Shooting on Sto:lo Nation linked to child protection office

The RCMP's serious crimes section is investigating a shot that was fired at the child protection office on the Sto:lo Nation in Chilliwack on Monday afternoon.

RCMP say it is not yet clear why the single shot was fired from a distance into a window on the second floor of the administrative building.

"Thankfully no one was injured," said Cpl. Tammy Hollingsworth in a statement issued by RCMP Tuesday morning.

"At this point, there is no indication this was targeted.  If this was an accidental discharge of a firearm, we are asking that person to contact us."

But Sto:lo Tribal Council president Doug Kelly he's not surprised the child protection office was hit in the incident.

Kelly says the actions of the Ministry of Children and Families have been a growing source of frustration in the community ever since it took over the aboriginal child protection services following the death of two-year-old Chassidy Whitford in 2002.

"Sometimes there's a very good reason to take children from their home. Other times there is not. It's often put before a judge and when it is put before a judge, it often gets plugged up in the court system," said Kelly.

Court backlogs have grown to the point where parents are having trouble reclaiming children who have been apprehended.

"They go into treatment. They get the treatment. They do everything they are supposed to do to prove they are a worthy parent. They can't get their children back in a timely way."

Kelly says there is a second backlog within the ministry itself.

"Social workers ask for continuances because they haven't been able to keep up with the paperwork. They haven't been able to keep up with the timelines."

Chassidy died when she was accidently smothered by her father when he was drunk. He was later convicted of criminal negligence causing death.