A couple from Campbell River is camping in front of the B.C. legislature in Victoria in protest after officials removed their newborn baby from their care.

Sonja and Philip Hathaway have been in Victoria since the end of February, when Sonja began to experience complications due to her pregnancy.

The new parents stayed in Victoria General Hospital for two weeks after giving birth to their two-month-premature baby girl March 11. Once Sonja healed, the couple moved into Jeneece Place 乌鸦传媒� a temporary home for people to say while receiving medical care 乌鸦传媒� while their baby Amella was cared for by nurses until she too was strong enough to leave.

The couple was thrilled to have brought a baby girl into the world, after having previously lost a daughter after a complicated pregnancy.

乌鸦传媒淪he had her own little plans to come out early,乌鸦传媒� Sonja said. 乌鸦传媒淪he was so beautiful, I was crying.乌鸦传媒�

However, Philip and Sonja were still settling a past legal issue and were told Sonja would have to be placed in a transitional house in Vancouver, without Philip. However, Sonja said she was assured she would be able to retain care of their child.

While the situation was not ideal, Philip said they agreed to it so Sonja could stay with her daughter.

However, the night before Sonja and Amella were set to leave, the couple said they were met at the hospital doors by case workers from the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

乌鸦传媒淲e went to get her [Sonja] dinner 乌鸦传媒� we go back and they say, 乌鸦传媒榃e乌鸦传媒檝e apprehended your child.乌鸦传媒� They were waiting outside of the hospital,乌鸦传媒� Philip said. 乌鸦传媒淭hey wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 even let us up.乌鸦传媒�

They were told they would be able to check back 乌鸦传媒渋n a day or two,乌鸦传媒� to learn more about the situation, Philip said.

乌鸦传媒淲e immediately packed our stuff and came here, even though we could have stayed at Jeneece Place another night, the police even offered to get us a hotel room 乌鸦传媒� we乌鸦传媒檝e got money for a hotel room, we乌鸦传媒檙e not leaving from here,乌鸦传媒� Philip said. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e not disappearing. We乌鸦传媒檙e not leaving until we get an answer.乌鸦传媒�

Sonja, who is a member of the Dene First Nation, is concerned that with each moment that passes, she is losing precious time to instill in her baby tradition and language.

乌鸦传媒淚 speak to my baby in my language,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淭he only way she乌鸦传媒檚 going to learn her language is as an infant.乌鸦传媒�

As of now, the couple has no idea when they will be able to take their baby home, but will get to visit her 乌鸦传媒� separately and for only 30 minutes each.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e heartbroken, it is horrible what乌鸦传媒檚 happening,乌鸦传媒� Sonja said. 乌鸦传媒淚t is not right. They乌鸦传媒檙e violating my rights and my daughter乌鸦传媒檚 rights. She乌鸦传媒檚 breastfeeding and they乌鸦传媒檙e not doing anything to get the milk. I don乌鸦传媒檛 know who has my baby right now.乌鸦传媒�

Despite the unknowns and painful realization they won乌鸦传媒檛 have Amella in their care, the couple made it clear they wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 be leaving Victoria 乌鸦传媒� or the legislature 乌鸦传媒� without their child.

乌鸦传媒淚f we have to sit out here for the next six months, they乌鸦传媒檒l have to start to recognize these things are going on,乌鸦传媒� Philip said.

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