First Peoples Child & Family Review
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Can Spiritual Ecograms be Utilized in Mental Health Services to Promote Culturally Appropriate Family and Couples Therapy with Indigenous People?
No full textResearch addressing the potential utilization of spiritual ecograms with Indigenous families and children, specified by experienced professional in the field of Native-American psychology, was critiqued and reviewed in order to attend to its influence and applicability regarding the literature of Indigenous family therapy, and how it could be beneficial in therapy with Indigenous families. The literature review presents an effective tool, providing an in-depth exploration of spiritual strengths of the family and or children that incorporates spirituality into techniques commonly used in family therapy practice. Study results (Limb & Hodge, 2011) show that this tool is consistent with Native-American culture (Brucker & Perry, 1998; Green, 2010; Paniagua, 2005; Trujillo, 2000) and highlights many beneficial qualities for its utilization in practice. Limitations and recommendations for future research are also discussed
REDressing Invisibility and Marking Violence Against Indigenous Women in the Americas Through Art, Activism and Advocacy
No full textThe incidence of crimes against Indigenous women in the Americas has a long history in the making, but in remembering this history now, in redressing the invisible violence, in rendering the invisible visible, is how we as community can put a stop to the atrocities. Two Indigenous women academics from north and south America explore the intersections between art, activism and advocacy in this article on missing, raped and murdered Indigenous women in Mexico, Guatemala and Canada. It asks questions and provides examples about how artists, activists and advocates can redress the invisibility of the violence against Indigenous women, violations of their human rights and potentially repair loss.Keywords: Aboriginal women, missing women, violence, political art, art and activism, advocac
Catching Dreams: Applying Gestalt Dream Work to Canadian Aboriginal Peoples
No full textGestalt therapy is similar to an Aboriginal worldview in that they both involve a holistic approach and focus on health and wellness strategies. The Aboriginal worldview is best portrayed as holistic in nature, where the circle of wellness symbolizes unity, wholeness, completeness, and balance. Dream work is a therapeutic technique utilized in Gestalt therapy that could be very useful for Aboriginal peoples given their spiritual and narrative way of being. This article demonstrates the cultural acceptability for utilization of dream work in Gestalt with Aboriginal clients. Furthermore, it discusses both strengths and limitations of this modality of therapy. Implications for use are also discusse
Tenoch's Gender Journey: Case Study of a 13-year-old Mexican Refugee with Aboriginal Ancestry - Naming the Gaps Between Theory and Practice
No full textThis paper explores the issues and technique that were used with a group of non-conforming youth to prepare them for successful entrance into university. It will produce and affirmation of the inner wisdom of non-traditional students as a mirror of learning for traditional teachers, to provide an example of dialogic learning through a de-colonizing lens. Then it will present the results of six years of group support and counselling to prove that denouncing the gaps in institutionalized systemic barriers to sexual minorities, coupled with persistent clincal, advocacy, and community activism, is effective in breaking the cycles of magrinalization of fervent, creative, and resilient youth once termed "at risk". Immigrant latino youth in general and the case study of Tenoch in particualr shows thaqt a direct application of present clinical practices are not enough to provide long-term healing and decolonizing attitudes to survive the academic needs of a border-gender communities. Regularm on-going therapy focused on anti-oppressive pracitces coupled with Aboriginal healing techniques has proved to be a valid, reliable, and consistent method to increase this vulnerable population's well-being without further marginalization. A practitioner might conclude that mixed model is more affirmative of individual process of personhood while still connected to one's roots and communities of origin. The implication of practice is that a clinical needs to also engage in advocacy, support, and profound transformations in order to unmask both inner and outer colonized mind traps. Keywords: transgender, youth, advocacy, marginalization, colonization, oppression
Strategies to Revive Traditional Decision-Making in the Context of Child Protection in Northern British Columbia
