Aboriginal family history & resiliency
In April I had the privilege of welcoming Monique Gray Smith to Real Parenting radio to discuss Aboriginal history & resiliency. Monique is a mom of mixed heritage- Cree, Lakota & Scottish.
Her strong understanding of the early years has lead her to work as the previous Executive Director for Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC and National Aboriginal advisor for Roots of Empathy and Seeds of Empathy; as well as an instructor for the Justice Institute of BC. She speaks nationally and internationally, with a focus on fostering an understanding of trauma and the strength and resiliency of First Peoples in Canada.
We discuss the impact many First Nations families experienced after the Indian Act of 1867, which caused a shift from the traditional matriarchal society of the culture, as well as the tragedy many children & families experienced as a result of being forced into residential schools. Monique runs Little Drum Consulting and has just finished her first novel: Hope, Faith & Empathy coming out summer 2012.
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