Aged-out Indigenous children & youth from the child welfare system

The purpose of this major research paper is to review current literature that examines the historical context and experiences of Indigenous youth aging out of the Child Welfare System as it relates to the social construction of cultural identity. This document explores definitions of ontology, epistemology, methodology, axiology, aged out youth and other meanings. The thematic analysis suggests that many Indigenous youth exiting the child welfare system find themselves struggling to connect with their cultural identities and often feeling alienated from their cultural families and communities. The critical analysis determines that reunification with cultural identity for Indigenous youth in the child welfare system is essential in maintaining connections with the families and communities from where they originated. Research finds that the majority of aged-out attendees also thought that social supports and life skills development were vital to assist them as they aged out the Child Welfare System (Federation of BC Youth In Care Networks, 2010). The paper concludes that aged-out Indigenous youth adults need to know the ontology of where they originate from because it serves to establish a positive Indigenous identity perspective that is unique from the Western ontology.