Metis in BC sign Historic Agreement to take Control of own Child Welfare

"The 90,000-strong Métis community in British Columbia is one step closer to taking over child welfare authority for their children and families, with the historic signing of an agreement between the Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) and the Province." Metis Nation of British Columbia.

Minister of Children and Family Development, Katrine Conroy and MNBC President, Clara Morin Dal Col signed a joint commitment setting the goal of transferring child welfare authority to MNBC by 2021

The main objectives of the Joint Commitment are to significantly reduce the number of Métis children and youth in government care, support family preservation, and work on the legislative and other requirements to support transfer of authority over B.C.’s Métis childrenand families to MNBC.“By signing this joint commitment, we assert the right to develop our own laws, our own policies, and our own practices in accordance with our traditions. As we reclaim authority, we will focus on the restoration of our most vulnerable children and families to our kinshipnetworks, to our communities and to our Métis Nation,” said Dal Col. “We will focus on building a system of preservation and restoration, a system based on the successes of the five Métis child and family service agencies, for our people throughout the province. I am pleased to be working with the Province on this historic step forward for Métis children and families in B.C.”

Had the immense pleasure and honor to not only be present during this defining moment in Metis history but I was able to photograph it as well. To be able to witness and document this has been a true blessing and I could not be any more proud of my culture than I am now.