Things ended well Wednesday for a Cheam First Nation band member and those supporting her multi-year fight to get legal custody of her children.
Approximately 40 members of the Pil’alt Tribe gathered on the steps of the Chilliwack Law Courts to support Elizabeth Bernard, a Cheam woman who had her children taken from her in 2010 due to addiction issues.
Cheam band councillor Andrew Victor said Bernard has been clean for three years but repeated court delays in getting legal custody led to the communities coming together to rally and support her at court.
“Our greatest asset are our children and they are our children,” Shxwha:y Chief Robert Gladstone said to the gathered crowd.
Both Gladstone and Cheam elder, and former chief, June Quipp said the system is failing aboriginal people. When troubles arise, many are taken from their cultural communities, thrust into urban or at least non-aboriginal places and forgotten.
“And they end up in this courthouse,” Gladstone said.
“These kids end up in jail,” Quipp said.
Cheam Chief Ernie Crey said there are simply too many indigenous kids in care in B.C., and he is told that per capita, Cheam has the highest incidence of children in government care among the 24 Sto:lo First Nations.
“Our council is committed to keeping kids at home and bringing those already removed back to Cheam,” Crey told The Progress. “I told Grand Chief Ed John of the First Nations Summit this is our goal and we needed his support. More than that, we are working with Grand Chief Doug Kelly of the First Nations Health Council on practical and workable ways to improve the lives of our families and kids.
“And both Victoria and Ottawa need to step up to the plate with the support we need to do our job here in the communities when it comes to child welfare.”
As for Bernard, her supporters say she has been fighting with the courts and the government bureaucracy for too long. Her court appearance was scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and at about 10:30 a.m. she came down the stairs to the gathered group with good news.
“She has full, legal guardianship of her children,” Victor posted on Facebook. “A great day to celebrate!”
The Pilalt Tribe is made up of the Cheam, Kwaw kwaw Apilt First Nation and Skwah First Nation.
