Alexis reserve youngsters protest child's removal

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A small group of children are camped at the Alexis Reserve on a lonely watch for a lost friend.

Half-a-dozen kids from the reserve, ranging in age from eight to 14, are protesting the removal of Tony Alexis, who was taken from the community on July 24 by representatives from Alberta Family and Social Services.

Stationed at the cross-roads just north of the band council's office, the children are surrounded by posters which read "We want little Tony Alexis back," "We have rights too," and "Find the foster children." They waved signs at passing residents in hopes of attracting attention to their cause.

Alexis, 12, was removed after Social Services in Barrhead received an anonymous complaint about his welfare. The child's mother is dead and his father, Raymond Alexis, refuses to care for him, said Alexis resident Percy Potts, Sr.

"Tony was the kind of boy who went from home to home," he said. But removing children from households where they are neglected and placing them in foster homes will ultimately do more damage than leaving them in the care of the community," said protester Craig Kootenay, 12.

"It gets me mad. They should build a group home here. They take kids away. I hope at least we'll get a few of the kids back...and Tony."

"We miss him," said Kevin Gladuc, 14. "They take him away but if someone is looking after him, they shouldn't take him away to some place that is far."

Alexis was staying with Potts, Sr., vice president of the Alberta Indian Association, at the time of his removal.

"The band committee, I guess was given direction to go and apprehend him. These kids here, these are the ones he hung around with, he went to their homes and he was welcome there. You know, they'd look after him. And no one really thoughy anything of the situation but I guess someone complained."

Potts Sr., 41, said he let Alexis stay in his home following an incident with social services on July 23. "They had him cornered over by Bella Alexis' place," he said. "And Tony wouldn't talk to them. He just sat in a closed position. I said 'If you guys are having any problems with Tony, I'll look after him'."

The next night, however, band constable Clyde Jones showed up to take Alexis into protective custody.

Percy Potts Jr,., who witnessed the incident, said the constable took his friend away without any warning.

"Clyde told Tony he was just going to talk to him," said the eight-year-old. "And he took him into the car and he shut the door and left."

Potts Sr. does not know why Alexis was removed from the community, despite

the neglect at home.

"There's a customary law and tradition here within the community that until all resources within the community have been extinguished, utilized, only then will the children be removed. In this case, in Alexis' case, all resources were not utilized. I guess (Clyde) had directions. From what I understand, there was a court order to remove Tony from the community.

Neither Alexis's father nor Social Service representative Delores Kenny were available for comment.

However, Alexis's removal was almost inevitable, said Potts Sr., because chief

and councils have no authority to stop such removals in cases of neglect.

The provincial (child welfare) legislation will come in to take the kids out but at the same time the provincial legislation won't allow for money to come into the community where they can build a centre where they can keep these kids," he said.

The group of children plan to demonstrate until Alexis is returned to them.

Alexis reserve is l00 km northeast of Edmonton.