Sept 09 2008.
Attended an emergency fishing meeting at Cheam July 31, 2008
Aug 20th 2008 – took care of a cleansing of the new First Nation

RCMP Building. Enjoyed a wonderful lunch provided by Brenda Point, and stood up five Native RCMP with a blanket and scarf and thanked Constable Jeff for all the work he has done on behalf of the communities. Constable Angelina Bowen dressed Corporal Chris Gosselin with a cedar hat that she made.

National Chief Phil Fontaine was dressed with an special blanket of the Stó:lō People purchased from Frieda Jimmie from Squaila. This was done in Quebec with our drummers.

Corporal Chris Gosselin was dressed with a cedar hat made by Angelina Bowen, and was given as a gift of appreciation for all he has done and presented by Grand Chief Doug Kelly on behalf of Chris’s colleagues.

Constables Angelina Bowen, Gail Starr, Nicky Charlie, Cedric Gnyp and summer student, Sara Haneuse were stood up and dressed with a blanket and cedar headbands, as was explained by Grand Chief Doug Kelly and Tribal Chief Tyrone McNeil, we have traditionally recognized them as frontline workers for our communities.

I am presently helping a young couple from Soowahlie First Nation, Helena Henry from Mt. Currie and Francis Mussel a wonderful young man who is an elected councillor from Soowahlie, organize their “mask dance” wedding to be on Oct. 25th 2008.

I would also like to congratulate Chemaine Douglas for two years of sobriety….WAY TO GO CHEMAINE! Keep up the good work.

Praying for each and everyone that you are happy and healthy in mind, body and spirit. All my relations……

Attended the Stó:lō Tribal Council Leadership meeting held at Seabird on Aug 29th 2008.

Grand Cheif Doug Kelly - STC Report

Walk4Justice

Gladys Radek and Bernice Williams began their cross country walk, on June 21, 2008, Aboriginal Solidarity Day, in Vancouver, to tell Canadians about the significant number of missing and murdered Aboriginal women in Canada. Gladys and Bernice met with First Nations leaders, communities, and urban service organizations.

They gathered names of missing and murdered women. First Nations governments, tribal councils, the First Nations Summit, the BC Assembly of First Nations, and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs supported the Walk4Justice with funding, meals, a place to rest, and resolutions of support.

The Walk4Justice reminded me that Chiefs and Tribal Leaders must act to help restore safe and healthy community to raise our children. Elected leaders cannot do this work alone. Family violence, sexual abuse, neglect are very difficult issues to confront. When we look the other way, or fail to act, we fail our children and future generations.

Family leaders, elected leaders, cultural leaders, must set community standards. We need to work with front line caregivers to overcome denial. With community members we must break this cycle of violence. Many of the missing and murdered women left our villages to escape the violence in our communities. They left home and became vulnerable to predators like Robert Pickton.

Decades of assimilation policies, residential schools, and alienation of our culture and languages contributed to the breakdown in family and community. We must draw upon cultural and spiritual teachings and practise family law to restore our communities to good health. Our children want a safe place to learn, grow, and play. It is our job to give them a safe home and community.

Leaders must engage with governments to make certain that programs and services are available to meet these needs. We must hold the RCMP accountable when they fail to act on missing and murdered women. We must hold our child welfare program accountable when social workers do not act to protect our children and grandchildren. We must hold ourselves accountable and not deny family violence or sexual abuse.

On September 15, 2008, Gladys Radek, Bernice Williams, with several women and men completed their Walk4Justice with a press conference and rally on Parliament Hill. The rally joined marchers with the families of missing and murdered Aboriginal women. The Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Summit, BC Assembly of First Nations, and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs joined Gladys and Bernice in calling upon the government of Canada for a public inquiry into the Missing and Murdered Aboriginal women.

Submitted by:

Grand Chief Doug Kelly
Tribal Chief for Intergovernmental Relations

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