School urged Native woman to give up custody of boy

Tuesday, October 30, 2007  

A Native woman in Manitoba is upset that a school district urged her to give up custody of her grandson in order to enroll him in school.

Eileen Apetagon moved to Winnipeg from the Norway House Cree Nation. Her 13-year-old grandson came with her.

But when Apetagon tried to enroll the boy in school, officials said he didn't qualify for funding since his parents still live on the reservation. They told her to adopt him or place him in the care of Child and Family Services.

"You know, this was very insulting," Apetagon told CBC News. "I felt a sense of anger and disbelief, like, I couldn't believe what I was hearing."

Get the Story:
Funding flap keeps native boy out of Winnipeg school (CBC 10/29)