Canadian First Nations Child Welfare Care Policy: Managing Money in "Ottawapiskat"
The inter-generational loss of Indigenous identity in Canada has been a result of Canadian Aboriginal policy in the past and present. The policies of the residential school era and the policies of today’s child welfare system lead to similar outcomes, particularly governmental determination of how the next generation of First Nations people are affected by the state. By 1997-1998, the Department of Indian and Native Affairs reported that First Nations child and family services were administering services to 70% of children on reserves, and that number was projected to increase to 91% by 2002. In 1940 when the residential school system was still in full use, there were almost 8,000 children in the schools across the country; compare that statistic to the year 2002 when there were over 22,500 First Nations children in the child welfare system, showing a progression of almost three times the number living in state care. The numerous social problems resulting from poverty are re-enforced by the Federal Government’s policy decision to neglect taking action despite their own commissions and research data. Procedural problems in child welfare administration arise due to government jurisdictions, which will also be discussed.
The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal on First Nations Child Welfare: Why if Canada wins, equality and justice lose
Repeated reports indicate that First Nations children on reserve receive less child welfare funding than other children in Canada despite the fact that First Nations children have higher child welfare needs. After the Government of Canada failed to implement two joint solutions to address the inequality, First Nations organizations in Canada filed a human rights complaint alleging that the Government of Canada is discriminating against First Nations children on the basis of race and national ethnic origin. This historic case is now before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and marks the first time that Canada has been held to account before a legal body for its current treatment of First Nations children and their families. This opinion article presents the facts leading up to the filing of the human rights case, the grass roots advocacy and legal processes after the complaint was filed, and the implications for: First Nations children, individuals from minority groups, and the moral fabric of the country if the Government of Canada wins the case.
The Journey Continues
The Quality Teaching Indigenous Project school studies described in the previous chapters focused on improving teacher quality in the development and delivery of innovative curriculum strategies for teaching Aboriginal histories and cultures in Australian schools. This federally funded initiative, administered by the state education department impacted on many students (Aboriginal and non Aboriginal) and teachers in twenty schools as they engaged in a journey of learning about, and improving their understanding of, Aboriginal histories and culture. The school studies provide evidence of empowering communities to work together to design authentic, culturally responsive pedagogical practices for all students. The project drew upon the NSW Department of Education’s Quality Teaching Model (QTP) to frame the discussion on quality teaching. The implementation of Quality Teaching supported the development of student centred pedagogical practices that reflected creative and innovative integration of local Aboriginal histories and cultures. These practices represented new approaches in each school as they utilised new technologies and focused in particular, on promoting student engagement, high order thinking, substantive communication between students and teachers and the importance of holding high expectations for student achievement (NSW DET, 2003).