Aboriginal Law Powerpoint
Transcript: The child welfare system and indigenous children Lenna Grinnell indigenous children and the child welfare system - Lack of funding to child welfare systems = negative impacts for children Introduction - The Canadian government has yet to recognize the persistent pattern of mistreatment, discrimination and underfunding. - In some cases, Indigenous peoples are pressured to relinquish their child(ren) and information is generally withheld from parents and/or guardians throughout the legal process. - The lack of recognition the government gives this topic is a direct production of colonialism. “Every three days. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, a child connected to care dies…” Jackson, K. (2019, September 25). Death as Expected: Inside a child welfare system where 102 Indigenous kids died over 5 years. National News. Retrieved May 21, 2020, from https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/inside-a-child-welfare-system-where-102-indigenous-kids-died-over-5-years/ Historical context - Historically, circumstances for Indigenous children haven't been good experiences while in care. - Residential schools are a prime example of this. - Many relate this modern day crisis to residential schools. - Removal from reserves = HUGE negative impacts for children and the communities as a whole Context TVO, 2017 Legal context - No specific constitutional context - There needs to be a specific section for Indigenous children's rights. - Lack of rights and understanding when it comes to the Canadian legal system. - Parents are often taken advantage of, legally, because of this lack of knowledge. Legal Context To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment - Unknown CBC, 2016 Works cited Jackson, K. (2019, September 25). Death as Expected: Inside a child welfare system where 102 Indigenous kids died over 5 years. National News. Retrieved May 21, 2020, from https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/inside-a-child-welfare-system-where-102-indigenous-kids-died-over-5-years/ Works Cited the child welfare system & the importance of land.... - Reserve systems are very important to Indigenous peoples as this is the land they were given by settlers when the settlers took resource rich land. - Indigenous children in on reserve child welfare systems are often treated poorly due to lack of funding from the government. - The link here is due to geographical location Indigenous children (who live on reserve) in the child welfare system lack many basic needs, due to lack of federal government funding. Importance of land NWAC is History repeating itself? Child welfare system or modern day residential schools? - Indigenous children have been disproportionately impacted and targeted by colonialism (disguised as child welfare systems) for over 50 years. - For example, Residential Schools, The 60's Scoop, and now the modern day child welfare system. - Indigenous children are being/have been abused in every way possible, while having their culture taken away from them. - Children being taken off of Indigenous lands and integrate into Western society has so many negative impacts on Indigenous communities. SMITH (MCFARLANE), 2013 the broader issue... - Reserves are important for Indigenous peoples because it is land that they received when all of their other land was stolen. - A connection to this land has been formed, a sense of community and culture. - When Indigenous children are taken off reserve due to the child welfare system they are negatively impacted because their sense of community and culture is ripped from them. - As we have seen through history (the 60's Scoop and Residential Schools), the aftermath is DETRIMENTAL. BROADER ISSUE... BENJAMIN, 2018 works cited Benjamin, C. (2018, February 09). Standing with First Nations children until the discrimination finally ends. Retrieved July 02, 2020, from https://www.amnesty.ca/blog/standing-first-nations-children-until-discrimination-finally-ends Christine Smith (McFarlane) Sep 1, 2., Leanne Betasamosake Simpson May 1, 2., Tom Keefer Mar 10, 2., Matthew Ryan Smith May 1, 2., & Julie Coleman, E. (2013, September 1). A legacy of Canadian child care. Retrieved July 02, 2020, from https://briarpatchmagazine.com/articles/view/a-legacy-of-canadian-child-care Jackson, K. (2019, September 25). Death as Expected: Inside a child welfare system where 102 Indigenous kids died over 5 years. National News. Retrieved May 21, 2020, from https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/inside-a-child-welfare-system-where-102-indigenous-kids-died-over-5-years/ . N. (n.d.). [Statistics describing Indigenous children in the child welfare system]. Retrieved from http://www.nwac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/FS-NWAC-Child-Welfare-2018-JB-Final.pdf Puxley, C. (2016, August 17). Indigenous parents more fearful, distrusting of education system: Study. CBC. T. (2017, July 5). Challenging Canada's history through art. TVO. WORKS CITED