Haudenosaunee Grandmothers Caring for their Grandchildren: The Process of Assuming the Caregiving Role

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to understand the processes, motivations, and reasons for Aboriginal grandmothers assuming the full-time caregiving role for their grandchildren. Fifteen Haudenosaunee grandmothers who were from the Six Nations community participated in this study. The results indicate that a series of complex factors, circumstances, and processes contributed to them caring for their grandchildren. Of particular significance is that, prior to assuming their full-time caregiving roles, they had intermittently cared for their grandchildren as a means of preventing family breakdown. Many of them were accustomed to this type of care arrangement as over half of the grandmothers had been cared for by their grandmothers or great-mothers. Ultimately, they cared for their grandchildren as a means of “keeping the state’s hands off” their grandchildren and avoiding child welfare involvement. Furthermore, the women in this study served as important vital roles for healing in Aboriginal families and communities.

KEYWORDS:

• Aboriginal grandmothers
• caregivers
• caring
• custodial
• first nations grandmothers
• grandchildren
• grandparents

Acknowledgments

Nia:wen (thank you) to my grandmother, who lovingly cared for my family and community, as well as to the Haudenosaunee grandmothers who shared their stories of resiliency and healing.

Notes

^1. I am aware of the debate over which is the most appropriate term for Canada’s First Peoples. In keeping with the majority of literature by First Nations scholars (e.g., Assembly of First Nations, 2007; Baskin & Davey, 2015; Castellano, 2002; Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, 1996), this article uses the terms Aboriginal Peoples and First Nations Canadians to define a group that includes North American Indians, Metis, or Inuit, and/or those who report being a Treaty or registered Indian as defined by the Indian Act of Canada and/or those who report being a member of an Indian Band or First Nation.

^2. Refer to www.Haudenosauneeconfederacy.ca to learn more about the historical and contemporary contexts of this term.

^3. The Six Nations of the Grand River territory is located approximately 25 km southwest of the city of Hamilton, Ontario. For more information about Six Nations see http://www.sixnations.ca/Community Profile.htm