Running Head: ABORIGINAL MOTHERING THE IMPORTACE OF IDENTITY AND ABORIGINAL MOTHERING by LuCinda Ignas B.A., Simon Fraser University, 1988 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN FIRST NATIONS STUDIES THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA April 2012 LuCinda Ignas, 2012 Library and Archives Bibliotheque et Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du 1+1Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-94117-1 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-94117-1 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par I'lnternet, preter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans le loan, distrbute and sell theses monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non­ support microforme, papier, electronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in this et des droits moraux qui protege cette these. Ni thesis. Neither the thesis nor la these ni des extraits substantiels de celle-ci substantial extracts from it may be ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement printed or otherwise reproduced reproduits sans son autorisation. without the author's permission. In compliance with the Canadian Conformement a la loi canadienne sur la Privacy Act some supporting forms protection de la vie privee, quelques may have been removed from this formulaires secondaires ont ete enleves de thesis. cette these. While these forms may be included Bien que ces formulaires aient inclus dans in the document page count, their la pagination, il n'y aura aucun contenu removal does not represent any loss manquant. of content from the thesis. Canada ABORIGINAL MOTHERING Abstract This study describes how identity development is influenced by culture, family and community and explores how raising children with the MCFD involvement is viewed by seven Aboriginal parents in British Columbia. It presents their narratives as teachings on what relationships families found supported and undermined their efforts to parent. Snowball sampling was used to recruit participants as key informants and qualitative research methodology was used to structure interviews. Although the recruitment process for key informants contributed to pronounced diversity between participants, the research findings showed overarching and congruent themes between the experiences of participants. The themes that emerged from the research were situated in two theoretical models for Aboriginal identity development and were used to present the research findings. The primary themes that emerged were the importance of family, community, and culture. However, of greater note is how the overarching themes of responsibility, commitment and accountability to family and community maintain Aboriginal parents’ identities. ABORIGINAL MOTHERING iii Acknowledgements Special thanks to: • all the Aboriginal mothers who participated in this research project for their honesty, authenticity and wisdom in revealing the realities and gifts of mothering; • my thesis supervisor, Dr. Ross Hoffman, Program Chair and Associate Professor, First Nations Studies, University of Northern British Columbia for his invaluable leadership, thoughtful reviews, discussions and support throughout this process; • my initial thesis supervisor Dr. Frye Jean Graveline, Associate Professor, First Nations Studies, University of Northern British Columbia for her assistance and expertise; • my committee member, Dr. Tina Fraser, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education, Aboriginal Education Coordinator and Adjunct Professor, First Nations Studies, University of Northern British Columbia for her enthusiasm, mentoring and faith in this project; • my committee member, Earl Henderson, Adjunct Professor, First Nations Studies, University of Northern British Columbia for his contributions of time and expertise for this project; • Aboriginal, non-Aboriginal mothers, community members, friends, elders and colleagues who provided direct and indirect support through teachings, listening and insights to enhance this project; • my daughters Petra and Airdrie, who inspired my love for children and mothering, along with my husband Dale deserve special gratitude. ABORIGINAL MOTHERING iv Table of Contents Abstract............................................................................................................................................. ii Acknowledgements.......................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents............................................................................................................................. iv List of Figures................................................................................................................................. vii List of Tables..................................................................................................................................viii Chapter One: Introduction............................................................................................................. 1 Background..............................................................................................................................1 Purpose.....................................................................................................................................1 Overview of the Research.......................................................................................................2 Researcher’s Background and Perspectives..........................................................................2 Research Questions.....................................................................................................4 Approach to the Study............................................................................................................ 8 Chapter Two: Literature Review...................................................................................................9 Overview................................................................................................................................. 9 Identity Development.............................................................................................................. 9 Western Feminist Theory and Aboriginal Feminist Theory............................................... 11 Ideology of Motherhood ....................................................................................................... 15 Aboriginal Parenting Ideology..............................................................................................17 Representations of Aboriginal Women as Mothers.............................................................18 Chapter Three: Methodology........................................................................................................21 Introduction...........................................................................................................................21 First Nations Approach to Research................................................................................... 23 Feminist Theory Framework................................................................................................ 25 ABORIGINAL MOTHERING v Research Methods .................................................................................................................27 Elicitations of the Interviews................................................................................................28 Interview Questions..............................................................................................................29 Ethical Considerations..........................................................................................................31 Data Collection.....................................................................................................................33 Participant Interviews..........................................................................................................35 Analysis................................................................................................................................ 37 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................39 Chapter Four: Data Analysis.......................................... 40 Organization..........................................................................................................................40 Demographics.......................................................................................................................42 Positioning of Research........................................................................................................44 Description of Models...........................................................................................................44