No full textFor indigenous peoples, recovering from colonial rule and aspiring to flourish, the revival of traditional decision making (TDM) is considered essential. However, transitioning from established colonial practices to TDMs is not well understood.In this paper we identify some of the challenges experienced by a First Nation urban community in the north east of British Columbia as they have tried to develop and implement a culturally-relevant child and family-centered traditional decision-making (TDM) process in the context of government-regulated child protection system. Specifically, we problematize a collaborative decision-making strategy—Family Group Conferencing (FGC). FGCs are premised on values of collaboration, participation, and empowerment, and because this strategy shares many of the values and aspirations of Traditional Decision-Making (TDM), there is a temptation to directly download and incorporate FGCs into the TDM model. In this paper we explore five challenges that warrant particular attention in developing TDM model in this contemporary context: 1) power, 2) cultural adaptability, 3) family support and prevention, 4) coordinator “neutrality”, and 5) sustainable support. We conclude with eight recommendations to overcome these challenges while developing TDMs in a child protection context
Early Learning for Aboriginal Children: Past, Present and Future and an Exploration of the Aboriginal Head Start Urban and Northern Communities Program in Ontario
No full textThis article provides some key findings from a case study of the Aboriginal Head Start Urban and Northern Communities (AHSUNC) Program in Ontario. Some of the key findings were improved self-reported health status, commitment to cultural and linguistic revitalization, reduced tobacco use, improved knowledge of healthy living practices among Aboriginal children and their families. The number of off-reserve Aboriginal children that can experience AHSUNC is limited by funding and availability of space and human resources. The participants in this study have shown improved knowledge, interaction with their children, and increased understanding of their biculturedness within Ontario. Therefore it is important to increase this funding and continue to conduct research with AHSUNC projects across Ontario to document and highlight their successes as a model for other provinces/territories and early childhood programs.Keywords: Aboriginal, First Nations, early childhood development, early childhood, Canada, Ontario, program
L’intervention de groupe pour soutenir le passage à la vie adulte des jeunes autochtones issus des centres jeunesse et de deux communautés
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Children for Social Justice
No full textIt is often assumed that children lack the developed capacity to understand complicated political issues (for example, Arendt, 1959; Pearce, 2011; and Warmington, 2012a, 2012b). This assumption is contested through a review of the literature examining adult conceptions the child, and children’s rights to political participation, citizenship, and direct representation (Steffler, 2009; Wall & Dar, 2011; Wyness, Harrison, & Buchanan, 2004). A variety of historical and contemporary examples of children engaging in social justice campaigns and movements are provided (Elshtain, 1996; Milstein, 2010; Smith, 2012; Traubman, 2005; Bergmar, 2010). A potential means for supporting children in social justice engagement is explored through social justice education (Dover, 2009; Kelly & Brooks, 2009)
Spiritual Needs of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Foster Parents
No full textAboriginal children are overrepresented in foster care and more Aboriginal foster parents are needed. A randomized group of licensed First Nations, Métis and Inuit foster parents in a Canadian jurisdiction were asked about their spiritual needs to foster. In response to the question “what do you need spiritually to foster?” there were 55 unique responses that were grouped by participants into five concepts including: religion, practice, integration, sharing and contentment. These results were compared and contrasted with the existing fostering literature.Keywords: Aboriginal; foster care; Canada; spiritualit
Preventing Crime and Poor Health Among Aboriginal People: The Potential for Preventative Programming
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to examine prevention programs, and discuss their potential for having an impact on reducing crime and poor health outcomes for Aboriginal people. A historical context is first outlined in order to provide a contextfor understanding the disproportionate amount of crime and related poor health outcomes affecting Aboriginal people. Risk factors for crime and health are identified, demonstrating their interrelatedness and overlapping nature, indicating that risk factors do not existing in isolation from each other. Existing crime prevention programs are subsequently discussed, paying particular attention to the intersection between evidence-based outcomes and programs offered at Aboriginal Friendship Centres. The use of prevention programs for preventing/reducing crime and related health costs (i.e. substance use/abuse, smoking, and/or addictions) has been positively established by existing research. Thus, it is suggested that these programs offered in Aboriginal centres, such as Aboriginal Friendship Centres, should be furtherexpanded and supported.Keywords: Crime prevention, Aboriginal peoples, risk factors, early interventio