WHEREAS Aboriginal families continue to be disproportionately represented in the child welfare system as a direct result of the residential school legacy and other forced assimilation policies; AND WHEREAS Aboriginal people have the inherent right to self-government as recognized by the federal government under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities support Aboriginal groups in the establishment of an Aboriginal child welfare provincial court that will oversee the welfare of Aboriginal children and their families; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the federal and provincial governments provide funds to train, educate, communicate, establish, build, legislate, and undertake whatever is necessary to prevent Aboriginal children and their families from being separated.
