An Inquiry of Early Childhood Development in a First Nation Community: Exploring how Families Experience Accessing Services

Abstract

Healthy wholistic development of Indigenous children in Canada is important to families and communities. Early Childhood Development has been identified by a First Nation community as a priority area that requires research. To gain an understanding about family’s experiences when accessing services during the early years (age 0-7 years), a qualitative community based participatory study using a Two-Eyed Seeing approach and Jo-Anne Archibald’s principles of Story-Work has been used to gain insight from seven parent/guardians and one Elder. Children, families, and communities are experiencing an imbalance within their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual development due to a lack of equity in access to culturally appropriate services and supports. The knowledge gathered from the study will be useful for the community to help to inform policy and practice to improve services and support the optimal development of First Nations Children.