Indigenous Resilience, Connectedness and Reunification

The Final Report of Special Advisor Grand Chief Ed John on Indigenous Child Welfare in British Columbia, titled Indigenous Resilience, Connectedness and Reunification—From Root Causes to Root Solutions (November 2016), addresses the severe overrepresentation of Indigenous children in BC's child welfare system, where they are over 15 times more likely to be in care than their non-Indigenous peers. Appointed to advise the BC government on improving permanency options, Grand Chief Ed John centers his findings on the need to address root causes, particularly linking the high incidence of "neglect" to intergenerational trauma. The report advocates for a fundamental shift in service delivery and funding, presenting 10 Areas for Focused Action to establish pathways of resilience, connectedness, and reunification for Indigenous children, parents, and communities.