And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1999 15:39:13 -0400 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: Lynne Moss-Sharman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: OUR WAY HOME: repatriation report/adoption/foster impact Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" FOSTER KIDS NEED HEALING HELP Report focues on aboriginal adoptees, foster children, birth families Chronicle Journal Thunder Bay Ontario Kimberly Hicks 7/23/99 The adopted sons of Prime Minister Jean and Aline Chretien and of the late Barbara Frum and her husband Murray Frum are two examples included in a report on native adoptees. The report - OUR WAY HOME - is a "ground breaking repatriation report on the healing process of aboriginal adoptees, foster children and their birth families." Produced by the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy and the province, the report is a start for developing wellness and healing initiatives for aboriginal people across Ontario, said co-chairman Garnet Angeconeb. [contact in Sioux Lookout] It addresses the issues faced by aboriginal people separated from their birth parents through adoption, Crown wardship or foster care. Today, said Angeconeb, many such people are searching for their biological families and cultures. But, he said, they encounter barriers as they try to access information from agencies like Children's Aid Societies and they have to break down language and literacy barriers. During the years between the 1950's and the 1980's, aboriginal children were removed from their birth families by social service agencies in a movement called the "Sixties Scoop", said Angeconeb. "Many children were taken from their families for what appeared to be family breakdowns," said Angeconeb. "These were communities where no aboriginal programs were in place to address their unique and distinct needs," he said. He said many were placed in southern Ontario and in some cases outside Canada. Michel Chretien and Matthew Frum have "tangled with the law" andf "shuffled in and out of prison" said Angeconeb. "Despite their upper middle class upbringings, they still had their shortfalls," he said. Interviews and short stories of the experiences of adopted and fostered aboriginals are included in the report along with their versions of the impact of being taken from their families. "They have low self-esteem, lack of hope for the future, and suffer an erosion of their culture, language and identity," said Angeconeb. Some dealt with their troubles and covered the pain by using alcohol and drugs, and got into trouble with the law, said Angeconeb, who compared the situation to the impact of residential schools. The report has been sent to aboriginal organizations across the province for review and to suggest directions in the healing process. Angeconeb said there are too many people hurt to not deal with the contents of the report. "It cannot be a report that is helved. We're dealing with adults who have suffered traumatically. They need to be healed and it's incumbent on aboriginal and non-aboriginal governments to address the issue." "Let Us Consider The Human Brain As A Very Complex Photographic Plate" 1957 G.H. Estabrooks www.angelfire.com/mn/mcap/bc.html FOR K A R E N #01182 who died fighting 4/23/99 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.aches-mc.org 807-622-5407 Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ UPDATES: CAMP JUSTICE http://shell.webbernet.net/~ishgooda/oglala/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&