Statement of Need

First Nations Orphan Association (FNOA) receives phone calls and emails from across the United States and internationally. These adult adoptees, fostered individuals and birth relatives are seeking assistance on how to access their birth records, and find their relatives. More importantly they are searching for their identity. However, they often are not able to articulate the concept of identity. They are at a loss for words to describe the void they feel. First Nations adult adoptees and fostered individuals and their families’ psychological, spiritual and legal needs are often overlooked and forgotten. These individuals and their families have endured years of silent, unexpressed grief and pain. They are left to live and resolve this pain of separation without culturally specific therapeutic intervention or spiritual assistance that addresses the loss and grief caused by separation from family and culture.

This kind of grief and loss does not typically respond to mainstream clinical treatment. The pain of separation from identity/culture/family/community is ongoing unless resolved with reunification of some kind, whether it be reunification to the biological parent, the extended family, their tribal community or any other Indian community.

Many adoptees, fostered individuals and their families have used the mainstream services to meet their immediate psychological needs. However, these services often fall short of addressing the deep wounds caused by separation from culture. It is important that they reconnect with tribal elders and culturally competent professionals who recognize and address the:
• Loss of identity
• Loss of personal power
• Loss of legal status
• Disruption of family structure

Many adult adoptees/fostered individuals, children in foster care, their families and communities exhibit traits of survivors of trauma:
• Anxiety/impulsivity
• Intrusive imagery/nightmares
• Depression
• Withdrawal/isolation
• Guilt
• Elevated mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases such as suicide and other forms of violent death.
• Perceived obligation to share in ancestral pain
• Compensatory fantasies
• Unresolved grief

First Nations children who have been in foster care, or adopted out have experienced a disruption in the development of their identity as a First Nations person. The disruption caused by separation from their families, communities and tribes, can lead to extreme isolation, fear, anger and resentment and low self esteem. Most will not be able to articulate where the anger is coming from and often medicate with drugs, alcohol and other destructive behaviors. Many fostered individuals have reported overwhelming suicidal thoughts. This form of isolation is exceptionally difficult to express and is best addressed within our traditional cultural teachings and in the support of other adoptees/fostered individuals, spiritual leaders and tribal community members.

FNOA believes that in order to walk in balance everyone needs to be able to answer these four essential questions in life: Who am I? Where do I come from? What am I doing? Which direction am I going? Our sacred values encourage self esteem, self worth, self image, self respect, pride and dignity that can prevent depression, low self esteem, low self worth, and low self image. We believe healing comes from sitting in the circle of our relatives, hearing songs and being told “You were not forgotten. In our ceremonies we prayed for you. We are glad you are here, welcome home.”

FNOA also believes that by including child welfare professionals, judges, lawyers and policy makers in our circle of healing and understanding that they too heal and discover ways to enhance their work with tribal communities. Including everyone in the process we come together in a powerful way to acknowledge those before us; and with that insight make things better for our children and their families yet to come.

The First Nations Orphan Association (FNOA) offers advocacy, support and healing to all fostered and adoptive individuals and their families in accordance with our traditional spiritual heritage. FNOA’s activities provide consultation and education to social service providers and the legal system in the cultural traditions and values of First Nations families and their communities with the goal of bridging and enhancing services in accordance with the Indian Child Welfare Act.

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