Module 7

Question 1

What was the primary focus of Indigenous child welfare policy and practices in the late 1960s?

Answer 1

Assimilation and integration efforts

Indigenous children were increasingly placed into non-Indigenous foster or adoptive care, severing their cultural and familial connections.

Question 2

How are children viewed in Indigenous communities?

Answer 2

As gifts from the Creator and central to family and community structures

Unlike Western cultures, care for children is a collective responsibility involving extended family.

Question 3

What significant change did Section 88 of the Indian Act introduce?

Answer 3

Allowed provincial laws to apply to status First Nations as long as they did not conflict with Treaty provisions

This marked a shift from exclusive federal control to provincial jurisdiction over child welfare.

Question 4

What issue arose with the implementation of Section 88?

Answer 4

Jurisdictional uncertainties delayed service provision

There were no fiscal obligations from the federal government to support provincial service delivery.

Question 5

What role did residential schools play in Indigenous child welfare before the formal delivery of services?

Answer 5

They began to fill child welfare functions due to failures in care

Many children in residential schools came from overcrowded or neglectful homes.

Question 6

Who coined the term ‘Sixties Scoop’ and what does it refer to?

Answer 6

Patrick Johnston; it refers to the mass apprehension of Indigenous children by the child welfare system from the early 1960s to mid-1980s

The term highlights the excessive numbers of Indigenous children affected.

Question 7

What were the Indigenous child-in-care statistics in B.C. in 1955?

Answer 7

3443 children in care, with only 29 (less than 1%) of Indigenous ancestry

By 1964, this number grew to 1664, representing 34.2% of children in care.

Question 8

What percentage of children in care were Indigenous in Saskatchewan during the Sixties Scoop?

Answer 8

60-70%

These statistics highlight the over-representation of Indigenous children in care.

Question 9

How did the Splatsin band respond to the high number of child apprehensions?

Answer 9

They enacted a by-law for their own child welfare legislation and organized the Indian Child Caravan protest

This was a response to the government’s refusal to recognize their bylaw.

Question 10

What was the Adopt Indian Métis Program (AIM) launched in 1967?

Answer 10

A program aimed at finding permanent adoptive homes for Indigenous children in foster care

It was also seen as a cost-saving initiative.

Question 11

What was the response of Métis society to the AIM advertisements?

Answer 11

They objected to the ads as racist propaganda, suggesting that Métis parents were incapable and degrading Aboriginal children

The ads portrayed a negative image of Indigenous families.

Question 12

What did Indigenous leaders argue regarding the removal of Indigenous children?

Answer 12

It constituted genocide as defined by the UN Convention on Genocide

This includes forcibly transferring children to another group.

Question 13

What was the outcome of the Kimelman Report released in 1985?

Answer 13

It highlighted cultural bias in child welfare practices and confirmed that cultural genocide was occurring

It led to a moratorium on Indigenous transracial adoptions in Manitoba.

Question 14

What critical reforms followed the Kimelman Report?

Answer 14

Changes in adoption practices, requirement of family consent, and development of Indigenous child and family service agencies

Cultural considerations regarding Indigenous children in care were also mandated.

Question 15

What challenges do many Sixties Scoop survivors face upon returning to their communities?

Answer 15

Dealing with trauma and often first contacting addictions services or street agencies

Many survivors have stories of abuse and disconnection from their roots.

Question 16

What event in 2017 brought renewed attention to the Sixties Scoop?

Answer 16

An $875 million settlement announcement for Sixties Scoop Survivors

This highlighted the ongoing impacts of the Sixties Scoop on Indigenous communities.

Question 17

What is the Sixties Scoop?

Answer 17

The Sixties Scoop refers to the period when thousands of Indigenous children were taken from their families and placed in non-Indigenous foster homes and adoptive families.

Question 18

What settlement was announced on October 6, 2017, for Sixties Scoop Survivors?

Answer 18

$875 million settlement, with $50 million earmarked for a healing foundation.

Question 19

What was the basis of the class action suit filed in Ontario in 2009 regarding the Sixties Scoop?

Answer 19

Claimed that Canada ignored its obligations to Indigenous children, leading to loss of Indigenous identity and treaty rights.

Question 20

Who was excluded from the $875 million settlement for Sixties Scoop Survivors?

Answer 20

Métis and non-status survivors.

Question 21

What is the Millennium Scoop?

Answer 21

The continued over-representation of Indigenous children in care, evolving from the Sixties Scoop.

Question 22

By what percentage did the number of First Nations children in care rise from 1995 to 2001?

Answer 22

71%.

Question 23

What percentage of foster children in Canada are Aboriginal children according to a 2013 Statistics Canada Report?

Answer 23

48%.

Question 24

What are the four main factors contributing to the over-representation of Indigenous children in care?

Answer 24

• Role of Apprehensions
• Funding Inequalities
• Role of Jurisdictional Issues
• Lack of Indigenous Control.

Question 25

What is a significant outcome of apprehension for Indigenous children?

Answer 25

Significant psychological and emotional trauma.

Question 26

What is the impact of child apprehension on parents, particularly mothers?

Answer 26

Increased rates of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders.

Question 27

How many child deaths connected to the child welfare system were recorded in Saskatchewan in 2019?

Answer 27

34 deaths, with 29 being First Nations or Métis.

Question 28

What is the connection between child welfare and identity issues for Indigenous children?

Answer 28

Indigenous children often face racism and negative stereotypes that can lead to harmful behaviors.

Question 29

What percentage of assault victims in care are Indigenous girls?

