Lost status unfair to grandchildren

Page 5

Dear Editor:

I just had to write this short letter to let you know I was so happy to read your article in the Windspeaker paper. I'm one of the Bill C-31s. I'm so happy to see someone trying to do something about it. Us Native women lost so much when we married white men, and white women gained so much marrying Native men, which was so unfair from the beginning.

I have six children. I had to pay for all their education and medical for years, while these white women had all these things covered. I'm 69 years old now. My children are grown up now and have children of their own, who do not have status, which makes me angry.

I went to see a lawyer about what I can do to get my grandchildren status. It turned out that I was the only one that can adopt them to get status, seeing as I was the only one that had full status. My children were only half and couldn't. It would cost me $750 per kid to do this the white man's way, which I don't have, as my income is my pension. I'm very strong in my culture. That's why I would like my grandchildren to have their status.

So I hope what you're doing will turn out. I'm pulling for you. I'm from Kingcome Inlet. The band's name is Tsawataineuk (long name). But I live in Campbell River, B.C. Campbell River is on Vancouver Island.

Margaret Taylor