Serving Native Americans with Developmental Disabilities-- Families with Young Children

1
Serving Native Americans with Developmental
Disabilities-- Families with Young Children

• Caring for our People Training Project
• Spirit Lake Consulting, Inc.

2
Traditional Views of ChildrenThe Great Plains
Tribes

• Children are believed sacred or revered.
• Natural outcomes from this belief.
• ? Childrens presence is accepted at a much wider
  range of settings than white staff members might
  view as customary. Children may accompany parents
  to community meetings, bingo, meetings with
  professional staff and other activities where a
  non-Indian might leave the child in the care of
  someone else.
• ?

3
Traditional Views of ChildrenThe Great Plains
Tribes

• ? Indian parents tend to allow their children
  more autonomy than is typical among mainstream
  American families.
• ? Children may be assumed to be self-sufficient
  at an early age.

4
Traditional Views of ChildrenGreat Plains
Tribes (Continued)

• American Indians may view the assumptions of the
  school system that children learn must learn
  obedience and discipline as a boot camp view of
  childhood and not ascribe to that philosophy at
  all.