First Nations Leadership Council Calls for Immediate Imp l e m e nt at i o n o f t h e R e c o m m e n d at i o n s i n t h e R e p r e s e n t at i v e Fo r C hi l d r e n a n d Yo u t h R e p o r t :
THE RIGHT TO THRIVE
June 27, 2023
human rights. Our gender diverse children and youth, (xʷməθkʷə ̓yəm deserve our love, support, (Musqueam), Sḵw and protection. Similarly, ̱xwú7mesh (Squamish) and they deserve to have the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/ opportunity to live healthy, Vancouver, B.C.) The safe, and supported lives, First Nations Leadership like their cisgendered peers.” Council (FNLC) is deeply disturbed by the “I want to acknowledge findings reported in the the tremendous strength Representative for Children and vulnerability of the and Youth’s (RCY ) most 2STNBGD youth who recent publication entitled, shared their stories and The Right to Thrive: An experiences of living within Urgent Call to Recognize, the confines of a colonial Respect and Nurture Two and intolerant society, Spirit, Trans, Non-Binary said BC Assembly of First and other Gender Diverse Nations Regional Chief Children and Youth (The Terry Teegee. Each of you Right to Thrive), which are champions for change. illuminates significant “Two-Spirit Project” By Neebinnaukzhik Southall – Chippewas of Rama Your stories underscore human rights violations, First Nation From: www.neebin.com the urgency of systemic experienced by Two Spirit, transformation to ensure “We cannot allow the denigration and Trans, Non-Binary and other Gender discrimination of our 2STNBGD children you are granted the respect, care, support, Diverse (2STNBGD) children and youth, and youth to go on,” said Cheryl Casimer, and opportunity to live and thrive in as a result of antiquated, disinformed, First Nation Summit Political Executive. B.C., which your cis-gendered peers are discriminative, and deficient system of “The RCY’s report exposes the perverse provided. We hear you and it is now our supports. impacts of societal misconceptions and responsibility to advocate on your behalf, This report reveals that 2STNBGD ideologies that must be addressed through calling on the government of B.C. to action children and youth in British Columbia institutional change. System-level reform your recommendations, as delineated by (B.C.) experience inequitable access to is necessary to ensure equitable access the RCY.” essential gender-affirming care and support, to gender-affirming supports and care The First Nations Leadership Council is although a fundamental right, reflected for 2STNBGD children and youth. The comprised of the political executives of the in The Canadian Charter of Rights and mental health of 2STNBGD children and BC Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN), Freedoms, The United Nations Convention youth should not suffer because of B.C.’s First Nations Summit (FNS), and the on the Rights of the Child, and the United negligence.” Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC). Nations Declaration on the Rights of Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of For further information, contact: Indigenous Peoples, and higher rates of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) suicidal ideation, self-harm, and suicidality, stated, “Last week, as we celebrated National Cheryl Casimer, FNS Political Executive particularly for youth in care and those Indigenous Peoples Day, protesters Phone: 778-875-2157 residing in staffed resources. Conversely, gathered outside UBCIC’s Vancouver A n n e t t e S c h ro e t e r, B CA F N the RCY reports that 2STNBGD children office, and perpetuated discriminative Communications Officer Phone: and youth who are supported and affirmed, beliefs pertaining to gender diverse people. 778-281-1655 can experience positive life outcomes, like This proclamation of ignorance, intolerance, their cis-gender peers, highlighting the and hate illustrates the critical concerns, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC impacts of socio-political and structural highlighted by the RCY, in The Right to President Phone: 250-490-5314 inequalities, on an already disenfranchised Thrive, including the violation of basic From: www.ubcic.bc.ca and racialized population.
12 FIRE THIS TIME
Volume 17 Issue 4-5 May & June 2023