“ As an Indigenous woman raised in a non-Indigenous environment , I walk in two worlds . I crave to experience each day in an expanded state of my existence , fully awake to my whole life as a spiritual being in a physical body and connecting at a deeper level with my own pain as well as the pain of my ancestors and the healing possible through all my relations .
At our very core , as humans , we can feel how far we are currently from our center . If we ’ re honest with ourselves and turn down the distractions , I think we can agree that we ' re obviously off-kilter . And if we can tune into our heart , our soul , our breath , or whatever your word is , at our center , there is something that we ' ve forgotten . I ' m not going to say lost . I ' m purposely saying that we ' ve forgotten . We ' ve gone off-track .” — Charlene SanJenko
Watch the trailer for Coming Home For the Children here .
According to Statistics Canada data ( 2021 census ), Indigenous children accounted for 53.8 percent of all children in foster care . This has gone up slightly from the 2016 census , which found 52.2 percent of children in care under the age of 14 were Indigenous .
On June 21 , 2019 , Bill C-92 An Act Respecting First Nations , Inuit and Métis Children , Youth and Families became law . It is the first time the federal government has exercised its jurisdiction to legislate in the area of Indigenous child welfare . The purposes of the Bill is to recognize Indigenous People ’ s jurisdiction over child and family services , as part of an inherent and Aboriginal right to self-governance ; to establish national standards in this area , in response to the TRC ’ s Call to Action # 4 ; and to contribute to the implementation of UNDRIP . However , adequate funding to support this new policy is critical . Source : yellowheadinstitute . org
“ Thousands of children were removed from their families under Federal and Provincial genocidal laws and policies that robbed these children from their blood ties to their families - their ancestors & their land . ‘ Coming Home ’ is for each one of you to understand that you are not alone ; your connections to your blood is not lost . You do belong with your family and community and Nation . Your journey of connection to yourself begins with all the ups and downs of life . You are the link to the seven Generations that walked before you and the seven Generations yet to come . You are the past , present and future .” — Wenecwtsin
Coming Home For the Children is part of an intentional media franchise , including a digital arts community engagement exhibition , a healing workshop series ( in-person or online ), limited podcast series , and a future book written jointly by Chief Wayne and Charlene SanJenko : “ Our vision is to inspire other Indigenous Elders and Native Chiefs across Turtle Island and around the globe to share and document their stories and provide a sustainable way to do so . We will put a call out to other Indigenous adultadoptees , especially those taken from Splatsin from 1960 to 1980 , and invite them to consider their own Coming Home journey .” Further community screenings , guest appearances , and speaking opportunities will continue in 2024 .
2 regenimpactmedia . com