Social Services Minister Paul Merriman’s comments labeling National Indigenous Organizations as lobbyists, is still reverberating throughout the province as the Child and Youth Advocate says Indigenous leaders need to be part of conversations which affect their children.
“I would say that takes us back 40, 50 years. We have an inherent right to be at those tables. That is something we never gave up as a people. That inherent right to care for, to discipline and to teach our own children,” O’Soup said.
Merriman walked-back his comments Monday saying it was a poor choice of words. “I was wrong to use the word lobbyist last week in my interview,” following a federal, provincial and territorial ministers meeting in Saskatoon discussing Bill C-92, Indigenous child welfare legislation.
“We cannot go back to the point where we were not included in those discussions. We see the direct results of what happens when we’re not included; the residential schools. You can make that direct link. And that direct link to the issues that are facing our Indigenous People today, particularly our Indigenous children and youth,” O’Soup explained.
Merriman expressed that the provincial ministers wanted a separate meeting with Ottawa, similar to the national Indigenous organizations, which he says he secured.
Premier Moe and Merriman both have concerns with Bill C-92 in how Ottawa will fund a community-based child welfare system and how the legislation will be implemented.
O’Soup says he supports the federal legislation currently before the House of Commons, as long as issues of funding and jurisdiction are resolved.
(PHOTO: Child and Youth Advocate Corey O’Soup. Credit Dan Jones)