The book Aski Awasis talks about the adoption of Aboriginal children into non-Aboriginal families. The issue of adoption has been a long and contentious issue in Canada. Research has revealed that the experience has not been very positive for this community (Carriere, 2010). It is viewed as a fundamental feature of colonization. To reduce the level of colonization, the Yellowhead Tribal Services Agency (YTSA) situated in Alberta incorporated accustomed adoption practices with local adoption regulations for First People. In the book, the author talks about the history of First Nations adoptions. In addition to this, he also describes the adoption ceremonies offered at the agency.
In Canada, European colonialists tried to impose their traditions and cultures on the Aboriginal children and indigenous inhabitants. The colonial authorities put their focus in assimilating children. The children welfare system failed the Aboriginal people. The activities and ideas of non-Aboriginal people dominate in the system. All Aboriginal children have a right to their language, culture, and the suitable cultural environment. The colonists erased all the records of the Indian children and took them to families that were unclear that had the first value system in Nebraska state. This was all in an effort to assimilate them into their western cultures. At the age of 16 or 17, the child was allowed to return to the reservation with no idea that his relatives were. Such a situation destroyed the child.
The colonists forced the indigenous children to accept the cultural, intellectual and religious inferiority. Colonialism established a harsh social environment for the native communities. Their native lands were grabbed, and they were separated from the community and sent to isolated reservations. The colonialists undermined their indigenous cultures and aimed at alienating their existence as well as their identities. The challenges the native people faced destroyed their way of living resulting to societal evils. The effects these problems had on First Nations’ peoples and the members of the community were greatly felt.
The effort in trying to conform indigenous children into becoming more ‘intellectual’ people, this assimilation had a great effect on the children, their communities, and their families. Most of the children were faced with an identity crisis; especially during puberty, they could not understand their culture and language. Most indigenous children felt lonely and lost, this resulted in depression, drug abuse and suicide and getting criminal records. As a result of colonization, families lost vital resources and continuity of traditions. Although some children went back to their community, they experienced a lot of cultural problems and language barrier. The children welfare system facilitated colonialism; it separated many children from their families and enforced Eurocentric values as it removed any links with First Nations traditions, cultures, and values.
The identity of a person is a fundamental and an extremely personal issue.For instance, the author of the book Aski Awasis Children of The Earth explains that after her birth sibling showed up at her adopted parent’s door; she felt alive and connected (Sinha & Kozlowski, 2013). This shows the importance of cultural identity. All through her life she could not find her real self. Despite the benefits and the good things that come with western culture, it is vital for families to maintain their cultural practices.
It is important that children know where they come from. As children grow up, they find it easier connecting with their families. Understanding their traditions and cultures help them to find a sense of belonging and enables them to understand themselves better. I have come to learn the importance of family, despite being loved and cared for by the adopted parents, there are still a lot of voids that is left in the children. They may feel alienated and lonely in their new homes.
The families and the communities go through a lot of traumatization when they are separated from their own. Most adopted children have stressful relationships with their parents. A lot of people may see this as a personality problem. This is however not the case, such problems are as a result of loneliness and feeling alienated. The children welfare and adoption system made the children grow up without knowing their extended families. Children are very vulnerable individuals; they don’t have the mind and the strength to go through the pain that comes with being separated from your family members.
Children growing up without knowledge of their cultural identity may cause a lot of problems in society; they are often confused and can make many wrong decisions like indulging in criminal activities. It is wrong to force people to learn and accept your way of life. It is important to respect the culture, traditions and way of life of all individuals. All cultural beliefs and traditions are equal, and everybody has the right to follow what he or she believes in.
According to Western standards, forming an identity is a procedure of change founded on stages of increment and experience. Identity encourages children to see themselves as associated with every other person in the community. According to Yeo, spirituality is the foundation of identity. To be a person from Aboriginal, it is important to live and interact with other members of the community.
Anderson was an Aboriginal woman who was separated from his family and community. Her quest to know her real identity made her struggle with increased knowledge about her people. She learned a lot from her university lectures and from being keen while looking at the writings of others. According to Anderson, her concept of forming an identity involved four steps. The first step she took in establishing her identity was to deny all the negative stereotypes. Secondly, she started repossessing the traditions of the Aboriginal people. Thirdly she developed an optimistic identity by interpreting traditions into the existing context. The last step she took was to act on a new optimistic identity.
Kinship is the base of social life; it gives important knowledge on the traditions of a community. Many people travel in and out of places looking for a place they can belong. I would advise the children I work with to visit the elders of the community they belong to. The elderly have an imperative responsibility to play in educating children on the skills that are necessary for one to become a member and relatives of the community. Leaders and elders can identify the problems the present youth’s face, they often encourage them to seek help if necessary. They inspire them not to give up.
According to Gravelione, the elders are our form of identity. The elders have a better understanding of our cultures and traditions; this is mainly because of the long life they have had. In the modern society, the traditional way of life is lost. Most people have stopped carrying out their old cultural practices. Most elders are however hopefully this knowledge will return. David Peat states that it is important to reflect on our native ways of life in our everyday life. How we view and relate the world will assist our children to remain balanced. Reminding ourselves of the traditions and cultures has a crucial role in bringing unity; it enables us to connect throughout the world.
In an effort of maintaining and building the identity of indigenous children, I will let them experience and attend ceremonies that help the youth to learn more about their; relationship with ancestors, the traditional ceremonies, and their land. Traditional ceremonies such as a vision quest inspire the young generation to have a connection to nature and greater power, for instance, the Great Spirit. Attending such ceremonies and events enables the young people to meet and interact with the members of their community. In the process of interacting, they learn about their cultures and traditions. Such exposures also give them a sense of belonging.
According to Restoule, cultural identity undertakes that the customs, behaviors and practices are the same. In the process of developing a system that is culturally receptive to the native children, these assumptions are not important. They do not preserve cultural security. According to Thomson, cultural identity is an obligation to the belief that the concept and delivery of services given by the system of health will not affect the cultural values, rights or the prospects of the Aboriginal people.
He also states that cultural safety is better than the awareness of the culture and the practices that are culturally sensitive. Culture is very important as it is a determinant of resilience for native children. In the process teach the children on spiritual development. Encourage their mental growth, support them emotionally and help them to identify their physical self; by engaging them in physical activities (Crichlow, 2002).
The community is the foundation of Aboriginal child growth and identity. The community keeps us grounded by reminding us of our identity. It is the duty of adults to reach out to children in the community. It is important that we all work together as a community because of our children. In order to have a peaceful and loving community, indigenous children must be educated on how to build and maintain their identity.
References
Carriere, J. (2010). Aski Awasis/ Children of The Earth.
Crichlow, W. (2002). Western Colonization as Disease: Native Adoption & Cultural Genocide. Critical Social Work, 3(1).
Sinha, V., & Kozlowski, A. (2013, April). The Structure of Aboriginal Child Welfare in Canada. The International Indigenous Policy Journal, 4(2).
