Open Collections

Ettinger, Tara

University of British Columbia

Canada’s child-protection services and systems are based on Eurocentric ideologies, which can pose challenges for children raised within non-Western cultural perspectives. Forensic interviews in particular, can have negative impacts on children who are not from the dominant community culture. Attention is needed on addressing this area of practice in a culturally safe manner. More distinctly, studies to better understand culturally safe, trauma- informed, inclusive practices with Indigenous communities during investigations of child abuse are almost nonexistent. This gap in the literature is extremely concerning, especially when there is the potential of creating further harm during investigational processes to children who may already be suffering from the effects of child abuse and are also compounded with suffering the negative impacts of colonization. The accounts described above highlight the importance of understanding and effectively addressing the magnitude of traumas Indigenous children may be experiencing during disclosures of abuse. Importantly, we need to ask ourselves: What defines practices as as “culturally safe”? This research expands on existing knowledge concerning the deep impacts of colonization on Indigenous children and uses guided conversations with Indigenous community members, Elders, and/or professionals from various communities in British Columbia to explore how might cultural considerations enhance the well-being of Indigenous children and youth during forensic interviews in investigations of child abuse. The participants identified themes within the guided conversations indicating Indigenous children’s needs during investigations of abuse. These themes are expanded upon to demonstrate cultural elements to enhance the well-being of Indigenous children and youth during their disclosures of abuse and within forensic interviews. The dissertation concludes with other considerations for practice, including some cultural elements for workplaces and Child and Youth Advocacy Centres that would demonstrate supportive environments when working with Indigenous populations. Particular practice considerations, visualized through micro, meso, and macro sociological viewpoints, are also demonstrated.

Text

2024-01-30

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/87389

Interdisciplinary Studies

University of British Columbia

UBCO

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/