UPDATE: First Nation Family Demands Right To Choose Daughter’s Cancer Treatment (Incl.Videos)
UPDATE: [Posted to Facebook page May 20, 2014]: Prayers & Tobacco for Makayla Sault) “There was a meeting today with CAS and they will not be investigating further. They have closed the file and do not see Makayla as a child in need of protection!! She is released to take onongwatri:yo: and stay with her family. Thank you for your prayers!”
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On Facebook, this message to Members of the Mississaugas of New Credit First Nation for their support in regards to a meeting the family has scheduled with the CAS later today:
Please come out and support Makayla Sault and her family at the community meeting with Brantford CAS May 20th @ 4:00pm at New Credit Community Hall. She needs all your support, prayers and love. Located 659 New Credit rd / Onondaga rd.. please spread the word and hope to see you there.
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Videos/information above is among what is being shared on the internet in regards to the story of a Southern Ontario girl from the Mississaugas of New Credit First Nation which has the internet debating many things today, religious freedoms, religious visions, right to choose medical treatments, traditional vs. pharmaceutical treatments for cancer but the real question in my opinion is what, if any, jurisdiction does the Children’s Aid Society have in regards to First Nations children?
The videos above, from CBC’s National (top) and Two Row Times (2nd video) are some of the information available online for those interested in the story but no doubt their is much more to it. Though the 2nd video shows the young girl herself reading the letter she wrote to doctors it seems reasonable to believe her parents did not make the decision to respect her wishes and try the route of traditional medicine lightly nor did they likely make it solely based on their daughters letter (they have certainly watched as she suffered through chemotherapy, heard from doctors at the hospital where she received treatment, spoke with those whose opinions they valued around them, etc).
What is the protocol at this point in Canada? First Nations people have the right to decide what is best for their children as long as those outside their community understand the decision or agree with it? Respecting a people’s right for self-governance, in my opinion, should not be conditional of whether that self-governance includes decisions that are aligned with the beliefs or opinions of non-First Nations Canadians, it means respecting that they are intelligent people who make decisions with reasonable consideration, and conversation with those who’s input is valued within their community, i.e. Elders, Band Council, extended family, it seems the girl’s parents are turning to their community, Elders and Council for guidance and support in regards to this issue, that should be enough for those outside their community of New Credit First Nation, like the Children’s Aid Society, to see that their [CAS] involvement is neither needed nor justified beyond this point.
That’s my opinion, what is yours? Share it in the comments below (please remember comments which include personal attacks on anyone or any group will not be tolerated, share your opinions respectfully remembering others have a right to their opinions as well) note a valid email must be included but is not made visible.
