System denying Natives - Potts

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There are no villains or criminals responsible for the abduction of Lila McCarthy's children, admits a social service spokesman for the Indian Association of Alberta.

The system is to blame, however, he says.

When Percy Potts speaks about the government's social service policies concerning Native people in Alberta there is a sadness in his tone.

He's not disheartened about case workers apprehending the three young Kehewin youths on the reserve because they claim the children were in danger.

Potts is angry that Native people are forced to comply with rules that aren't theirs.

Government policy has always conflicted with the traditional way of life, and Potts believes it will always have devastating affects on Native parents as long as social services

continues to exist as it is.

"Until the government changes the system, and until it is made to reflect the needs and wants of our people, Native people will never give in to social service laws," he says

From the time the European settlers came to Indian country, Native people have been made to follow a different set of regulations that have debased their life ways, and now Native

people are treated worse than the rest of society, says Potts.

"It has become a double standard. Look around. There is abuse happening all over, but it's the Indian who is always being punished," he says.

"They treat us like children--like we don't have minds."

Lila McCarthy and Vernon Soloway, whose three children were taken off the Kehewin reserve Friday by social service case workers, have threatened to sue the provincial

government to get them back.

The common-law couple were accused of sexual and physical child abuse by a family court fudge in Bonnyville.

Potts says the couple's dilemma shouldn't be viewed with special interest because their situation is one of many that is affecting Native parents.

"They are only two more victims of a system they didn't ask for," he says.

Potts says social services should be discontinued and child welfare should be left up to band members.

"Our people will never accept their system. We have our own ways of doing things, our own ways of raising children," he says.