Transcript SWC-Chapter11_Social-Work-with-Aboriginal

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SOCIAL WORK IN CANADA
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An Introduction
Third Edition
Chapter 11: Social Work with Aboriginal Peoples
Chapter 11:
Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.
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Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
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Who Are the Aboriginal Peoples?
The Colonial Legacy
The Indian Act
Residential School System
Government Policy Objectives
Income Security and Health Care
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
Chapter 11:
Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.
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Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
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Aboriginal Social Work Practice
Holistic Healing
Integrating an Aboriginal Approach
Urban Social Services for Aboriginal Peoples
Towards Aboriginal Self-Government
Grassroots Aboriginal Organizations
Chapter 11:
Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.
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Who Are the Aboriginal Peoples?
Aboriginal Peoples
Collective term for original inhabitants of Canada;
includes First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.
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Who Are the Aboriginal Peoples?
The First Nations
Include culturally, linguistically, and geographically
diverse groups of people – some examples are the
Cree, Dene, and Mi’kmaq peoples.
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Who Are the Aboriginal Peoples?
Inuit
Aboriginal peoples of Canada “that have traditionally
used and occupied, and currently use and occupy, the
lands and waters” ranging from the Yukon, Northwest
Territories, and Nunavut to northern Quebec (Nunavik)
and Labrador (Nunatsiavut).
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Who Are the Aboriginal Peoples?
Métis
Refers to the descendants of the historic Métis—those
whose origin can be traced back to the Red River in the
early 1800s. Now located mainly in the prairies and the
north, they formed a language and culture, which was a
unique blend of First Nations and European cultures.
Chapter 11:
Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
Social Work In Canada
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Chapter 11:
Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.
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The Colonial Legacy
Colonialism
Forced political domination of one nation over another
including administrative, economic, and cultural control.
This policy was adopted by settlers and amounted to
nothing less than an attempt to subjugate Aboriginal
peoples.
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Social Work In Canada
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The Colonial Legacy
Colonialism cont’d
As a direct result, to this day living conditions and
income levels for the Aboriginal communities and those
living off reserve continue to be lower than for the rest
of Canada.
Chapter 11:
Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
Social Work In Canada
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The Indian Act
 The Indian Act of 1876 sought strictly to define who would
be considered an Indian so as to exert government
authority over Aboriginal peoples.
 The Act fragmented Aboriginal populations into distinct
groups with different rights, restrictions, and obligations.
 As a consequence, Canada today is one of the few
countries to have separate laws for a specific group based
on race or ethnicity.
Chapter 11:
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The Indian Act
Assimilationist Policies
 The social control aspects of the Indian Act placed
Canada’s First Nations firmly in the position of a colonized
people.
 The Canadian government saw the Indian Act as a
temporary measure to control Aboriginal peoples until
they had been fully assimilated through enfranchisement.
 Assimilation refers to the absorbing of one cultural group
into another.
Chapter 11:
Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
Social Work In Canada
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The Indian Act
The Reserve System
 Once land was ceded and Canadian settlements had been
established, Aboriginal peoples were shunted onto small
parcels of land.
 This land could not be used as collateral to develop
business ventures, since that land was held “in trust” by
the government.
 The federal government established the Department of
Indian Affairs to regulate and control Aboriginal
movement and ways of living.
Chapter 11:
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The Indian Act
The Métis and Inuit
 Métis were given a choice of aligning themselves to certain
treaty areas or they could “take scrip.”
 Scrip system entitled bearer of scrip certificate to land or
money; in exchange, the person who took the scrip gave
up all further claims to land.
Chapter 11:
Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
Social Work In Canada
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The Indian Act
The Métis and Inuit
 The Inuit were never formally given land for their use, nor
were any treaties signed.
 Government used a disk list system for administrative
purposes, assigning each Inuk a number identification
rather than his or her Inuktitut name.
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Social Work In Canada
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Residential School System
 Established in the mid-1900s by Indian Affairs in
conjunction with several Christian churches.
 Aboriginal children were removed from their communities
and placed in residential schools.
 By restricting Aboriginal culture and language, residential
schools sought to fulfill assimilationist policies of the
government.
Chapter 11:
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Residential School System
 Children denied their language, spiritual rituals, and
access to their families.
 In 2007, an out-of-court settlement between the
Government of Canada, the churches, and the Aboriginal
peoples of Canada was established.
 In 2008, the federal government formally apologized to
Aboriginal peoples.
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The Sixties Scoop
Massive removal of Aboriginal children in the 1960s
from their families and placement in non-Aboriginal
foster and adoptive homes.
