Poverty not a good reason to take Indigenous kids from parents: Bennett – CP

Source: The Canadian Press
Jan 26, 2018 

OTTAWA _ The minister responsible for relations between the federal government and Indigenous Peoples says poverty has to stop being used as a reason to take Indigenous kids away from their parents.

Carolyn Bennett is among the federal and provincial politicians gathered with Indigenous leaders Friday for the final day of a meeting on Indigenous child welfare.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission said the welfare system is continuing the assimilation attempts that started with residential schools and their number one recommendation was to reduce the number of Indigenous children in care.

Bennett says doing so will require a recognition that racism lies behind many of the decisions to take kids away and that poverty, not abuse, is the overwhelming reason.

There is no signed agreement on how to move forward coming out of the meeting but there appears to be a willingness to transfer jurisdiction over Indigenous child welfare services to those communities.

Bennett says in every case where a community has taken the helm of child welfare, kids do better and fewer kids are taken away from their families.

INDEX: NATIONAL POLITICS