Former foster kid strives to make a difference in the system

“A lot of these kids don’t understand what’s going on and they’re in this situation where they have to be removed from their house. I was one of those kids. I was one of the ones that just wanted to go home,” said Scott.

“I was angry and frustrated because all I wanted to do was go home,” he added.

Scott was pulled from his mother’s home at the age of five after witnessing his mother’s abusive boyfriend brutally beat her. He was taken to the Mobile Crisis Centre and moved around to different foster homes, often staying at a home for less than a month.

“I’ve never had a stability; like a stable home in my life,” said Scott. “I was in 30 to 40 foster homes; I don’t even know how many. I was constantly moved from house, to house, to house. I gathered anger from that.”

Scott said he felt like no one wanted him, unknowing at the time that his mom was dealing with an addiction to alcohol.

First Nations children represent 80 per cent of those in the child welfare system, even though our province is only 12 or 13 per cent First Nations people.

When Scott was placed in other communities, he was often ostracized. He said there are many misconceptions that exist towards children who are placed in care like he was and many stereotypes against First Nations people.

“These kids don’t choose this lifestyle that they’re put in. We’re not given a choice really, when we’re at that young of age, of where you’re going to go and where you’re going to be placed. They need to understand that it’s not our fault that we were placed in those situations and they need to be more understanding and caring because what if your child was put in that position,” said Scott.

Scott said he believes it is better for kids to remain with their families.

“I think they should look at in home treatment… where the family goes as a unit, not separating people, because that’s where you’re breaking families apart, taking the child out. I agree, in some situations you need to take the child out, but there’s ways to work around it where you can reunite them as soon as possible instead of making the child feel like [he or she] is all alone,” he said. “Because that’s how it feels when you’re in that situation, when you’re in those foster homes. You feel all alone… and you can’t even call anyone you care about, and all you’re wondering is how’s my family, how’s my mom?” said Scott.

According to Scott, many First Nations people need to alter their lifestyles.

“As a people we are lost. There’s so much addiction, there’s so hurt and pain that’s been carried on through the years. We have to start figuring out ways to solve these problems, because we already know what they are. We already know why we’re hurting, and what’s going on. But until we start pointing a finger at ourselves, and start individually figuring out our own stuff then there’s not going to be any change. If we want to see a change in life, if we want to see a change in our society and how First Nation’s people are viewed, then we have to start changing how we feel about ourselves. How we see ourselves. Because that’s where the change is going to begin.”

Scott himself said he entered the cycle of addictions and was doing everything wrong, but now that he’s been sober for more than a year he has realized what a difference he can make.

“A lot of people view me as a role model and I don’t see it that way. I’m just living my life. I’m just leading by example because we’re all role models whether we like it or not. Either you’re leading by a bad example or a good example because there’s always going to be someone that’s looking up to you,” said Scott.

Scott has applied for the First Nations University of Canada for social work. He is currently working at Core Neighborhood Youth Co-op, putting on workshops for kids. He is also lending his voice to public speaking engagements around the province, with plans to travel nationally.

His goal is to empower young people and encourage them to do better by using his personal story to make a real difference in the lives of young people.

news@panow.com

On Twitter @alex_soloducha

by Alex Soloducha

Former foster kid strives to make a difference in the system

paNOW Staff

What's Trending