Protecting Aboriginal Children

Susan Manitowabi is an assistant professor of Native Human Services at
Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario.

Finally, a book that combines the historical, socio-political,
organizational, and community contexts of the issues surrounding
Aboriginal child welfare. Much has been written about the child welfare
system and how this system has affected the lives of Aboriginal
children, families, and communities; however, this information is
scattered throughout various articles, reports, and unpublished
documents. Protecting Aboriginal Children addresses not only the
historical context, but also the challenges faced by Aboriginal
communities in the development of their own child welfare agencies. A
unique feature of the book is the sharing of experiences of both
Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal protection workers working with Aboriginal
child protection agencies.

Walmsley explores the challenges faced by Aboriginal child welfare
organizations as they struggle to provide a service that meets the
“best interests” of Aboriginal children as well as their families
and communities. The challenge for child protection workers is to adhere
to provincial standards, laws, and regulations and meet workload
expectations while at the same time providing for the needs of their
clients.

Protecting Aboriginal Children is an important resource for educators
and for those contemplating working in child protection. The book could
also be used as a tool for analyzing Aboriginal child protection
practices and initiating discussion about how these services can be made
more relevant to the needs of Aboriginal communities.