Here be Dragons! Breaking Down the Iron Cage for Aboriginal Children

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Brown, I., Chaze. F., Fuchs, D., Lafrance, J., McKay, S., & Thomas Prokop, S. (Eds.). Putting a Human Face on Child Welfare: Voices from the Prairie. Prairie Child Welfare Consortium / Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare: pp. 89-113.

We are entering what the early explorers described on ancient maps as terra incognita, an unknown land. The warning that "here be dragons" often followed. We are suggesting that reconciling Indigenous and Western Knowledge to improve Aboriginal child welfare can lead into uncharted lands that call for uncommon wisdom and guidance. It is also a reminder that while these were unknown lands for the early explorers, this was not true for the original people who served as guides for the newcomers. Perhaps in our search for technical solutions, we have lost sight of the spirit needed to guide us in our search, and we need to turn to our ancient guides once again. This calls upon the best of our collective wisdom. Perhaps the answer lies in finally merging Western knowledge with that of Aboriginal colleagues and Elders and calling upon the lessons of the past to guide us in this journey to slay the dragons that lie in wait.

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