Answer 29

Nearly two-thirds.

Question 30

What is Jordan's Principle?

Answer 30

A child-first principle ensuring that Indigenous children receive necessary services without jurisdictional disputes delaying care.

Question 31

What tragic outcome occurred due to the jurisdictional disputes affecting Jordan River Anderson?

Answer 31

Jordan died after being kept in the hospital due to disputes over care costs.

Question 32

What are the barriers to effective adoption of Jordan’s Principle?

Answer 32

* Need for ratification by provinces and territories * Restrictive definitions limiting service access.

Question 33

What is the relationship between child welfare involvement and homelessness among youth?

Answer 33

Youth experiencing homelessness are 193 times more likely to have been involved in the child welfare system.

Question 34

What does the term 'social determinant of health' refer to in the context of Indigenous child welfare?

Answer 34

Child welfare involvement significantly impacts future health and well-being.

Question 35

Fill in the blank: The over-representation of Indigenous children in care has persisted for over _______ decades.

Answer 35

five.

Question 36

True or False: The majority of Indigenous children in care are placed with Indigenous families.

Answer 36

False.

Question 37

What is the impact of systemic funding disparities on Indigenous child welfare agencies?

Answer 37

They receive approximately 25% less funding than mainstream agencies, hindering effective prevention measures.

Question 38

What is a significant risk factor for Indigenous children in care regarding their well-being?

Answer 38

Higher rates of suicide and mental health issues.

Question 39

What is the significance of the ruling from the Human Rights Tribunal in 2016?

Answer 39

It addressed discriminatory practices affecting Indigenous children in welfare.

Question 40

What is Jordan’s Principle?

Answer 40

A child first principle that requires the government of the first point of contact to pay for required medical expenses and resolve any disputes at a later date. ## Footnote Named after Jordan River Anderson, a First Nations child who died while the federal and provincial governments disputed jurisdiction.

Question 41

What significant ruling did the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal make in January 2016?

Answer 41

Found Canada guilty of discrimination against First Nations children and ordered the government to cease discriminatory conduct. ## Footnote The ruling highlighted that discriminatory child welfare funding creates an incentive to bring children into care.

Question 42

What was the outcome of the human rights complaint filed by the Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society?

Answer 42

The Tribunal ordered the government to implement Jordan’s Principle without delay and provide reparations to First Nations children in care since 2006. ## Footnote This was due to the harms suffered from discriminatory funding that often led to apprehension instead of preventive services.

Question 43

What did the Tribunal's ruling reveal about the government's compliance report?

Answer 43

The government narrowed the scope of Jordan’s Principle to children with disabilities or short-term illnesses, which was later corrected to apply to all services. ## Footnote This followed a non-compliance ruling from the Tribunal.

Question 44

What is Bill C-92?

Answer 44

An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families that allows Indigenous peoples to develop child welfare policy consistent with their own laws and culture. ## Footnote It was officially passed in January 2020.

Question 45

What issues were raised regarding the pan-Indigenous approach of Bill C-92?

Answer 45

The operations and funding structures of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis agencies differ significantly, leading to concerns about over-generalization and inadequate specific funding. ## Footnote Consultation concerns were also noted, as discussions occurred with government employees instead of Indigenous communities.

Question 46

What was the AIM program?

Answer 46

A program developed in Saskatchewan in the late 1960s to find long-term adoptive placements for Indigenous children, which was viewed as racist and discriminatory. ## Footnote AIM stands for adopt 'Indian-Métis'.

Question 47

What does Section 88 of the Indian Act refer to?

Answer 47

An addition allowing all laws of general application to apply to status First Nations, opening the way for provincial services to be provided to First Nations. ## Footnote This led to the delivery of provincial child welfare services, contributing to the Sixties Scoop.

Question 48

What is the Sixties Scoop?

Answer 48

The period from the 1960s to the 1980s when many Indigenous children were taken into care and placed into non-Indigenous homes, considered a form of cultural genocide. ## Footnote The term was coined by researcher Patrick Johnston.

Question 49

What did the Kimelman Report conclude?

Answer 49

Found evidence of ongoing and systematic cultural genocide in Indigenous child welfare practices in Manitoba, leading to significant reforms. ## Footnote The report was based on a full inquiry into these practices.

Question 50

What has been a major issue with the federal government's compliance with the Tribunal ruling?

Answer 50

The government relied on Budget 2016 to demonstrate compliance, which fell short of the mandated requirements and was developed prior to the ruling. ## Footnote Despite assurances of progress, this budget had not been altered since its initial development.

Question 51

What challenges remain in fulfilling equitable child welfare funding?

Answer 51

Concerns persist regarding equitable service levels in education and mental health for Indigenous children. ## Footnote Advocacy continues to ensure these needs are met.

Question 52

What are the potential benefits of implementing the new Indigenous child welfare legislation?

Answer 52

It could re-affirm First Nations’ laws and jurisdiction and address the ongoing crisis in Indigenous child welfare. ## Footnote Meaningful discussions and resources are essential for effective implementation.

Question 53

True or False: The narrowing of Jordan’s Principle has allowed more Indigenous children to qualify for services.

Answer 53

False ## Footnote The narrowing has made it difficult for many Indigenous children to qualify for necessary services.

Question 54

What did Cindy Blackstock express concern about regarding the future of Indigenous child welfare?

Answer 54

She remains concerned about equitable levels of services in areas of education and mental health. ## Footnote Blackstock emphasizes the need for proper childhood services across all domains.