Tansi Nîtôtemtik,
Youth Advocate Dylan Cohen at the Pledge to Care rally in Victoria, British Columbia on October 24, 2017. Photo by Sarah Rice for The Discourse. Image retrieved from <thediscourse.ca/child-welfare/how-reporters-should-approach-stories-about-vulnerable-
youth>.
Discussions about Child Welfare in Canada frequently occur without the voices and perspectives of those most impacted by it, the individuals who grew up in the system. More recently, former youth in care have been provided the opportunity to share their experiences. Today we will explore two CBC interviews with former youth in care. On January 25, 2018, The Current hosted a special edition titled “In Care and in Crisis: Canada’s Indigenous Child Welfare Emergency”.[1] The interview is with three Indigenous youth who grew up in the child welfare system: Dylan Cohen, Rayna Foster and Jaye Simpson. On August 30, 2019, The Sunday Edition hosted a panel of three former youth in care, one of whom is Indigenous, Ashley Bach.[2]
The Need for Cultural Connection
All four of the former youth in care spoke about the disconnection they experienced from their Indigenous culture. Ashley is a member of the Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation in Ontario. Ashley grew up in care in British Columbia and did not have any connection to her home community.[3] When she did participate in Indigenous cultural practices and ceremonies, they were not of her culture, but rather the traditions of other Indigenous communities.[4] Ashley’s experience was not unique and was shared by Jaye. Jaye expressed that she experienced spiritual abuse and was actively discouraged from engaging in cultural practices.[5] One of her placements was with a Christian foster family who discouraged her from attending “Indian” events and sent her to Bible camps.[6] Jaye also reflected upon the fact that despite efforts of the government to shift towards Indigenous agencies providing care for youth, being an “Indigenous” agency alone is insufficient given the diversity of Indigenous Peoples and their culture.[7]
Dylan spoke about the challenge of most foster families being non-Indigenous and not having the skills to support Indigenous children and youth.[8] Like Ashley and Jaye, Dylan was also removed from his community, which made it even more difficult to remain connected to his culture.[9] The removal from community can have a profound effect on children and youth. When asked about how the system could be improved for children and youth, Ashley specifically mentioned the need for the system to find a way to have youth in care visit their home community and to have the opportunity to develop relationships with their family, community, culture and the land of their home community.[10]
Jaye reflected upon how the lack of cultural connection is particularly disturbing given that the removal of culture was so predominant in the Residential School system.[11] The impact of disconnection from culture is most apparent when these youth speak to the role cultural connection has played in helping them heal from their time in care. Rayna expressed that the way she heals from past trauma is from her culture and that she was always meant to be with her culture.[12] It is evident that when youth are entering into the child welfare system they are being separated from so much more than just their biological families. A focus on cultural connectedness is paramount to the next generation of Indigenous children and youth having a sense of belonging.
Approaching the Cliff: Aging out of the Child Welfare System
Another common theme was the abrupt nature in which youth “age out” out of the child welfare system. The age at which youth continue to receive support from child welfare varies across provinces. Ashley expressed that it seems particularly unfair that youth who have experienced trauma are expected to become instant adults, while their peers who remain in parental care often have support well into their mid to late twenties.[13] Dylan stated aging out felt like falling off of a cliff and that he lost his emotional support system in addition to financial supports.[14] As young adults, they did not have someone to call to ask for support for basic problem-solving around issues such as disputes with their landlord. Dylan identified his social worker and a couple of professors as being the only adults who told him they were proud of him after graduating from university.[15] Young people thrive when they have guidance and support from older adults. This support is especially required by young people who have experienced trauma.
The issue of support when aging out of care is timely given the Government of Alberta has just announced plans to reduce the age to which youth in care can access financial and emotional support from 24 years to 22 years.[16] This reduction in support is anticipated to impact 500 young adults.[17] It appears the voices of youth in care continue to fall on deaf ears.
To hear the voices of Ashley, Dylan, Jaye and Rayna, click here[18] and here[19].
Until next time,
Team ReconciliAction YEG
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[1] Anna Maria Tremonti, “In Care and In Crisis: Canada’s Indigenous Child Welfare Emergency” (25 January 2018) at 00h:22:35s, online: (podcast) The Current <www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/a-special-edition-of-the-current-in-care-and-in-crisis-canada-s-indigenous-child-welfare-emergency-1.4503238> [perma.cc/AF98-HS9G].
[2]Connie Walker, “How former youth in care are working to fix Canada’s child welfare system” (30 August 2019), online (podcast) The Sunday Edition <www.cbc.ca/radio/thesundayedition/the-sunday-edition-for-september-1-2019-1.5262676/how-former-youth-in-care-are-working-to-fix-canada-s-child-welfare-system-1.5262680> [perma.cc/56LR-8WFQ].
[3] Supra note 2.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Supra note 1.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Supra note 2.
[11] Supra note 1.
[12] Ibid.
[13] Supra note 2.
[14] Supra note 1.
[15] Ibid.
[16] Chris Chacon, “Financial assistance for young being cut short” (2 November 2019), online: <globalnews.ca/news/6119431/alberta-financial-assistance-cut-short/> [perma.cc/W4NL-99QL].
[17] Supra note 16.
[18] Supra note 1.
[19] Supra note 2.
