Matriarchs traveled from across member Nations to join CSFS Jurisdiction in Prince George for the third Matriarch’s Voices working group on May 29 and 30, 2023. Meeting for the first time in Osoyoos back in 2021, Matriarch’s Voices has and continues to be a pillar of the Jurisdiction planning process for transitioning authority over child welfare from the Province of BC to member Nations.
Over the course of two days, CSFS program overviews, updates and progress reports were presented with Matriarchs given the opportunity to ask questions and share their perspectives. The CSFS Jurisdiction team also worked with the Matriarchs to walk through a Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) case study to provide insight into how child protection cases may (or may not) escalate.
Matriarchs shared both concerns and aspirations for the future. As noted by the Matriarchs, children are routinely being placed into care where they are not safe, kids who age out of care are landing on the streets, infants are being taken from their mothers at birth – the system is broken and is not serving Indigenous families; however, as the Matriarchs emphasized, there is strength in communities. Stories of families working together to keep a loved one safe, of Matriarchs stepping in to guide youth through the school system, and those of community-led advocacy were shared from table to table.
“If a child was raised with their language and culture, and they learned their beliefs, they were going to grow up healthy and become leaders and good parents.”
This teaching from Matriarch Marilyn Vickers captures the spirit of Matriarch’s Voices and CSFS Jurisdiction’s process in developing a new legal framework for child welfare. Marilyn’s words and the words of every Matriarch sitting with the working group are guiding CSFS Jurisdiction’s work and the creation of new child welfare laws – laws for member Nations led by their own Matriarchs.
Two more Matriarch’s Voices are expected in the near future, with the next working group planned for Fall 2023. A few more chairs are being brought to the table as new voices are anticipated to join the Matriarchs at the upcoming session. A formal invitation welcoming youth to participate in the next Matriarch’s Voices was announced by Matriarch Maureen Thomas during the closing business on May 30.
“We encourage you to be respectful to all people, and to all persons living. With integrity, and in harmony with earth. That’s what our mothers do, that’s what we do. That is what the Matriarchs do. We are teaching you to show up and care for the youth. Our youth are our leaders now. We can’t say they are going to be leaders tomorrow, it is today, protecting them and loving them.”
Site Map
© Copyright 2015-2025 Carrier Sekani Family Services. All Rights Reserved.