By N. Dicecco
At the core of the First Nations belief system is the philosophy of giving of one’s self or personal belonging to others in order to sustain the circle of life within the universe. As a child protection worker, this philosophical belief it clearly demonstrated by the caring and nurturing a native foster parent gives to the children placed in their home. Be them children within their own cultural or others, these Native families care of these children in a unique and nurturing framework that coincides with the Ontario Looking After Children Model where every child is given the opportunity to belong and thrive within the system.
It is clearly apparent that the First Nations people understood how to welcome and care for others centuries ago when the first European settlers arrived on their land. The settlers were treated with hospitality and respect. This same form of welcoming occurs when a child enters a Native foster home. There is a ritual that occurs at the time of admission where the child is welcomed into their home where the caregiver allows the child to feel welcomed and shortly thereafter provides a child with a welcoming package. The package usually encompasses many items that relates to the child’s identity and development. For instance, in one welcoming package an eight year old girl was given a journal, a dream catcher, a welcome card for the other children in the home, a picture frame of the family with an open spot for this child, and personal care items. In this very simple gesture of giving and welcoming, the foster care givers have continued in the Native strong belief that giving balance the cycle within the universe, “the universe is constantly giving life and support to everything that is alive, and all living things give their own life to one another and the universe. Human beings are included in this cycle.” The child placed in this home will ultimately learn and understand that receiving and giving balances the harmony within their world.
The giving thanks is reinforced and developed with their daily routines. The foster family engages in thankful activities throughout their daily activities. A very simple example is for the children of the home to be thankful for their caregivers, elders, and family; as well as saying the words “thank-you.” A word that is forgotten as children believe they have a sense of entitlement to being cared for. Giving thanks to the universe and allowing the spirit of the greater good be blessed by the entire family and community. In giving thanks through the ceremonies all members of the family group are involved including the foster children. It is well known within this community group that the old beliefs ‘that it takes a village to raise a child.”
Native foster parents have a strong spiritual commitment of giving of themselves to foster children and providing them the ability to be the best person they are able to be within our universe. Within this framework children’s self identity strengthens, as well as their understanding of cycle of giving and receiving. They learn giving to others is necessary in the balance of life and the universe. If done well children who grow up in the child welfare system are the best philanthropists.
Works Cited
Native American Philanthropy: http://nativephilanthropy.org/resource/
Learning to Give: http://learningtogive.org/papers/paper34.html
Ontario Looking After Children: http://www.oacas.org/
