A Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography Focusing on Aspects of Aboriginal Child Welfare in Canada Prepared and compiled by Marlyn Bennett with additional writing and editing by Cindy Blackstock for the First Nations Research Site of the Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare November 2002 Historical Acknowledgements: We would like to acknowledge the memory and spirit of our ancestors … especially those individuals who survived the abuses of residential schools who lived to tell about them and the many Elders of the vast cultures and nations across this country now called Canada, who silently, vigilantly and defiantly kept the threads of our diverse cultures, values and principles alive so that we, this generation and into the next, have something viable to live for, call our own, which continually plays a part in shaping our various identities and nations, complete with strong spirits of resilience and cultural pride and faithful convictions for who we were, where we have been, who we are now and the nations we might become yet again … Despite what our collective ancestors and relatives have experienced, although many have now left mother earth for the spirit world, they have passed unto us, a generational memory of endurance so strong that it will continue to be felt by the next seven generations and beyond … We continue to be proud descendents of collective nations whose spirits cannot be broken in light of the devastating impacts of the colonizing events from the past, the present and what may be (but we wish not), still a part of our collective futures. A Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography Focusing on Aspects of Aboriginal Child Welfare in Canada Page 2 of 239 Contemporary Acknowledgements: We are not islands unto ourselves, therefore, many thanks are due numerous individuals and organizations that helped make this publication a reality. Special thanks to Lyn C. Miller, of the Association of Native Child & Family Service Agencies of Ontario (ANCFSA) for collecting and summarizing portions of this review when her own workload with the ANCFSA was quite busy. Meegwetch to Cindy Blackstock of the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada for her unwavering support and assistance in providing additional comments, writing and editing skills which proved to be immensely helpful in pulling this publication together. This literature review is one product of many based upon the collaborative agreements and efforts of the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada through the First Nations Research Site, the Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare, the Faculties of Social Work of the Universities of Manitoba and Toronto as well as the Child Welfare League of Canada. Communication between these organizations is as important as it is necessary and reflects the interdependencies upon which Aboriginal nations historically depended and which continually guides in the global realities of our contemporary relationships today. The spirit of interdependency is embodied within this review and through our relationship with many organizations and individuals. We especially wish to acknowledge the financial assistance provided by Health Canada to the Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare, which in turn, has been instrumental in assisting the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada in setting up the First Nations Research Site at the University of Manitoba. Meegwetch to all the individuals involved in these organizations for your help and faith in our abilities to complete this literature review! The Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare is one of five Centres of Excellence for Children's Well- Being funded by Health Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the official policies of Health Canada. Researched, compiled & written by Marlyn Bennett; with additional writing and revisions provided by Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director, First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada Inc. The pictures on the previous page of this literature review appear courtesy of Health Canada. For additional copies of A Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography Focusing on Aspects of Aboriginal Child Welfare in Canada contact the First Nations Research Site at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Social Work at: (204) 474-8261 (Phone) · (204) 474-7294 (Fax) · email: [email protected]. This is a living document which will continually change over time. We welcome additional comments from the public as to how we can substantially improve upon the information found in this document. If you have additional sources which you have read and annotated, please feel free to forward your comments and annotations to the First Nations Research Site at the information noted above. We look forward to your input - Meegwetch!. For further information about the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada, the First Nations Research Site or the Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare, please consult either of the following websites: http://www.fncfcs.com or http://www.cecw-cepb.ca © First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada Inc. A Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography Focusing on Aspects of Aboriginal Child Welfare in Canada Page 3 of 239 First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada Inc. A Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography Focusing on Aspects of Aboriginal Child Welfare in Canada Table of Contents Page Historical Acknowledgements: ..............................................................................................2 Contemporary Acknowledgements:.......................................................................................3 PART I: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE FOCUSING ON ASPECTS OF ABORIGINAL CHILD WELFARE IN CANADA ..............................................................................................................5 Introduction .........................................................................................................................5 The Aboriginal Experience of Racism in Canada....................................................................7 The Historical Role of Colonization through the Indian Act, Residential Schools and the Child Welfare System .................................................................................................................12 (a) The Indian Act................................................................................................................................................ 15 (b) Residential Schools...................................................................................................................................... 16 (c) The Child Welfare System ........................................................................................................................... 21 The Impact of Social Policy on Aboriginal Peoples ...............................................................24 Aboriginal Assumption of Child Welfare Responsibilities.......................................................30 Cultural Influences in Child Welfare Practice and Education .................................................32 Challenges to Aboriginal Child Welfare Agencies .................................................................38 (a) Family Violence and Internalized Oppression ........................................................................................... 38 (b) Poverty, Education and Unemployment.................................................................................................... 39 (b) Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effects................................................................................................................... 42 (c) Suicide.............................................................................................................................................................. 46 (d) Funding Issues................................................................................................................................................ 51 (e) The Jurisdictional Disparity Involving Responsibility................................................................................ 58 The Role of Self-Government in Aboriginal Child Welfare .....................................................62 (a) British Columbia – Spallumcheen By-law................................................................................................. 64 (b) British Columbia - Nisga’a Final Agreement............................................................................................. 65 (c) Alberta............................................................................................................................................................. 66 (d) Manitoba......................................................................................................................................................... 67 (i) The Aboriginal Justice Inquiry – Child Welfare Initiative..................................................................... 67 (ii) The Manitoba Framework Agreement Initiative................................................................................... 69 (e) Ontario ............................................................................................................................................................ 69 (f) The United States – The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978..................................................................... 70 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................72