A historical and cultural perspective on ICWA

1. A historical and cultural perspective on ICWA Why was ICWA necessary?

2. Everyone wants what is best for the child ! “Why are Indian children and families treated differently?”

3. Understanding: • When someone says, “we know what is best for your children,” or • “I am from the government - I am here to help”

4. Why trust is not the automatic response

5. BIA started as part of the War Department

6. Education as a part of the “civilizing” function

7. Solution to the “Indian Problem”

8. 1878 the Hampton Institute, a school for freed slaves, accepted Indian prisoners in an assimilation experiment.

9. In 1879 Carlisle Indian School, patterned after the military model, opened.

10. By 1890 attendance was enforced through threats of cessation of rations and supplies.

11. Early “approved” curricula prohibited teaching of reading/writing.

12. Early “approved” curricula prohibited teaching of reading/writing.

13. Early “approved” curricula prohibited teaching of reading/writing.

14. Many died of disease and broken hearts.

15. Succeeded in breaking intergenerational teaching in Indian communities. Language, religious practices, cultural knowledge were targeted

16. Generations learned to parent from BIA dorms

17. Motto at BIA Schools… • Tradition is the enemy of progress • A new ‘tradition’ is created that teaches ‘parenting’ from matrons on the dormitories

18. We have seen how the federal government has treated Indian families But how have States treated families in Indian Country?

19. American Indian Policy Review Commissionof theUnited States CongressMay 17, 1977

20. Comparative Rates for Indian Children

21. Comparative Rates for Indian Children

22. Comparative Rates for Indian Children

23. Comparative Rates for Indian Children

24. Comparative Rates for Indian Children

25. Comparative Rates for Indian Children

26. Comparative Rates for Indian Children

27. Comparative Rates for Indian Children

28. Comparative Rates for Indian Children

29. How does this happen? • An exercise …

30. MIND THE LITTLE THINGS Springs are little things, but they are sources of large streams; nails and pegs are little things, but they hold the parts of a large building together; a word, a look, a smile, a frown, are all little things, but powerful for good or evil. Think of this and mind the little things.- Hillis

31. Find the number of Fs

32. MIND THE LITTLE THINGS Springs are little things, but they are sources of large streams; nails and pegs are little things, but they hold the parts of a large building together; a word, a look, a smile, a frown, are all little things, but powerful for good or evil. Think of this and mind the little things.- Hillis

34. Zero to Three

35. Four

36. Five

37. Six

38. More ?

39. MIND THE LITTLE THINGS Springs are little things, but they are sources of large streams; nails and pegs are little things, but they hold the parts of a large building together; a word, a look, a smile, a frown, are all little things, but powerful for good or evil. Think of this and mind the little things.- Hillis

40. MIND THE LITTLE THINGS Springs are little things, but they are sources of large streams; nails and pegs are little things, but they hold the parts of a large building together; a word, a look, a smile, a frown, are all little things, but powerful for good or evil. Think of this and mind the little things.- Hillis

41. MIND THE LITTLE THINGS Springs are little things, but they are sources of large streams; nails and pegs are little things, but they hold the parts of a large building together; a word, a look, a smile, a frown, are all little things, but powerful for good or evil. Think of this and mind the little things.- Hillis

42. MIND THE LITTLE THINGS Springs are little things, but they are sources of large streams; nails and pegs are little things, but they hold the parts of a large building together; a word, a look, a smile, a frown, are all little things, but powerful for good or evil. Think of this and mind the little things.- Hillis

43. MIND THE LITTLE THINGS Springs are little things, but they are sources of large streams; nails and pegs are little things, but they hold the parts of a large building together; a word, a look, a smile, a frown, are all little things, but powerful for good or evil. Think of this and mind the little things.- Hillis

44. MIND THE LITTLE THINGS Springs are little things, but they are sources of large streams; nails and pegs are little things, but they hold the parts of a large building together; a word, a look, a smile, a frown, are all little things, but powerful for good or evil. Think of this and mind the little things.- Hillis

45. MIND THE LITTLE THINGS Springs are little things, but they are sources of large streams; nails and pegs are little things, but they hold the parts of a large building together; a word, a look, a smile, a frown, are all little things, but powerful for good or evil. Think of this and mind the little things.- Hillis

46. Another view of the impact When someone says, “ we know what is best for your children.”

47. IDENTIFICATION WITH THEAGGRESSOR

48. Thematic Apperception test Good Bad Beautiful Ugly Smart Dumb Honest Dishonest

49. Identification with the Aggressor • Baseline: • Suicide rate of teenagers in U.S. • Inner City • twice as high • Reservations • higher • Indian kids in non-Indian homes • highest

50. Identification with the Aggressor • Baseline: • Suicide rate of teenagers in U.S. • Inner City • twice as high • Reservations • higher • Indian kids in non-Indian homes • highest