Adoption & Foster Care

RCAP 150 contains a transcript of a portion of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Vancouver, British Columbia. This portion includes opening remarks from Elder Vincent Stogan, Elder Ken Harris and assembled commissioners Co-Chair George Erasmus and Viola Robinson.

The file contains a general discussion of participants on suicide issues. Chairperson Maggie Hodgson facilitates a discussion between previous presenters and attendees Roda Grey, Diana Delorme, Sharon Jinkerson, Arnold Cheechoo, Adamie Sallualuk, and Caroline Ennis. Grey and Jinkerson's presentations are available for viewing elsewhere on this site. Issues discussed include language accessibility of suicide prevention services, assistance for non-status people, physical and sexual abuse, adoptive and foster parenting issues, and counsellor burnout.

The file contains the presentation of a discussion paper by Elder Margaret Harris. Harris discusses her experiences as a foster parent and the importance of listening to the teachings of one's elders.

File contains an individual presentation by Patrick Rich, an Innu man, asking for help from the Commission relating to the forced removal and subsequent adoption at birth of several of his children. He asks the Commission for help in locating his children.

File contains a presentation by Alethea Baril, Adam Kilukishak and Tara Lindsay, Grade 7-8 students, Nanook School, Apex, Northwest Territories [Nunavut]. The students call for amending the Education Act to accept elders as qualified teachers, consultation from students and parents when building schools and planning classes, and free daycare for those students babysitting siblings during class time. Following the presentation is a discussion with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Andrew Wesley focusing on issues relating to the placement of Aboriginal children in foster homes, the role of elders in Aboriginal children and youths' lives and the Euro-centric view of Canadian Aboriginal history taught in schools. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.

File contains a presentation by Ernest Beck. Beck discusses social and child services arrangements in James and Hudson Bay communities. Specifically he discusses his organization Paykotayno, which was designated a Children's Aid Society in April, 1987. Following the presentation Commissioner Erasmus discusses the composition of Beck's organization with him.

File contains a presentation by Peter Penashue, President of the Innu Nation. Penashue discusses a variety of matters including substance abuse problems in the community, relocation funding and issues, social services and foster care, alcoholism, and other general community issues. Following the presentation Penashue discusses some of the issues raised with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Irene Willard, a 21 year old who was a foster child. Willard discusses some of the problems with Social Services and Foster Care that she encountered in her life, including being placed in a prejudiced household, and not even knowing she was a Status person until age 19. Following the presentation the Commissioners thank her, and then Chief Agnes McCoy makes closing remarks to end the Commissions sitting for the day.

File contains a presentation by Jamie Farrell discussing the role of group homes in the rehabiliation of young offenders in Labrador. She states that often the youth need to escape a bad home life so they commit crimes and enter the group home, often a safer environment than their own home. Farrell also discusses the high rate of suicide among Labradorian youth. Following the discussion is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by the Jean-Marc Penosway and Claire Penosway. Jean-Marc and Claire are two youths from Grand Lac Victoria who requested to speak with the Commission. They discuss a variety of problems they have faced including family breakdown, drug and alcohol addiction in the family, racism and discrimination, foster care, and related matters. Claire requests a private audience with the Commissioners later to discuss a personal matter, which the Commissioners accept.

File contains a presentation by Mary Ford. Ford discusses traditional customary adoption amongst Labradorians, then goes on to discuss how this has changed for the worse since the Department of Social Services came in. Following the presentation Ford and Commissioner Dussault discuss some of the issues raised.

The file contains a presentation on behalf of Secwepemc re Social Development by Charlene Belleau, Ralph Phillips, and Bob Manuel. The presenters discuss social development as a necessary precondition of land claims and self-governance. They discuss the need to address the social damages inflicted by residential schools and foster homes, dealing with drug and alcohol abuse. Commissioner Sillett discusses some of the issues raised with the presenters.

The file contains a part of a transcript of a portion of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at The Fern Resort, Orillia, Ontario. This part includes a presentation by Stephanie Sandy concerning the Native child welfare system.

This file contains a transcript of a portion of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Vancouver, British Columbia. This portion includes presentations made by Lizabeth Hall on adoption and reunification, Sherry Small on Bill C-31 and rights of Aboriginals under the Indian Act and Dennis Fletcher on B.C. Native Housing. Also included are questions from the assembled commissioners Co-Chair George Erasmus and Viola Robinson.

