Northern British Columbian Aboriginal Mothers

Abstract

This interpretive ethnographic study describes the experiences of northern British Columbian Aboriginal mothers raising adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and provides an understanding of how the mothers interpreted and responded to their adolescents' FASD. The all-encompassing theoretical perspectives of postcolonialism provided the conceptual guide for this study. This ontological stance facilitates discourse on the social and historical context of this research focused on northern British Columbian Aboriginal mothers. Using semistructured interviews and participant observation, eight participants were interviewed three times over a period of several months. Data were analyzed using an interpretive analysis to generate an overarching cultural theme, Mothering from the Margins. The theme conveyed how study participants understood FASD and how they were raising their adolescents within the social and historical context unique to postcolonial societies.

Ethical aspects of diagnosis and interventions for children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and their families

“…In other words, acquiring the diagnosis might have a series of positive consequences. Reports from some countries witness that without a diagnosis, there is no access at all to special resources, while the presence of a diagnosis provides access to resources, such as medication, expert consultations, special support in school, family support, and better contact with the social services [ 15 , 16 ]. The variety of diagnoses that are essential to resources differs from society to society.…”

Daily experiences of parenting a child with suspected FASD and the applicability of a psycho-educational group.

“…Aboriginal parents are faced with confronting the stereotypes that are associated with being an aboriginal parent in addition to the challenges inherent in raising a child with FASD (Johnston & Boyle, 2013). Given that parents are able to improve their parenting skills, based on their own experiences, it seems likely that they would benefit from a collaborative and supportive intervention that addresses the specific challenges of parenting in the north.…”

“…In addition, there is a need to look at contextual issues such as parenting a child with suspected FASD in the north (Johnston & Boyle, 2013). However, there appears to be no research that focuses on the experience o f parenting a child with suspected, but not yet diagnosed, FASD.…”

“…The presence o f intergenerational patterns (i.e., daily patterns of behaviour and experiences) means that the multigenerational cases of FASD may be interacting with the longstanding history o f colonialism. In a qualitative study with eight biological mothers, Johnston and Boyle (2013) noted that the interaction between FASD and colonial history could mean that efforts to address the parenting challenges associated with FASD must also intentionally target the detrimental legacy o f colonialism.…”

“…Johnston and Boyle suggest that intergenerational patterns, such as alcohol abuse, have in many ways normalized FASD and weakened the traditional practices and knowledge that facilitate child rearing. However, rural mothers have also demonstrated an impressive resilience and adaptive mothering (i.e., learning from experiences and gaining confidence in their parenting skills; Johnston & Boyle, 2013).…”