Coast Salish Territory, Vancouver, British Columbia – Leaders of the First Nations Summit (FNS) are speaking in support of today’s report, Broken Promises: Alex’s Story , from Bernard Richard, A/Representative for Children and Youth (RCY) on the life and death of Alex Gervais, an 18 year old Metis youth who committed suicide in September 2015.
“The RCY report clearly illustrates how the current child welfare system in BC failed Alex and played a contributing role in the circumstances that led to his tragic death. Youth in care need to be provided every chance to grow up in a healthy, loving, responsible and a culturally and familial connected environment to ensure they have opportunities for success. The A/RCY has outlined four recommendations which will lead to substantive and systemic change that is crucial to fixing the system that failed Alex, as well as so many other aboriginal children and youth in care. We encourage BC to take immediate steps to implement these recommendations”, said Cheryl Casimer of the First Nations Summit Political Executive.