From Truth to Reconciliation: Transforming the Legacy of Residential Schools

This work brings together a diverse group of authors who all reflect on the questions, challenges, and opportunities reconciliation raises

Healing Residential School Trauma. The Case for Evidence-Based Policy and Community-Led Programs

The paper outlines the emerging theory of historic trauma and its relevance to residential school experience. Recent research on suicide and economic development is cited to demonstrate the importance of restoring the bonds of community to achieve change in various sectors. Key findings of research and evaluation conducted by the Aboriginal Healing Foundation (AHF) are presented to identify healing strategies that are having an effect. The congruence between the AHF findings and recommendations of reports on mental health spanning the past decade is underlined. The article concludes with the argument that the evidence base for policy to support culturally adapted, community-led programming is well established. The time has come to translate knowledge into action

Introduction: Special Issue on Indigenous Early Parenthood

This introduction underscores many of the points raised and facts presented in the articles of this special edition of the International Indigenous Policy Journal on Indigenous Early Parenthood. It briefly mentions the interrelationship between economic deprivation and high fertility rates among Canada’s First Nations populations as well as the challenges and consequences of early parenting. While the authors may not make policy prescriptions, they emphasize the need for young parents and their children to receive the supports needed to help break the cycle of negative outcomes, which can be achieved through education, protection, and actualizing the value of ensuring that every child is a welcome and sacred gift

Final Report of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation Volume I - A Healing Journey: Reclaiming Wellness

The Final Report of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, published in three volumes, records the formation and accomplishments of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation (AHF) between 1998 and 2005. The present volume, A Healing Journey: Reclaiming Wellness, tells the story of the AHF in language that we hope will speak to Survivors of the residential school experience, participants in projects funded by the AHF, Aboriginal communities, policy makers and the general public

Policy Writing as Dialogue: Drafting an Aboriginal Chapter for Canada's Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans

Writing policy that applies to First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada has become more interactive as communities and their representative organizations press for practical recognition of an Aboriginal right of self-determination. When the policy in development is aimed at supporting “respect for human dignity” as it is in the case of ethics of research involving humans, the necessity of engaging the affected population becomes central to the undertaking