Post on 09-Apr-2022
When Everything Matters in Child WelfareUniversity of Victoria: Cindy BlackstockBased on comprehensive Paper submitted to U of Toronto Faculty of Social Work in February 2008 (under review)February 15, 2008
Ancestors were mostly wrongy g
New knowledge is most valuedg
Experts most respectedExperts most respected
Individuals trump collectivesIndividuals trump collectives
One divisible realityOne divisible reality
Basic Principles of Child Protectionas c c p es o C d otect o
Has tools to Familyensure
Safety and Well Being
ChildSafety and Safety and Well being Paramount
STATE steps in when family fails to ensure safety yand well being
Blackstock & Trocme, 2004
10.23%
10
12 10.23%
6
8First Nations StatusMetis
3.31%
2
4
MetisNon Aboriginal
0.67%
0
2
Percentageg3 sample provinces
Wen:de we are coming to the light of day(2005)
MCFD data based on self identification
n=61214.1%
n=240.5 %
n=369485.3%
McKenzie, 2002
First Nations Non Aboriginal
50
60Physical 50
60 Physical
Sexual
30
40 Sexual
Neglect 30
40
Sexual
Neglect
20
30 Neglect
Emotional
20
30EmotionalDom.
0
10
Percent
alDom.Violence 0
10
Percent
Dom.ViolenceY axis adjust
Percent Percent
Trocme et.al. 2006
Fi N i N Ab i i l
49%50%
First Nations Non-Aboriginal
31%
24% 23%30%
40%
tiate
d ca
ses
24%21% 23%
10%7% 7%
20%
10%10%
20%
% o
f sub
stan
t
7% 7%
0%
10%
ing ingding fits ove
%
Public Housin
g
Unsafe Housing
Over Crowding
Unemply/Benefit
Recent mov
Trocme, et.al. 2006
CanadaFirst Nations on
Reserve
Band
109 million less provided for child welfare on reserve
G-8 Economy. Avg. Federal
ProvGovernment
V l t
Band
Services
V l t Corporate
y gincome 37,757
per annumProv.
Municipal
CorporateVoluntary Sector
Voluntary Sector
Corporate
6 Children 7‐10 K annual per capita average60% or 69 billion 6 Children
on reserve receiving voluntary
t
115 billion per year
in annual revenues
p gincome
60% or 69 billion comes from Fed/Prov
Should be 3.45 Billi f FN
100K of VS
sector services
revenues
Blackstock & Trocme, 2005; Funding Matters
Billion for FN funding
That all reality is interconnected across timeThat all reality is interconnected across timeThere are multiple dimensions of realityAncestral knowledge matteredAncestral knowledge matteredThe natural world was our teacherTh l h b The most complex phenomena can be explained by simple principles…..
Believes the world of the big (universe) and the world of the small (atoms) are ruled by the same principlesprinciplesThere are 18 physical constants and if one is changed slightly then our universe ceases to existAtomic particles join together in circular strings thus binding the world of big and small thus binding the world of big and small. Vibrations of strings gives shape to different matter and time.Th t l t diff t di i f There are at least 10 different dimensions of reality – only one we can see.
Einstein was the first to seriously work on the Einstein was the first to seriously work on the Theory of Everything and since then numerous physicists have won Nobel Prizes p ybased on itHow can physics , which studies empirical p y , pphenonena, study the creation of the universe which in western terms happened 13.7 billion years ago?
