Penticton Indian Band members to march in protest of child welfare system

PENTICTON – The Ministry of Children and Families are the subject of a protest planned by members of the Penticton Indian Band tomorrow.

A group of band members are planning to march to the ministry office tomorrow, Oct. 13, to call on the province to recognize the rights of band children and families, according to a media release from a group calling itself Concerned Parents, Grandparents, Aunties and Uncles Penticton Indian Band Community.

They are also refusing to allow ministry officials on band land without approval and involvement of band members.

“Generations of failed policies and systems have harmed our families and continue to erode critical relationships between the ministry and the Penticton Indian Band community,” the group says in the release.

The group is calling for a change to the present child welfare system, which it describes as “oppressive and overly paternalistic.”

"The Ministry of Children and Families has got to realize we employ skilled staff and have concerned and involved families who are able to assess and deal with risk and offer strength based solutions," the release also states.

The march to the ministry office takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. tomorrow, starting at the Green Mountain Road bridge, making its way to the ministry office at the Safeway Plaza and back.

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