Traditional Native American Child Rearing Practices

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Traditional Native American Child Rearing
Practices
Debra Clayton, MSW St. Croix Chippewa
[phone] ext.137 debra_at_nicwa.org
www.nicwa.org
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NICWA Mission

• NICWA is dedicated to the well-being of American
  Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children and
  families.

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NICWA Vision
Split Feathers Research Adult American Indians
who were placed with Non-Indian Families as
Children

• Study by Carol Locust, PhD. Published in
  Pathways Practice Digest, January 1999.
• Split Feathers Syndrome psychological, social,
  and emotional disability and distress related
  directly to expatriation (foster care adoption)
  as children.

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Importance of this study

• The issue of the adult Indian who was placed in a
  non-Indian home as a child had not been
  addressed.
• Every child placed in a non-Indian home for
  foster care, or adoption was at great risk for
  long-term psychological damage as adults.
• At risk statement comes from congressional
  hearings pursuant to ICWA.
• Lack of sufficient data.

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Summary of Findings

• All but 1 (of 20) had moderate to severe
  psychological problems.
• All 20 respondents indicated that they had
  difficulty with intimate relationships. Feeling
  alone, failed marriages, no close friends.
• 13 of 20 responses analyzed indicated that the
  respondents had abused alcohol and/or drugs.
• ALL 20 said they knew they were different before
  they were elementary school age, all 20
  experienced negative feelings because of being
  different.
• All 20 felt they were average or above in
  intelligence, half had spent time in education
  remedial programs, 5 were labeled learning
  disabled, 2 were classified as slow learners. All
  of them had failed at least one grade.
• 5 of the 20 completed high school, 15 went on to
  military school, 3 were in correctional
  institutions, 4 married.
• NONE of them described themselves as successes.

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Issues faced by Split Feathers

• Loss of Indian Identity
• Loss of family, culture, heritage, language,
  spiritual beliefs, tribal affiliation, and tribal
  ceremonial experiences
• Anguish from growing up different
• Having to experience discrimination from the
  dominant culture based on their physical
  appearance
• Cognitive differences, a term derived from the
  descriptions of thinking differently, being
  different in my mind, not being able to learn
  like everyone else

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Why is Relative Placement Important?

• To keep culture, traditions, and language from
  getting lost.
• Children are confident and have an identity.
• Families feel connected, supported, and together.
  They dont feel torn or have missing links.
• Young children are taught traditional coping
  skills, family roles, and community.
• Children are taught that healing and recovery are
  possible.

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Natural Protective Factors

• AI/AN children are viewed as gifts from the
  Creator, children are cared for by a whole
  community (family, extended family, clans) versus
  just the parents doing all the work.
• Elders are highly regarded and trusted to teach
  the young and be helpers in their care and
  raising.
• Parents are supported and encouraged, and those
  who did not care for their children properly were
  ridiculed into compliance.
• Cultural events such as naming ceremonies.
• Community gatherings, dances, spiritual events
• sweats, vision quests, canoe journey.
• Story telling as a teaching tool.

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Psychological Parent Model
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Extended Family Model
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Permanency Planning Philosophy

• The primary right and responsibility for child
  rearing lies with the parent and/or extended
  family.
• Permanence can only be said to exist judged on
  the perception of the child.
• The best permanent plan is for the Indian child
  to grow up in his/her own family, or extended
  family.
• Parents with substance abuse problems have the
  right to services that recognize addiction as a
  disease, to have a relationship with their child
  despite their disease, and to receive treatment
  that will enable them to be a permanent resource
  for their child.
• Identifiable case plans that state goals and how
  those goals are to be achieved, subject to
  review, are essential for permanence.

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ALL My Relations Video

• All My Relations Impacts of the Indian Child
  Welfare Act of Foster Parenting
• (Video Viewing 45 minutes)
• By WA State DSHS
• Group Discussion
• 15 minutes

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For More Information

• To learn more, visit www.nicwa.org or call
• [phone]
• Debra Clayton, MSW
• debra_at_nicwa.org

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www.nicwa.org
National Indian Child Welfare Association