Updated: Thu May. 01 2008 18:35:04
ctvwinnipeg.ca
Government infighting has families in a northern community in anguish about how to best care for their children.
The Norway House Cree Nation has told the families of children with special needs that they may be forced to give up their children because the First Nation can no longer pay for their care, and federal and provincial governments can't agree on who should pay.
For mother Crystal Hart, it means she may have to say good-bye to her daughter, Priscilla.
"I want her to get the services that she can get," she said while wiping tears from her eyes.
Priscilla Hart has Ritscher-Schinzel Syndrome. She can't speak or eat and needs to be fed through a tube. It's constant care that requires the help of a respite worker, who cares for Pricilla when her parents go to work.
The Norway House Cree Nation has been paying for those services, which are required by 37 children on the reserve.
However, the band said the money has run out and the services will end May 31.
"Bureaucracy is what you call a nightmare, I guess," said band councillor Mike Muswagon. "Trying to get what you can for your community and for your people."
Muswagon said the First Nation has been fighting for funding from the province and the federal government for years. He said each side argues the other should pay for Status Indian children.
It's a familiar story. In 2005, the community rallied around another sick child named Jordan River Anderson.
Jordan spent the first part of his life hooked up to machines in a Winnipeg hospital. When he was two years old, doctors were ready to send him to a medical foster home, but for two years provincial and federal government officials argued over who should pay for it. They couldn't even decide who would cover the cost of a special showerhead he needed. Jordan never left the hospital. Jordan died in February, 2005. He was five years old.
In December Members of Parliament in Ottawa vowed never to let that happen again. They unanimously voted in favour of a private members motion called Jordan's Principle; children should come first when it comes to funding disputes.
On December 12, 2007, Minister of Health Tony Clement wrote this letter of support:
"Indian and Northern Affairs Canada is working closely with Health Canada as well as provincial and First Nations partners to ensure that jurisdictional issues do not impact a child's quality of care. Governments need to work together to see that First Nations and Inuit children have access to the same services available to other children."
Charlene Ducharme works with the Kinosao Sipi Minisowin Agency, a social agency on the reserve, and said she has yet to see Jordan's Principle in action. She said the children of Norway House deserve the same care that other Manitoba children get.
"Our premier said Manitoba would be the first one to implement Jordan's Principle... we're still waiting."
In an interview with CTV News Manitoba Health Minister Keri Irvin Ross said the provincial government is not required to pay for the children's care. "These issues are a federal responsibility," she said. "We need to make sure the federal government is held accountable for it, but we are committed to supporting this community and these children."
But not with any funding. Irvin Ross said the provincial government is offering its support by working with the Norway House Cree Nation in its negotiations with Ottawa. Irvin Ross said the fact that the provincial government is at the negotiating table is "new ground", and is a signal of its support for Jordan's Principle. She said the federal government has yet to respond to numerous letters requesting its involvement in finding a solution.
CTV News contacted Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. In an email, Senior Communications Advisor Patricia Valladao said "I was informed that we've recently met with our partners including the province on this matter, and we're working diligently to respond on an urgent basis. We will be meeting with the First Nation very soon."
Neither the federal or provincial response is very reassuring for the Harts. Little Priscilla's parents said they may quit their jobs to care for her. They said they'll find a way to make it work and keep their family together.
With a report from CTV's Caroline Barghout.
CTV Winnipeg
