First Nations Parenting

First Nations Parenting and School

My study of first nations parenting was inspired by a recent study of thousands of Canadian adolescents. For most adolescents, a positive relationship with their parents was associated with more positive scholastic achievement and enjoyment. However, this relationship did not exist in adolescents from the Northern Territories- despite controlling for wealth, age, school level, and other demographic factors. So despite reporting equally good relationships with the parents, adolescents from the territories don't seem to link those relationships with their school experiences. This suggests that there is a cultural difference; a difference that may be due to the relatively very high level of First Nations families (as compared to say, equally isolated and wealthy adolescents from Newfoundland).

I am therefore at the beginning stages of conducting a research program to determine whether First Nations parents and adolescents have a different cultural approach to school that explains the lack of a relationship. This project is more generally aimed at understanding the parenting practices, and implications, of First Nations cultural groups in Canada.

First Nations Parenting and Resiliency

I am also in the very early stages of a study of First Nations parenting. First Nations parenting has generally been under-studied. What little work has been done has generally focused on the negative aspects of First Nations parenting. I would like to study the positive aspects of First Nations parenting. I believe that First Nations parents have much potential wisdom to offer each other, as well as parents in general. For this project to succeed, I believe it is critical that I enlist the help and guidance of First Nations parents and researchers. Personally, I have a relatively strong academic understanding of parenting, as well as strong research skills. What I lack is a good understanding of First Nations parents, their beliefs, and what is important to them. I also have to be very careful to not apply an outside, arbitrary, research agenda to the parents who might participate. Ultimately, I would like to be able to work for First Nations parents and their goals, instead of asking them to work for me and my goals. To this end, I am currently working with members of the Tecumseh Centre to make sure that I am taking the right paths to conduct this important research properly.

For more information about First Nations aboriginal studies at Brock University, please see The Tecumseh Centre for Aboriginal Education and Research.