Permanency through Wabanaki eyes: A narrative perspective from "the people who live where the sun rises"

Tribal sovereignty is a theory that has gained credibility over the past few decades, but one that the child welfare field has still not fully embraced. A mainstream reluctance to understand or accept customary adoption, unique to tribal culture, illustrates the lack of credibility given to tribal child welfare beliefs and practices. Roger Paul, a member of the Passamaquoddy and Maliseet Tribes, was asked to discuss customary adoption. His wide-ranging narrative response illuminates past abuses and current strengths of tribal child welfare practice and belief. Two primary policy and practice implications emerge. They are (1) that cultural and institutional oppression continue to be embedded in current policy and practice and continue to have a detrimental impact on tribal children, families, and communities and (2) that little recognition of or support for the child welfare structure exists in tribal communities, as exemplified by the Wabanaki experience. Child welfare practices embedded in traditional tribal social structure can be trusted and effective. The recognition and acceptance of these practices will expand permanency resources for American Indian/Alaskan Native children and will improve relationships between tribal, state, and federal child welfare systems.