March for Dead Children

June 20, 2012 permalink

In Saskatoon nearly 100 people walked in memory of dead foster children. Two articles are enclosed.

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Group remembers children who have died in foster care

Saskatchewan's Children's Advocate says in 2010 alone 34 children died and 43 others were critically injured while in foster care or group homes.

CTV Saskatoon, Date: Wednesday Jun. 20, 2012 2:37 PM CST

Nearly 100 people walked in Saskatoon Wednesday morning to remember children who have died in Saskatchewan foster care and group homes.

Chris Martel walked alongside his family. Last June, his 22-month-old son Evander Daniels was found drowned in the bathtub of an Aberdeen area home. The foster mother, Eunice Wudrich, is charged with criminal negligence causing death.

Saskatchewan's Children's Advocate says in 2010 alone 34 children died and 43 others were critically injured while in foster care or group homes.

Martin Paul, with the FSIN, says overcrowding in these facilities is a problem that requires more support from the provincial government.

"This is our new residential school. A lot of our aboriginal children are in foster care and we need more programs. They are building a house in Hampton for mothers to get their children back. I think that's a good idea and we need more houses like that."

Source: CTV Saskatoon

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Signs on the walk to raise awareness of kids in care. Ashley Wills/News Talk Radio (link to large photo).

Remembering children who died in foster care

Walk to raise awareness of kids in care hits the streets in Saskatoon

Reported by Ashley Wills, First Posted: Jun 20, 2012 4:18pm

A sea of T-shirts and signs honouring children who have died in foster care flooded a Saskatoon park today.

"What's going on right now is the new residential school, so many native kids in foster care," said Chris Martell, father of Evander Lee Daniels, who died in the care of a foster parent nearly two years ago.

Providing food, clothing and shelter simply isn't enough for children in the system, said Chief Wesley Daniels of the Sturgeon Lake First Nation.

"There has to be love. They have to be placed in a home where there's love," he said.

The Ministry of Social Services needs to change the way things are done, Daniels said, like allowing grandparents to be more involved in the process.

"In our culture, grandparents have a huge interest in the development of their children."

In 2011, 75 per cent of children who died in Saskatchewan's foster care system were aboriginal. awills@rawlco.com, Follow on Twitter: @ashwillsee

Source: CKOM