The outcome of intercultural placement carries the seeds of alienation from self

Policies and practices reflect longstanding and deeply embedded mother-blaming culture and father invisibility ideologies that shape child protection systems. With regard to children in this year of reconciliation, one has to believe another solution is possible, that whatever solution brought about does not stem from ideology, that big changes are going to happen in this lifetime. Children need to be safe, but they also need to be among their people.

Moving Together to Have the Stories of the Inuit Heard

When you want to understand people, the best way to do it is to ask for their stories. When ordinary people can find safe places where they can tell their own stories, they want to know that their voices are heard. My walk of 8000 kilometers across Canada is a wonderful tool for CONNECTION. It is also about connecting people. Events happen. I meet many new people and we share.

Major stresses in the Northern households are responsible for social problems

Although dozens of isolated indigenous communities in Canada have recently declared states of emergency due to suicide epidemics, unclean water, and a lack of adequate infrastructure, there is not yet into a common commitment to further the voice, the rights, and dignity of children.

There are unsung heroes among the Inuit women

There are unsung heroes among the Inuit women

As I watched my good friend Annie, I remember thinking there were unsung heroes among them. More than half of the women were grandmothers. None had white hair; they seem to have retained a full head of dark hair in spite of their age.

The solidarity of women in favor of profound changes is already underway

Despite the magnitude of the task, despite the appearance of what some call a waterproof wall, despite the dominant discourse that says that the Inuit accept their destiny, we must reject the attitude of "giving up" that there is nothing to do but wait.
Rather, the problems have been identified, measures to redress the situation in depth are being felt.

The complexity of the history of the indigenous people remains the distinctive feature they share

The day when hopes and gestures offer a more equitable development in remote areas, we will imagine that all children will no longer be condemned to live "social suffering". The historical processes of colonization, marginalization and coercive assimilation have contributed to poverty and the ensuing hardships. In my viewpoint, it is a violation of human rights. How can we build self-sufficient communities with the systems in place, the ones that keep the people down.

Looking to the future, a priority on everyone's doorstep

How does the future look to the women of Nunavik?

How do they think they will organize community efforts to build resilient families and individuals?

How do they think they will teach non-violence and components of healthy relationships while developing codes of conduct that promote respect and strengthen non-violence?

How will they deal with poverty, food shortage, violence, suicide and generalized gender inequalities serving as prerequisites for trafficking in women and how will they protect their girls?

How will find the resources to ensure the children are safe?

Domestic Violence has Devastating Effects on the Children and Their Future

"We lose dignity if we tolerate the intolerable" (Unknown author)

My presence at Amnisty International in May 2015 and then my participation at the World’s March for Women October 4th 2015 to honour the missing and assassinated indigenous women has convinced me that it is impossible to dissociate mothers from the children in the project No Child Should Have to Take the Long Way Home.

Challenging the “mother blaming” culture

Challenging the “mother blaming” culture

I expect all my blog readers including my French readers to be as curious as I am about the Inuit and their culture. Please share this interest with as many people as you can.

No Child Should Take the Long Way Home is a grassroot initiative to help children in need of loving care, of a protective and stable environment to meet their basic needs for protection, shelter and education in a safe house/respite home in their own community.