By the late 1970s, one in seven Status Indian children
was not in the care of his or her parents.
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Aboriginal Child Welfare Agencies
Many Aboriginal child care agencies have adopted
placement protocols that specify the following placement
preferences:
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2.
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4.
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Extended family
Aboriginal members of the same community
Alternative Aboriginal caregivers
Non-Aboriginal caregiver
Social Work In Canada
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Government Policy Objectives
Historically, the major goals of national government
public policy towards Aboriginal peoples have been:
 Protection
 Assimilation
 Christianization
 Land surrender
 Government authority
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Income Security and Health Care
 The first universal and statutory old age pension
was enacted in 1927
(excluded Indians and Inuit, but included Métis)
 The first Unemployment Insurance Act was
passed in 1940
(excluded Aboriginal peoples)
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Income Security and Health Care
 Health care was provided by non-Aboriginal practitioners
 Little or no sensitivity to differing cultural and social
systems
 The Indian Act outlawed spiritual ceremonies
 Indigenous healing methods thought to be ineffective
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Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
 Released in 1966
 Result of six years of research and public consultation on
Aboriginal issues
 440 recommendations
 Dealt with the rebalancing of power between Aboriginal
nations and Canadian governments
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Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
Five key themes:
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5.
Aboriginal nations reconstituted
Establish process for assumption of powers by Aboriginal nations
Reallocation of lands and resources
Aboriginal people need education and crucial skills for governance
and economic self-reliance
Economic development
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Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
Initiatives to improve effectiveness of health and social
service programs will need to take many forms:
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Employment equity-inspired hiring policies
Specialized Aboriginal units staffed by Aboriginal employees
Cross-cultural education programs for non-Aboriginal staff
Aboriginal input into mainstream programs and decisions
Aboriginal customary practices included in the services offered
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Social Work In Canada
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Aboriginal Social Work Practice
Development of an Aboriginal approach to social
work practice is consistent with four key principles:
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Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
Distinct Aboriginal world view
Impact of colonialism
Cultural knowledge and traditions
Aboriginal empowerment
Social Work In Canada
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Holistic Healing
 Traditionally, many Aboriginal people have used some
form of “healing circle”
 Circle is representative of the fact that we are all one and
that the entire universe is connected
 Another basic teaching common to many First Nations is
the four sacred directions of North, South, East, and West
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Holistic Healing
Sacred directions are symbols of holistic healing
embodying the four elements of whole health:
 Spiritual health
 Mental health
 Physical health
 Emotional health
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Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
Social Work In Canada
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Integrating an Aboriginal Approach
Empowering communities:
The Atikamekw Nation example
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Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
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Urban Social Services
 Many Canadians think of Aboriginal people living
on reserves or in rural areas
 However…a great many Aboriginal people in
Canada live in cities and towns
 Only a few urban centres offer distinct Aboriginal
social services
Chapter 11:
Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
Social Work In Canada
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Chapter 11:
Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
Social Work In Canada
Copyright © 2010 Thompson Educational Publishing, Inc.
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Towards Aboriginal Self-Government
National organizations representing and uniting
Aboriginal groups:
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Chapter 11:
Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
The Assembly of First Nations
The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
The Métis National Council
Congress of Aboriginal Peoples
Native Women’s Association of Canada
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Grassroots Aboriginal Organizations
In addition to national organizations, grassroots
organizations are taking responsibility for administration of
social programs:
 Example of Anduhyaun
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Websites
 Aboriginal Canada Portal
www.aboriginalcanada.gc.ca
 Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ap/rrc-eng.asp
 Aboriginal Policy Research Conference
www.aprc-crmpa.ca
 First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada
www.fncfcs.com
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Questions for Discussion
Why do you think Métis were included in the first
universal and statutory old age pension in 1927,
but First Nations and Inuit were not?
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Questions for Discussion
What types of changes in federal policy and
programming might occur if the minister of Indian
and Northern Affairs were First Nations, Métis, or
Inuit?
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Questions for Discussion
Describe the Assembly of First Nations. What is
its purpose? What is its funding source? What
are the implications for such a funding structure?
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Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
Social Work In Canada
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Questions for Discussion
Why is an understanding of colonialism
important to Canada’s First Nations? Discuss
how this translates into practice principles and
action.
Chapter 11:
Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
Social Work In Canada
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Questions for Discussion
Discuss three ways that the Indian Act has
shaped the relationship between the Canadian
government and Aboriginal people.
Chapter 11:
Social Work and Aboriginal Peoples
Social Work In Canada
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