Cindy Blackstock - an Aboriginal female Activist

APTN recently did a newsclip on the deplorable state of child welfare services for First Nations children in Canada. Like First Nations education, child welfare services is underfunded in comparision to provincial child welfare services and the federal government refuses to address this issue. 

Cindy Blackstock, the Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada (FNCFCS) and the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) filed a complaint before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) on the child welfare issue. 

Cindy Blackstock has been fairly outspoken and critical of the federal government on this issue and the funding for her organization was cut by the federal government.  However, the lack of funding for her organization has not prevented Cindy Blackstock from continuing to advocate on behalf of First Nations children.  In fact, Cindy Blackstock continues to criticize the federal government for its refusal to address the child welfare problem according to the wishes of the people and rightfully so.  The federal government should address child welfare issues according to the wishes of First Nations people.

According to APTN, the Department of Indian Affairs (Indian Affairs) now refuses to meet with Cindy Blackstock because apparently she is a "security threat" to Indian Affairs. They even escorted her out of the Indian Affairs building in Gatineau. Indian Affairs has villanized Cindy Blackstock for advocating for the rights of First Nations children.  The Prime Minister of Canada villanizes an Aboriginal person when he or she becomes too outspoken on our issues and it is not right.  It is how they oppress Aboriginal people.

Cindy Blackstock in the APTN newsclip refers to the possibility that she may have to find another solution to the child welfare issue if the CHRT dismisses her complaint but insists that she will not give up the fight.  Kudos to Cindy Blackstock for she is a collectively-minded leader who has the best interests of our children in mind!!!  She deserves a medal for her actions.  Do not give up Cindy because our children need you!!  You will go down in the history books as a women who defended the rights of our children!!

It is First Nations people like Cindy Blackstock who create change for our people, not the elite Aboriginal leaders who sit quietly in their plush offices and do what the federal government tells them to do because they are afraid that the government will cut the funding for their organization. So what if funding is cut?  The interests of our children are at stake. Our children need people to act and advocate on their behalf.  What is more important?  A paycheck or our children?  Actions speak louder than words!!

If you are wondering why Prime Minister Harper is not supportive of Aboriginal women and refuses to address violence against Aboriginal women, Cindy Blackstock's story provides you with the answer.  Harper and Indian Affairs have to maintain their oppression over First Nations people and to do so, have to violate Aboriginal people who speak out against the status quo.  Cindy Blackstock is an Aboriginal woman and Harper is committing violence against Cindy Blackstock.  He has turned her into a "villan" for speaking out.  If he addresses violence against Aboriginal women, the federal government's actions in violating Aboriginal women will be exposed.  Harper does not want that.

It is time for the grassroots people to stand up and demand change for the better. 

WHO IS WATCHING OUT FOR YOU AND OUR CHILDREN?

Here is the link for the APTN newsclips:

http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2011/01/31/first-nations-at-the-human-rights-tribunal-part-1/

http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2011/01/31/first-nations-at-the-human-rights-tribunal-part-2/