NEAR PENTICTON – Tuesday’s Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruling on First Nations child and family services is getting a positive reaction in the Okanagan. However, many are still waiting to see if the ruling spurs change.
Dorothy Ward has been waiting to hear the decision. For her the issue is very personal. She worked as a social worker for Okanagan First Nations for years.
“This means a lot in terms of the Canadian government admitting what she has been working with for all these years: the discrimination and the inability to help kids,” explains her daughter Laurie Wilson.
The Okanagan Nation Alliance is also welcoming Tuesday’s news.
The Okanagan Nation Alliance says an application they made to provide child protection services was turned down. In the wake of this decision they’d like to see change and are also looking for prevention funding to be equitable and flexible.
Ward says she would like to see First Nations have their own fully-funded programs. For her the real test will be whether the ruling results in action.
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