Ellington, L. (2025). Nurturing roots: Motivations of Inuit foster parents caring for Inuit children in Nunavik. Child Abuse & Neglect, 163, 107326-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107326
Summary
This study examines the experiences and motivations of Inuit foster parents, emphasizing their role in maintaining cultural continuity and addressing challenges in the child welfare system. Conducted in Nunavik, Quebec, this study highlights the overrepresentation of Inuit children in care, where many are placed outside of their communities, leading to cultural disconnection and identity loss. This study aims to understand why Inuit individuals become foster parents, why they continue to provide care, and what factors could lead them to cease fostering.
A qualitative approach was used, involving semi-structured interviews with 15 Inuit foster parents, aged 28 to 69, from a number of communities. The study was grounded in interpretative phenomenology and Inuit cultural concepts like Unikkaaqatigiinniq (storytelling) to ensure cultural sensitivity and relevance. Collaborative input from Inuit partners shaped the research design, including interview questions, participant recruitment, and ethical considerations. Themes from interviews were analyzed through inductive thematic analysis.
Findings identified key motivations for becoming foster parents such as the desire to keep children within their family and community, preserve cultural identity, and respect the children’s preferences. Foster parents emphasized the importance of preventing children from being uprooted and losing their linguistic and cultural heritage by being placed in southern, non-Inuit homes. Many saw fostering as a continuation of their caregiving roles, often caring for children they already had relationships with. While financial support was a factor, it was not the primary motivation, but as a way for foster parents to meet the children’s needs and support their families amidst economic challenges in Nunavik.
Foster parents chose to continue fostering due to the strong emotional bonds they developed with the children and the sense of fulfillment in witnessing their growth and resilience. Many engaged in co-parenting with biological parents, emphasizing collaboration and mutual support. Informal support networks, such as family and community members, alongside some formal support from youth protection workers, also played a crucial role in sustaining their caregiving roles.
The study also identified significant challenges faced by foster parents such as insufficient support from child protection services, high costs of living, and feelings of being undervalued. The systemic reliance on non-Indigenous frameworks in child welfare often failed to align with Inuit conceptions of family and caregiving, increasing barriers. Foster parents stressed the importance of listening to children’s voices and honouring their preferences in placement decisions, highlighting instances where lack of this consideration had devastating consequences.
Ultimately, the study underscores the critical role of Inuit foster parents in maintaining cultural continuity and mitigating the negative impacts of foster placements outside Inuit communities. It calls for enhanced policies and culturally competent practices to better support Inuit foster families, improve recruitment and retention, and promote the well-being of Inuit children in care. The findings allow insights into fostering as a culturally rooted practice and advocate for systemic changes in child welfare to respect and align with Inuit values and traditions.
Methodological Notes
This study demonstrates some strong methodological qualities, particularly in its culturally grounded and collaborative approach. By involving Inuit partners in shaping the methodology, the study improves alignment with community priorities and cultural relevance. The use of interpretative phenomenology and the Inuit concept of Unikkaaqatigiinniq (storytelling) enriches the research knowledge gathering, allowing for a deeper exploration of participants' lived experiences. Semi-structured interviews provide insights into the motivations and challenges faced by Inuit foster parents, and the inclusion of diverse participants from various communities adds depth to the findings.
The study does face some limitations such as the small sample size of 15 participants. Additionally, the absence of longitudinal data restricts the current ability to assess long-term outcomes. While the collaborative approach is a strength, the involvement of non-Inuit researchers may have introduced subtle biases, despite efforts to ensure cultural responsiveness. It’s also important to note that the study's focus on the Nunavik region means its findings may not be fully applicable to other Indigenous communities.
Despite some limitations, the study makes a valuable contribution to understanding the motivations and experiences of Inuit foster parents by highlighting the critical role they play in preserving cultural identity and maintaining family connections, while also advocating for systemic changes to better support such families.