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Event
Creating a Path Forward in Disability Services
Join ALIGN and Family Ties Association's Executive Director, Greg Schmidt, as they discuss the topic: Indigenous Peoples and Disability Services.
To understand disability as a relational concept shaped by a communitys values and family care systems, we must first recognize the power of Indigenous Peoples' inherited stories. These stories carry language, customs, and traditions that define their worldview. However, the language used to interpret these stories often does not align with Western concepts. Disability, for example, is not an interchangeable term that can be easily translated. In some Indigenous communities, the term itself may feel foreign or even contradictory to traditional beliefs.
Elders and community leaders emphasize that discrimination against Indigenous Peoples with disabilities is part of a broader, deeper issue rooted in Canadas colonial history. This systemic marginalization continues to affect access to supports and services. For example, Indigenous populations living off-reserve access Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) and Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) programs at disproportionately lower rates than the general population. The lack of Indigenous-led or culturally informed resources in Alberta further compounds these barriers. While First Nations families can access FSCD both on and off-reserve, it remains vastly underutilized, placing children and their families at increased risk.
This session will explore Reconciliation and why it is critical to understand how Indigenous Peoples navigate the intersecting challenges of race, colonization, and the marginalization of disability within their communities and broader society. Recognizing Indigenous perspectives, practicing ceremony, and amplifying the voices of those with lived experience are essential steps toward meaningful change.
Key Considerations When Supporting Indigenous Peoples with Disabilities
- Acknowledge, respect, and participate in ceremony as a meaningful practice.
- Prioritize relationship-building and connection with communities.
- Recognize that family and kinship are deeply interconnected.
- Adopt a trauma-informed approach - understand the impact of residential schools, colonial trauma, and their lasting effects today.
- Address systemic barriers such as poverty, food insecurity, and transportation. Sustainable solutions require an upstream approach.
- Meet families where they are. Adaptability and flexibility are key to providing meaningful support.
- Exercise patience and cultural humility.
The Importance of Indigenous Identity
How does identity connect to community, land, and the spirit world? Reconciliation is about truth-telling, decolonization, and acknowledging colonial history. We must also ask: Is disability a Western construct, and does it reflect ongoing colonialism?
Finally, we will explore principles from the Indigenous Cultural Understanding Framework (ICUF) developed by ALIGN. This framework provides guidance on working with families and children with diverse abilities, honouring their strengths, and recognizing their unique gifts.
Presenters:
- Rhonda Barraclough
- Sonja Polz
- Joanne Wygiera
- Greg Schmidt (Executive Director of Family Ties Association - Lethbridge)
There is no cost to attend this session. We hope to see you on Zoom on Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
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LocationZoom
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