An Eye On Polygamy
 
By Matt Canham
Canada News 4 U
 
Educating Canadians about the serious issues surrounding polygamy is the purpose of a public awareness campaign called "Eye on Polygamy."

A public forum called "Polygamy... NOT a Victimless Crime," was held in the lower mainland last night, to discuss the following issues:

- Sexual and physical violations of women and children
- Violations of rape
- Incest and domestic violence
- Trafficking of child brides across federal lines
- Misuse of social service funds, tax evasion, and insurance fraud
- Blood atonement

One of Canada's well-known polygamist colonies is called Bountiful, which is near Creston. Reports indicate it is associated with The United Effort Plan, a polygamist group in Colorado City, Arizona, where many of these issues are said to be played out daily. The birthrate of the colony is estimated at approximately 100 children per year. The purpose of "Eye on Polygamy" is to generate dialogue and offer some solutions on some serious concerns.

Public forum speaker, Debbie Palmer is the chairperson of the Committee Concerned With Child Abuse in Polygamy. She claims BC is known as a safe haven for polygamists and has dedicated her life to the advocacy of women and children of the Bountiful colony. Palmer is speaking from experience, as her father was one of the founding four patriarchs of the colony. Debbie was 14 years old when she married Ray Blackmore, the 57 year-old leader of Bountiful.

Debbie Palmer lived in Bountiful for 33 years and when she left almost 13 years ago, about 400 people lived there. Since then, the colony has more than doubled in size... a far cry from 47 people in 1946. In the winter of 1988, pregnant with her eighth child, she made the decision to leave the colony. Palmer says "Eye on Polygamy" is trying to bring awareness about Bountiful and address concerns about what's being practiced there.

The Director of The Center For Public Education and Information on Polygamy is Carmen Thompson from the United States. She spent twenty years in a polygamy environment, the first fifteen as a SisterWife. Thompson also spoke at last night's forum and says many people are trapped in polygamy with nowhere to turn for help. She says, "they breed their own victims" and says polygamy is not about religious freedom, rather the abuse on children. Carmen is a lecturer and author who is active in educating Americans about the assistance available for people to escape polygamy.

Last night's open forum was at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby. It is the result of a documentary for a student film project by Denise Martinez and Sarah Royer. No word yet on whether more public forums will be held in other BC cities, however information is available on the internet, in libraries, book stores, and from various community organizations.
 
Canada News 4 U
Originally published July 13, 2002
 
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