File contains remarks by three previous presenters that were missed in their initial presentation. Issues addressed include Inuit adoption, the Goods and Services Tax, and poaching of archaeological sites in the North.

Discusses his experiences in World War I.

Background information on heritage, history, traditions, cultural teachings specific to the Niagara region, as well as instructional strategies.

Defines child abuse under the law and looks at the responsibilities of service providers and implementation of the protocol.

Explores the limitations of participation under the Child and Family Services Act and makes recommendations for improvement. Submission to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Delivered in support of Bill-C92, An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, and Families which dealt with the right of Indigenous governments and organizations to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services.

Classroom lesson plan to accompany segment on DVD News in Review: February 2003.

Author discusses the violent social media response Tanya Tagaq received after having posted a photo of her daughter next to a harvested seal; uses the incident to illustrate how colonial violence disproportionately targets Aboriginal women.

Findings suggest that ambient temperature does have an effect on weight and high blood pressure, more research is recommended.

Conference highlighted the challenges related to removal of Indigenous children and introduction of new laws intended to protect children in Australia.

Overview of the Secretariat which was founded in 1981 to lessen the number of foster children being placed with non-Aboriginal families.

Outlines the legislative framework for provision of First Nations child and family services in Manitoba, assesses the actions and procedures of Sagkeeng Child and Family Services, and examines the circumstances surrounding toddler's death, which took place while in the care of his great aunt. Public release version.

Discusses provincial government program which promoted adoption and fostering of Indigenous children in non-Indigenous homes as a response to increasing child welfare interventions which placed children into care.

Survey responses indicated services such as community support, financial support, accommodating school system, good relationships with professionals and comprehensive medical care were needed.

Data for Indigenous and general population on: rate of family preservation, relative use of admission into care and out-of-care, and placements.

Looks at the vulnerability of First Nations children as a result of socio-economic factors.

Exploratory study examines social and economic influences contributing to sexual exploitation and provides recommendations for future research.

[Social Work] Thesis (M.S.W.)--The University of British Columbia (Vancouver), 2009.

Consists of an interview with George First Rider where he tells of the importance of the antelope in Blackfoot ceremonialism and he mentions various tipi designs as well.

The term "Sixties Scoop" refers to child welfare services' practice of removing children from their homes and communities and fostering them out to pre-dominantly white, middle-class families and institutions, often far from their homes. Covers period from the early 1960s to the mid-1980s.

Looks at the forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families and its effects and discusses the shifts in child welfare policy, and amendment to adoption laws.

History Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor, 2019.

Discusses the impact of residential schools and the forced removal of children for the purposes of foster care or adoption. Argues that current practices and training must take into account the damage inflicted by the drive for assimilation and incorporate the Aboriginal worldview when dealing with clients.

Focuses on the personal stories of four people who were taken from their homes and placed with non-Indigenous families, and the 2018 apology made by the Alberta provincial government. Duration: 20:13.

Case comment on Brown v Canada (Attorney General), the class action suit in Ontario involving the removal of children from their families on reserve, and placing them with non-Indian adoptive families, and foster and group homes. At issue was whether the Federal government had breached fiduciary or common law duties to prevent loss of identity in post-placement period.

Talks about a generation of children displaced from their homes into foster homes.

Round table with members of organization called, Advocacy for Native Adoptees. All Native adoptees had been adopted into white families residing in Montreal.

Reports on investigation into the death of four-month-old First Nations boy which occurred while in the custody of an unfit relative.

Purpose of report is to provide update on the planning and activities undertaken by government that would indicate progress was being made in implementing each recommendation. Phoenix Sinclair was a five-year-old First Nations child who was beaten to death by her mother and her boyfriend. Inquiry specifically investigated whether the child welfare system had been negligent.

Article from 1993 Conference proceedings, discussing the financial and social costs that will continue, if changes are not made. Excerpt from Continuing Poundmaker & Riel's Quest: Presentations Made at a Conference on Aboriginal Peoples and Justice compiled by Richard Gosse, James Youngblood Henderson, Roger Carter.