Miyo pimatisiwin opikinawasowin: Living the good life in child rearing ways

• Main Author: Louis, Aimee
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Winnipeg 2023
• Subjects: Indigeneity; Turtle Island; Childrearing ways; Opikinawasowin; Nehiyawewin; First Nations
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10680/2109; https://doi.org/10.36939/ir.202309131339

Opikinawasowin is the Cree word for the lifelong process of growing children. Indigenous child rearing practices adopt a holistic approach while being inclusive of the family unit and the community. The tipi is the conceptual framework for this qualitative Indigenous research study. I use the tipi because each pole represents a specific child rearing teaching corresponding to one of four inter-related life stages: child, adolescent, adult and Elder. All teachings related to the tipi help us understand the spiritual aspect of miyo pimatisiwin opikinawasowin. To be eligible for the Tipi Teachings online study, Indigenous participants are over the age of consent and live on Turtle Island. Thesis findings provide a Turtle Island perspective on Indigenous child rearing ways, teachings, philosophies, and practices related to the tipi. Given that Indigenous children are disproportionately overrepresented in the Child Welfare system, this study is imperative for moving forward in times of reconciliation for Indigenous children, families, communities and Nations across Turtle Island. Thus, this research will positively impact families, including my own, and the next seven generations. Provincial policies are absent of self determination principles in child rearing and more importantly, are designed without considering the realities of the First Nation families they impact (Blackstock, 2010). The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), the First Nations Family Advocate Office (FNFAO) Report and Recommendations in 2014, “Bringing Our Children Home” demonstrates that Manitoba has failed in its Child and Family Services legislation design, policies, and implementation especially in terms of cultural safety awareness and meeting the diverse cultural and linguistic needs of Manitoba First Nations. This thesis gathered invaluable teachings, insights, and philosophies on child rearing in relation to the tipi teachings from knowledge holders over the age of consent who reside on Turtle Island (North America). Colonized child rearing ...