The universe is so large, the light of the oldest The universe is so large, the light of the oldest stars created when the universe was born is just reaching us nowj g
Believes in indivisible realityBelieves in indivisible realityAll humanity governed by a limited set of principles across time (Grandfather principles across time (Grandfather teachings; relational worldview principles)Culture and context give shape to the way the Culture and context give shape to the way the limited set of life principles manifest giving rise to diversityse to d e s tyMultiple dimensions of reality (Supernatural does not necessarily mean fictitious)does not necessarily mean fictitious)
The light of the first ancestors is still The light of the first ancestors is still imprinting on Aboriginal children and families today – handed down by oral history, y y y,ceremony, ritual and role modeling.Supreme court has ruled that FN oral history p ymeets the standards of western written evidence in the famous Delgamuuk decision.g
A l i TOE/B th f Lif t Child ’ W lf
Structural assets and risk
Applying TOE/Breath of Life to Childrens’ Welfare
Pr
World of the Big (Interconnection of time, reality and humanity)BALA
Relational Worldview Principles
Physical: water, food, shelter
Emotional: Belonging
and risk Expressed
physically, mentally, emotionally and
spiritually
edictab
ANCED FOC Emotional: Belonging
(attachment to family and community)
Spiritual: spirituality and life purpose
Cognitive: self and community actualization, identity, service
Cultural and contextual strings give rise to
different manifestations of humanity
ble
Pr
CUS
BAL
Principles are interdependent -optimal functioning
achieved when balance is achieved within and among all dimensions
Expressed physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually
redictab
ANCEDFO b
le
World of the Small (individuals or groups)
OCUS
Assets and risk to groups of children and family
World of the Small (individuals or groups)
Relational worldview Principles (Cross, 2007) Breath of Life Theory (Blackstock, 2008) – inspired by Indigenous knowledge
fPurposes of Indigenous Research linked to Principle Cultural Source of Ontology and Methodology
Ancestral Knoweldge Research
Long term and
interconnected Research
Entrepreneurial
Research
Translation Research
Indigenous Ontology and Methods Western Ontology and MethodsEnveloped in Indigenous Culture and Protocols
Indigenous knowledge should be explored using Indigenous knowledge should be explored using Indigenous ontology and methodsUse of western methods is appropriate but Use of western methods is appropriate but primarily for entrepreneurial or translation based research only.research only.Social scientists should be inspired by the progress of the western ”pure” sciences to progress of the western pure sciences to recognize Indigenous knowledge and concepts of interdependence and ancestral knowledgep g
Used to document Indigenous reality or experience in a way that westerners can e pe e ce a ay t at este e s caunderstand and accept as validEmploys western research methods –Employs western research methods particularly quantitative researchGoal is related to a desired change action Goal is related to a desired change action identified by Indigenous peoples
Jointly developed developed research question
P i i i Respect for Indigenous
ethics
Participation in policy making advocacy
Integration of Indigenous
protocols and information
Dissemination targeted at
key stakeholders sourcesstakeholders
J d ’ Jordan’s Story
Jordan’s StoryJordan s Story
Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2007
Where a jurisdictional dispute Where a jurisdictional dispute develops regarding services for a status Indian child and those
i th i il bl services are otherwise available to Canadian children‐ the
government of first contact gpays for the service and figures out the jurisdictional dispute
laterlater.
Being clear
Compelling story, evidence of Being clear
about who needed to be convinced
e de ce owidespread nature of problem and
Jordan’s Message
convinced and what type of research they
pa solution made a differenceresearch they
think is valid
What Works: Touchstones of Hope for I di hild d f iliIndigenous children and families
Self DeterminationSelf‐Determination
Culture and Languageg g
Holistic Approach
Structural Interventions
Non DiscriminationNon Discrimination
www.reconcilationmovement.org
Self‐determination: communities define problems and develop l isolutions
Intergenerational: past, future, Elders, youth
Non‐discrimination: equitable access
R t f lt l id titRespect for culture, language, identity
Holism: emotional, physical, cognitive and spiritual needs of childrenchildren
Shared responsibility:The best of Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal systemsnon‐Aboriginal systems
www.manyhandsonedream.ca
S J d ’ P i i l d Support Jordan’s Principle and urge provincial implementation• Go on line to www fncaringsociety com• Go on line to www.fncaringsociety.com
Support the Touchstones of Hope• Go on line to www.reconciliationmovement.org
Support First Nations in providing equitable child welfare care • Go on line to www.amnesty.ca
Want to make a difference? Want to make a difference?
Believe in what has been true since the beginning , be courageous, and act…
Support Jordan’s PrincipleSupport Jordan s Principle
www.fncaringsociety.com