Tony Belcourt, O.C., LL.D. (Hon.) 117 Carleton Street, PO. Box 153 Almonte, Ontario K0A 1A0 September 21, 2016 Honourable Suzanne Anton, QC Attorney General and Minister of Justice Ministry of Justice PO Box 9044 Stn Prov Gov Govt Victoria, B.C. V8W 9E2 Re: Adoption of a Métis foster child (L.M. and R.B. v. The Director of Child, Family and Community Services, 2016 BCCA 367) Dear Minister, I am writing in support of the letter by Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, Representative for Children And Youth, suggesting a that a process be initiated to consider Indigenous legal traditions in the above case involving “S.S.” and that the child continue to be held in care pending this review. As a former Metis National Council Minister for International Issues and Metis Nation Ambassador, I wish to call your attention to the many standards of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to protect the social, cultural and legal interests of Indigenous Peoples and in particular Article 7 related to security of person which states as follows: Article 7 1. Indigenous individuals have the rights to life, physical and mental integrity, liberty and security of person. 2. Indigenous peoples have the collective right to live in freedom, peace and security as distinct peoples and shall not be subjected to any act of genocide or any other act of violence, including forcibly removing children of the group to another group. Regulations concerning child and family services must take into account rapidly changing legal and political circumstances that are evolving to recognize and protect the interests of Indigenous peoples, individuals and their communities. I understand that the Government of British Columbia is among the leaders among governments in adjusting its laws and regulations accordingly. However, it appears that those pertaining to the protection and recognition of the best interests of Indigenous children are not yet consistent with the rights recognized by the United Nations and now adopted by Canada. 1 Indigenous peoples, including the Métis Nation fought for decades for the recognition of the standards and rights now entrenched in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. These are standards that are based on our traditions and values and now have world-wide recognition. To us, nothing is more sacred than the protection of our children and that they be raised in a safe and secure environment within their communities. I strongly urge you to consider the modest request made by British Columbia’s Representative for Children and Youth to permit the review of evidence by Métis authorities on our traditional practices and customs in order to inform an appropriate process concerning the adoption of Métis children in keeping with evolving standards and law and a pause in the matter of the adoption of “S.S.” outside of the Métis family & community. Respectfully, Tony Belcourt O.C., LL.D, (Hon.) Past President, Metis Nation of Ontario Past Metis National Council Minister for International Issues and Métis Nation Ambassador c.c. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, Representative for Children and Youth Cory Heavener, Provincial Director of Child Welfare Ministry of Children and Family Development Honourable Stephanie Cadieux, Minister Ministry of Children and Family Development Clara Morin-Dal Col, President Métis Nation British Columbia Grand Chief Ed John, First Nations Summit Dr. Maria Campbell, O.C. Métis Elder, Author, Historian Dr. Paul Chartrand, IPC Former Commissioner, Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples Dr. Nicholas Vrooman, Métis Historian, Author Hon. W. Yvon Dumont, Former Lt. Governor of Manitoba Former President, Metis National Council 2 Christi Belcourt, Metis Artist Founder, Walking with Our Sister’s Memorial for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls 3