The Ministry of Children and Family development has committed to an action plan in response to court rulings in favour of Huu-ay-aht First Nations represented by Ratcliff & Company.

Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, announced in Nanaimo on Tuesday, Aug. 21 that the federal government will be providing $4.2 million in funding to support the Huu-ay-aht First Nations Social Services Project.

Blueberry River First Nations and the B.C. government try mediation as an alternative to the courtroom to negotiate Blueberry’s claim of treaty right infringement resulting from the cumulative impact of timber harvesting, natural gas extraction, roads, pipelines and other development within their traditional territory.

Provincial Court of British Columbia Judge Flewelling ruled on March 13 in favour of a Huu-ay-aht mother, ordering that her baby must be returned to the custody of her mother no later within days. The mother and child will reside in Port Alberni with Huu-ay-aht family.

Just three weeks after obtaining an order in BC Supreme Court to allow a young indigenous mother sufficient access to her newborn to allow for breastfeeding and to foster a maternal bond, Ratcliff lawyer Maegan Giltrow, together with Melinda Skeels, was back in court on the matter, where the Director of Children and Family Development was seeking to reduce access for the mother.

A BC Supreme Court ruling that orders the provincial government to ensure an Indigenous mother has daily access to her newborn child so she does not lose her maternal bond could impact other First Nations throughout the country. Maegen Giltrow, legal counsel for Huu-ay-aht and the mother, described the ruling as an important victory.