| I am writing in regards to the article by Reuel S. Amdur titled "Getting a handle on native adoptions" (Viewpoint, March 3 - 9, 2005). It saddens me that in 2005, the ignorance Mr. Amdur portrays in his article still exists. What scares me most is that Fast Forward printed such irresponsible garbage about First Nations people. I am an avid reader and I’m thoroughly disgusted and horrified that such biased views on Aboriginal Peoples in Canada was printed in my favourite newspaper.
I am an artist in Calgary and work for many "native organizations." I have travelled across the western part of Canada promoting my Blackfoot-Ojibway culture and identity. The views that Mr. Amdur wrote are ignorant, biased and outdated. The facts about adoption are still unclear to the public because of the misuse of information by mainstream media.
The policies set by Aboriginal Peoples in Canada vary widely from place to place. The ideas around native people adopting native children stem not only from the fact they were ripped from their family and community bond from the late 1800s until the 1970s, but also the fact that aboriginals have always relied on community to survive. The policies by the European white dominant culture are what destroyed the family and community unit that native people rely on.
The idea of intervention by non-native culture on First Nations people is a well-documented disaster that has been affecting these children, not the system by which aboriginals are implementing to get their stolen generations back! Mr. Amdur states, "If native placements are not available, the native organizations and child welfare authorities should get together to find ways to develop them. Currently, foster parents are seen as volunteers, but perhaps if they were made employees there would be a greater chance of recruiting native foster parents. Such an approach might also make for less turnover in foster placements." These solutions by Eurocentric dominant culture have proved to fail. It is easier said than done. If anything, the problems stem from the residential schools, the media and interventions by the dominant white culture.
What about the cases that have been positive? I know of several adoption cases where the children have found sustainable homes and a learning environment that offers them native teaching. In my own family there are countless stories of children adopted by the community members or family members. I think that Mr. Amdur should stop looking from the outside and open his eyes to the fact that aboriginal communities don't need non-native adoption – it doesn’t work. I suggest you read Stolen Generations: Book of Voices: Voices of Aboriginal Adoptees and Foster Children, which recounts the alienation and problems faced with cross-cultural adoption.
Native people adopting native children is based on the ideas that Aboriginal Peoples are using their community as a means to support one another, like many generations have done in the past. We relied on this system for generations until the Europeans came to this land.
Mr. Amdur also states, "Infants have no culture: culture is acquired, not inherited." I wonder how he sees native children? As white babies? I was born an Aboriginal Person, which makes me inherent to my culture and identity. It seems that Mr. Amdur can’t see our people as First Nations or that the culture is integral to our children’s well-being. Just because one does not "grow up on a reserve" does not mean they are unable to know and practice their culture. My father was in the Canadian Armed Forces for over 25 years. I grew up in the city and on army bases, where I have always known my Blackfoot-Ojibway heritage. I also teach and make art that bridges an understanding between native and non-native issues, something that a lot of my generation values and wants to pass on.
Mr. Amdur needs to realize that non-natives don't have the right to change our policies on adoption. The same cases he states happen in "white culture" adoption. The intervention and dominance of the Western culture and its systems are what have been destructive to native people. This ignorance has to stop!
Terrance Houle,
artist, activist, filmmaker, father,
via e-mail
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