For our 5th blog post in the Anishinaabe Laws, Customs & Traditions research report outcomes series, we’re discussing Nikeying - The Four Directions, a key aspect of leading a balanced, healthy life.

For our 4th blog post in the Anishinaabe Laws, Customs & Traditions research report outcomes series, we’re discussing the most fundamental aspect of child well-being – Enchiyaang, Family. Family connects us, sustains us and guides us over the course of our lifetime. For Anishinaabe people, extended family is not only central for raising healthy children, but it is also the foundation to Anishinaabe governance.

For our third blog post in the Anishinaabe Laws, Customs & Traditions research report outcomes series, we’d like to provide our readers with an overview of the Seven Grandfather Teachings. These foundational Anishinaabe teachings play a central role in Anishinaabe culture and traditions, especially in the context of Anishinaabe approaches to raising children – Koognaasewin.

For our second blog post in the Anishinaabe Laws, Customs & Traditions research report outcomes series, we thought we’d provide a ‘primer’ on the context for the report. Many readers may already know the concept of Anishinaabe Aadziwin, but because of its importance for both Anishinaabe people and for the Koognaasewin Child Well-Being Law development process, what follows is an overview of Anishinaabe Aadzwin.

Anishinaabe Laws & Customs Research: Forming the foundation of the Koognaasewin Law

It is well known that the current, colonial child welfare system is not serving our families well. Through the Koognaasewin initiative, North Shore communities have the opportunity to take back control over child welfare and create a truly community-based Anishinaabe Child Well-Being system that reflects their vision, values, traditions and beliefs.

In the same way as it is today, childcare was central to women’s ability to work historically.

Canadian law has been and continues to be used as a tool of colonization and sex-based discrimination against Anishinaabekwewag.

Canadian law has been and continues to be used as a tool of colonization and sex-based discrimination against Anishinaabekwewag.

Peter S. Schmalz (1991). “The Ojibwa of Southern Ontario.” University of Toronto Press 1-227. McIvor, S. D. (1995).