Mother and daughter have to wait until May for judge’s decision

April 19, 2017

Flanked by her sisters, Shania, holding a family photo, hopes to come home soon.

Anishinabek Nation Deputy Grand Council Chief Glen Hare and Cecile Hookimaw lead some 40 drummers, singers and supporters down Cassells Street in North Bay to the North Bay courthouse.

By Marci Becking

NORTH BAY — Tears streamed down young Shania’s face outside the North Bay courtroom after learning she will have to wait until May 10 to find out if she can come home.

Shania’s mother, Cecile Hookimaw, says that the support of some 40 people who walked, drummed and sang from the North Bay Indian Friendship Centre to the courthouse today, influenced the judge’s decision.

“My lawyer wasn’t optimistic going into today,” says Cecile who has been trying to get her daughter back home for quite some time. “But after seeing the support from everyone here today, he has made a decision and we’ll be back on May 10 to hear it.”

The mother of seven hopes to organize more drums and singers for next month’s support rally – and Cecile is full of hope.

Cecile was one of 150,000 children subjected to trauma and abuse at an Indian Residential School. There are more children in the foster care system than were ever in residential school. Today’s walk was for children everywhere in care. Families are being torn apart. Culture and language is being lost.

Let’s hope it’s a happy Mother’s Day for Cecile this year.