Abstract

This paper intends to address current trauma among the Indigenous Canadian population due to the assimilationist goals of residential schools that influence parenting styles and the family structure. Other areas covered in this paper include parenting issues that the Indigenous community encounters every day. Additionally, social problems are examined in terms of intergenerational trauma and discussed further in terms of their influence and effect on the family structure of Indigenous communities in Canada. For example, education, health inequalities, and intimate partner violence are discussed. These issues are interrelated because of the detrimental and marginalized effect that residential schools have on survivors and generations to follow. Possible solutions to terminating family issues in the Indigenous community are by implementing specific methods that reflect the Indigenous way of life.

Highlights

  • The treatment of the Indigenous population in Canada throughout history has led to significant issues in the family structure and the Indigenous community as a whole

  • The assimilationist goal of residential schools left survivors and future generations struggling to deal with the negative implications and trauma of stripping Indigenous children from their culture and languages

  • Many characteristics of intergenerational trauma are directly related to the treatment of Indigenous children in residential schools

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Summary

Introduction

The treatment of the Indigenous population in Canada throughout history has led to significant issues in the family structure and the Indigenous community as a whole. The deterioration of Indigenous families is due to cultural assimilationist institutions of the Canadian Federal Government, the introduction of residential schools. The assimilationist goal of residential schools left survivors and future generations struggling to deal with the negative implications and trauma of stripping Indigenous children from their culture and languages. Hoffart and Jones (2018) defined intergenerational trauma as "the effect of a previous unresolved trauma passed on to subsequent generations of an individual's family, community, and culture" Many characteristics of intergenerational trauma are directly related to the treatment of Indigenous children in residential schools. I will discuss that the Indigenous community in Canada faces copious social problems that have not been resolved, having detrimental effects on parenting and the Indigenous family structure as a whole

Literature Review
Residential Schools and Indigenous Canadians
Intergenerational Trauma as a Result of Canadian Residential Schools
Social Problems Experienced by Generations of Indigenous Canadians
Health Inequalities
Intimate Partner Violence
Findings
Taking Steps Toward Indigenous Healing and Solving Parental Issues
Full Text
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