Parenting Native Children

Parenting Native children—whether as a Tribal member or transracial parent—comes with enormous responsibility. Native children depend on adults around them (like you!) to keep them connected to their heritage, land, language and Tribe. Below, Tribal elders and other experts offer guidance to enrich your own parenting wisdom. For general parenting, specialized needs, or other specific topics like Foster Parenting, Talking About Race and Transracial Parenting/Cultural Diversity please reference our many other Resource pages.

Websites

Native American Parent Technical Assistance Center at Center for Parent Information & Resources
- Native Culture & Background, Working With Native Children & Families, and more!
Native American Youth & Family Center - Positive Indian Parenting
ODHS Ongoing Parent Training
- Walking in Balance (on wellness using traditional Cherokee practices) by Abraham Bearpaw (Cherokee Nation Oklahoma) (on-demand video)
- Why Culture Matters & Cultural Continuity Agreements - 9/26/2023, 9-11am

Recommended Books & Articles

Explore Tribal-related materials in ORPARC's library, including parenting books and materials in Native languages! We extend thanks and appreciation to all Tribal contributors—past, present and future—who have invested and shared their time in making these items available.

Engaging and Supportive Native Grandfamilies by Capacity Building Center for Tribes
Grandfacts: Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Honoring children, making relatives: Indigenous traditional parenting practices compatible with evidence-based treatment by Dr. Dolores Subia BigFoot (Caddo Nation)
How I'm Raising My Daughter to be 100% Unapologetically Indigenous by Andrea Landry (Anishinaabe from Pawgwasheeng )
How Kinship Instills Character and Values in Indigenous Families by Center for Parent & Teen Communication
I Had to Be Prayed Home by Charles Fox, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Indigenous Family Resilience & Native American Parenting Philosophies - Two Studies by Dr. Jennifer M. Lilly
Indigenous Fathers Take Lessons from Their Own Experience to Create Healthy Lifestyles for Their Children by National Geographic
Indigenous Parenting: Wisdom From Ancient Cultures by Irene Baker, Montessori Services
Maintaining Indigenous Parenting in a Modern World by Celeste Halliwell
Messages From the Heart, Caring For Our Children: A National Showcase on Aboriginal Child Rearing by National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health
New Intertribal Parenting Group Offers Indigenous Families a Way to Reconnect With Tradition by Alexa Peters, South Seattle Emerald
Parenting After Separation for Indigenous Families by British Columbia (transcript of a course)
Parenting from Western and Indigenous Perspectives by Building Brains Together
Principles of Indigenous Child Raising: Our Ancestors Were Smart and Good by Dr. Darcia Narvaez
Reinforcing Resilience: How Parent Centers Can Support American Indian & Alaskan Native Parents by NAPTAC
Resilience and Reconnection: Stories of Contemporary Indigenous Parenting - multiple articles by multiple authors for Romper
Study Explores Role of Traditional Parenting Class in Strengthening Native American Families by The Imprint
Supporting Native Children: A Guide for CASA/GAL Advocacy in State Courts
Tantrums, Tools & Teachers: Helping Tribal Families Connect by Hand in Hand Parenting
The Radical Healing Power of Indigenous Love and Traditional Indigenous Kinship Practices at Home by Andrea Landry (Anishinaabe from Pawgwasheeng)
Tribal Best Practices for Family Engagement by NICWA

Videos & Podcasts

Adopting A Child of A Different Race? Let's Talk by Tribal adoptee Susan Devan Harness (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) - TedTalk
American Indian and Alaska Native Grandfamilies: Helping Children Thrive Through Connection to Family and Cultural Identity by NICWA and Generations United (webinar + handouts)
Collaboration for Grandfamilies and Kinship Families Support by Dr. Terry Cross (Seneca Nation) and Generations United
Conscious Indigenous Parenting by Well For Culture (podcast)
Indigenous Parenting Practices and You with Lorraine Brave, NICWA by ABCD Project Parenthood (podcast)
It Takes a Village: Interview with Cheri Goodwin, Red Lake Nation by CASCW (podcast)
Understanding and Engaging Native Families by AdoptUSKids (webinar)

KEEP for Tribal Families!

In partnership with KEEP, NAYA runs culturally-specific support groups for Tribal families. Connect with the KEEP program here.

KEEP – Keeping Families Supported