Child Welfare Services for Indigenous Populations: A Comparison of Child Welfare Histories, Policies, Practices and Laws for American Indians and Norwegian Sámis

Abstract

This article takes Dixon and Scheurell's framework for understanding colonisation processes within social welfare policies and applies it to child welfare for Indigenous populations in the United States and Norway. While those countries’ historical child welfare policies follow Dixon and Scheurell's hypotheses regarding colonisation, each nation took very different legal approaches to ensure culturally appropriate child welfare services to their Indigenous populations. Ultimately, however, both countries’ current legal policies leave much responsibility for implementing culturally responsive practice squarely on the shoulders of practitioners. Thus, the policy and practice recommendations for both countries necessitate similar actions.

Notes

1. Throughout this paper the terms American Indians, Native Americans and Indigenous populations will be used interchangeably.

2. Semi-sovereign status means that the tribe's sovereignty is limited by its legal relationship with the US government. See Wilkins and Kiiwetinepinesiik Stark (2011).

3. Norway does not collect data on its population by race or ethnic group. Sámi population estimates range from 30,000 to 100,000 (for a discussion see Østby, 2001).

4. The ICWA does not apply to American Indian children who are not enrolled or eligible for enrolment in a federally recognised tribe.

5. Here, “American Indian children” only includes those that are members of federally recognised tribes or those that are eligible for enrolment in a federally recognised tribe.

6. “Native American” refers to US Indigenous populations who are not federally recognised.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mary Ann Jacobs

Dr Mary Ann Jacobs is Assistant Professor and Chair of the Department of American Indian Studies, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Merete Saus

Dr Merete Saus is Department Head of The Regional Center for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare – North, Faculty of Health Science, University of Tromsø