Indigenous children are disproportionately represented in Canada Child Welfare system, comprising one-third of all children in care despite Indigenous peoples making up only about 5% of the Canadian population. This overrepresentation is rooted in the legacy of colonialism and systemic racism. Colonial policies, such as residential schools and the Sixties Scoop, forcibly removed Indigenous children from their families, causing lasting trauma and disruption to cultural identities and traditional practices. Colonial structure and systemic racism within contemporary child welfare practices further exacerbates this issue, with biased decision-making and culturally insensitive policies disproportionately targeting Indigenous families. Addressing this requires dismantling systemic racism and recognizing the historical and ongoing impacts of colonialism to create culturally appropriate and equitable solutions for Indigenous communities.
The 2-Spirit Children and Caregiver Knowledge Sharing Project aims to provide land-based resources and traditional training specific to the guardians and caregivers of Indigenous children (who may identify as queer or 2-spirit), as well as 2-Spirit parents/guardians and caregivers, to gather their feedback and testimonies on their experiences with Child Care, EarlyON, Indigenous HeadStart, Before and After School Programs, Youth Programming and Child Welfare. Based on their input, we will develop a comprehensive training manual, resources, and a resource guide to guide service providers in offering culturally supported education and support in early schooling. This training will create an enabling environment, ensuring that 2-Spirit children and families receive education/support in a culturally supported, non-discriminatory manner.
Objectives of the Project
a) Defining what high-quality Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) means to 2-Spirited People of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.
b) Finding ways to support ongoing education and training for IELCC leaders, management, and staff.
c) Making tools and training that support IELCC staff who work with Indigenous children with special needs.
Expected Outcome
a) Increased Discussion regarding 2-Spirit and Indigenous-focused high-quality Indigenous Early Learning Child Care (ELCC) using Needs assessments, focus groups and talking circles.
b) Better access and availability of 2-Spirit IELCC training for 2-Spirit, Indigenous families through the development of 2-Spirit and Indigenous-focused, community-driven 2-Spirit Child and Caregiver Training modules.
c) Better access to resources for 2-Spirit Indigenous families to support 2-Spirit
children through creating a resource guide.
d) Increased knowledge translation of the 2-Spirit Child and Caregiver pieces of
training through the implementation of training modules created as a part of this
project.
e) Expand access to specialized tools and resources for early childhood educators
working with children with special gifts.
Work Plan for Community Engagement and Research Ceremonies (2024-2026)
Over the next three years, we will conduct 20 community consultations (14 in Toronto and 6 in Sudbury), engaging 400 parents, guardians, and caregivers of Indigenous children, particularly those identifying as queer or 2-Spirit. We will invite both 2-Spirit-identified parents and caregivers of 2-Spirit and queer children to participate. Through these sessions, we will conduct a community needs assessment to gather their input, suggestions, stories, and teachings on land-based practices of childcare and upbringing. Based on this guidance, we will develop programs and resources for culturally appropriate education and care.
Year One
- Hire staff and form a working group for the 2-Spirit Children and Caregiver Knowledge Sharing Project.
- Prepare for Needs Assessment, Focus Groups, Talking Circles, and Executive Directors’ Town Hall.
- Finalize documents and posters and contact Elders for initial assessments.
- Conduct Needs Assessments, focus groups, Talking Circles, and Executive Directors’ Town Halls.
- Facilitate 14 community consultations in Toronto and 6 in Sudbury.
Year Two
- Analyze data and stories to develop a 2-Spirit and Indigenous-focused framework.
- Collaborate with a 2-Spirit Lead Researcher to incorporate community teachings into training modules and resource guides.
- Create training modules and resource guides, available both online and in print.
- Engage Indigenous and 2-Spirit communities, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers.
Year Three
- Implement and deliver training within the agency, to other agencies, and for IELCC leaders, management, and staff.
- Train 2-Spirit staff, community members, and others on early childhood education and care for 2-Spirit children and families.
- Evaluate the project using qualitative and quantitative data to measure efficiency and quality.
By the end of the project, a comprehensive evaluation will be conducted and submitted to the respective government bodies. Based on the community inputs, feedback, and suggestions, this project will be expanded provincially.
Please write us at research@2spirits.org or text us at 437-777-2833 if you would like
to participate or give us feedback and suggestions. We would heartily appreciate it.