Sts’ailes Celebrates and Asserts its Jurisdiction over Child and Family Services Despite Lack of Federal Government Support
Today, at the start of the Family Day long weekend, Sts’ailes held a Traditional Ceremony to recognize, celebrate and honour its jurisdiction over child and family services for its Xwelmexw te Sts’ailes (Sts’ailes people).
“Today, after more than a century of historic disruption, Sts’ailes is asserting its unbroken and inherent right to care for our children and families according to our own laws and cultural practices,” says Sah-ahkw Ralph Leon Jr., Chief, Sts’ailes. “Our children are our most precious resource and, by assuming responsibility for their care, we are ensuring that they grow up with the love, support and connection to their culture that they deserve.”
The event had been intended as a ceremonial signing of a Coordination Agreement with the governments of Canada and British Columbia, the culmination of more than three years of negotiation. However, one month before the agreement was scheduled to be signed, Canada reneged on its commitment to meet agreed-upon deadlines for executing the agreement and provided no timeline for when it would be ready to finalize it.
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