Grandmothers to walk in all directions to protest

Hundreds of grandmothers will take to Winnipeg's streets Friday morning to protest the child welfare system, as well as new proposed federal legislation.

Organizers of the Grandmothers Walk say that "As mothers and grandmothers we have a sovereign and inherent right to care for our children."

They say that Bill C-92 puts those rights at risk by "disconnecting us from our children and identity, losing our connection to land, the continued practice of genocide."

Winnipeg Liberal MP Dan Vandal (Saint Boniface—Saint Vital) has said that if C-92 passes it "would be a significant step forward in the process of reconciliation and in the renewal of the relationship between Canada and indigenous peoples."

However, Indigenous leaders across the country have expressed strong disagreement with that statement.

The bill was introduced in February in hopes of reducing the number of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children in the child welfare system. But Indigenous leaders say that the bill does not respect First Nations sovereignty.

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Arlen Dumas says the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs does not support the bill. Dumas says the bill was "drafted by a government who does not respect who we are as a people."

Dumas said in a video posted the the AMC Facebook page that "Bill C-92 does not benefit Manitoba First Nations families for many reasons but primarily because: it was developed without consultation or consent of Manitoba First Nations; no agreement was made with First Nations people to harmonize the three Indigenous groups into one Act; it does not respect First Nations laws that honour our Treaty relationship with the Crown; Bill C-92 does not respect regional approaches such as the Manitoba-specific Bringing Our Children Home Act."

Dumas says the walk is sending a clear message to the nation "that we have had enough with our children being removed from our families, homes, and nations."

Walkers will gather at 10 a.m. at four different locations and walk to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.