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