First Nations Fathers Reclaiming Their Role
For many First Nations fathers, Father’s Day does not invoke the warm, familial images generated in cards and advertising. The impacts of residential schools and forced removals of First Nations children from their homes did not provide many men with positive experiences of being fathered. But a University of Victoria-based research project involving Indigenous fathers, the first in North America, is providing valuable insight into how to improve their relationships with their young children.
The project, led by Dr. Jessica Ball of UVic’s school of child and youth care, is one of seven “clusters” within the national Father Involvement Research Alliance (FIRA)—the only one involving Indigenous fathers. Over the past year, 80 fathers participated in the project by completing questionnaires and giving interviews. Most were from one of the project partners, the Lil’wat and Esketmc First Nations, and three urban community programs in Prince George and Terrace. Another 18 non-affiliated First Nations and Métis fathers participated.
“We found that Indigenous fathers want to tell their stories and want to be a positive influence in their children’s lives,” says Ball. “Their stories of growing up were almost uniformly harrowing, but their sense of hope and excitement about being meaningfully involved with their children was very strong. Many fathers cried when they talked about the love they have for their children, and the love they receive in return.”
The fathers recommended reforms to the Indian Act and changes to make the process for designating a child’s paternity more accessible. They also urged community programs to recognize fathers and to reach out and involve them in parenting programs. Fathers advocated more funding for legal representation, mediation and counseling in custody decision-making. They also recommended widening the definition of ‘family’ when making decisions about child placement.
The project’s participants are producing a documentary for use in community programs and to train people who work with families. FIRA is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s Community University Research Alliance Program (CURA).
The project, led by Dr. Jessica Ball of UVic’s school of child and youth care, is one of seven “clusters” within the national Father Involvement Research Alliance (FIRA)—the only one involving Indigenous fathers. Over the past year, 80 fathers participated in the project by completing questionnaires and giving interviews. Most were from one of the project partners, the Lil’wat and Esketmc First Nations, and three urban community programs in Prince George and Terrace. Another 18 non-affiliated First Nations and Métis fathers participated.
“We found that Indigenous fathers want to tell their stories and want to be a positive influence in their children’s lives,” says Ball. “Their stories of growing up were almost uniformly harrowing, but their sense of hope and excitement about being meaningfully involved with their children was very strong. Many fathers cried when they talked about the love they have for their children, and the love they receive in return.”
The fathers recommended reforms to the Indian Act and changes to make the process for designating a child’s paternity more accessible. They also urged community programs to recognize fathers and to reach out and involve them in parenting programs. Fathers advocated more funding for legal representation, mediation and counseling in custody decision-making. They also recommended widening the definition of ‘family’ when making decisions about child placement.
The project’s participants are producing a documentary for use in community programs and to train people who work with families. FIRA is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s Community University Research Alliance Program (CURA).
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Media contacts
Jessica Ball (Child and Youth Care) at (250) 472-4128 or jball@uvic.ca
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Keywords: nations, fathers, reclaiming, role
