CHIPPEWAS OF THE THAMES COMMUNITY STORY - Cottfn

elative safety and security of the community and travel off Reserve to attend High
School. In that world, they suddenly find themselves to be ―outsiders‖ subjected to
racism and many kinds of unhealthy peer pressure, as well as academically
disadvantaged (often several grade levels behind in core subjects). Acute feeling of
inadequacy and shame are reported by some youth, and many are not even able to
successfully make this transition, so they drop out.
Another very difficult period for many COTT young people occurs when they leave
school (whether they have graduated or not). If they are not continuing in some post-
secondary programs, many end up unemployed, on welfare and without real aim or
direction in their lives. This age group often becomes immersed in an extended
adolescent lifestyle involving alcohol and drug use, partying, unprotected sex and
irresponsible and sometimes dangerous behaviour patterns. Many babies are born from
parents of this age group, who are really not ready or even willing to act as parents. The
insights and observations of Community Story participants shed light on these
challenges and suggest pathways for change.
1. What is life like now for youth?
Home Life
a. Many of the youth of Chippewas of the Thames have grown up and are still living in
homes in which poverty, alcohol and drug abuse, and intergenerational trauma and
abuse colours every aspect of life.
b. Poverty affects many things in terms of youth well-being. It affects access to
transportation and therefore to recreation and a positive social life, involvements in
extra-circular activities in school, as well as the ability youth have to maintain healthy
peer relations. Poverty also contributes to the expectations families communicate to
young people about for what a person can or should even try to achieve in life. In
other words, the culture of poverty becomes the only reality a young person grows up
knowing, and contributes to the development of thinking and life long habits that may
well lead a young person into the being the next generation of families living in
poverty.
c. Low levels of family wellness (i.e. addictions, dysfunctional thinking, low levels of
family support for their children, violence, abuse, the prevalence of chronic
depression or anger), and a family culture of dependency and learned helplessness
Chippewas of the Thames Community Story
October 2011
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