English - Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies

Clan family: This structure is based on the teachings of the clan system and
the relationship to the spirit world
> > Cultural family: This is linked to the ceremonial aspects of the Nation
Based on the Indigenous teaching called the Harmony Circles.
The diagram above uses a dashed line to symbolize that an auntie or grandmother
can have equal status with a mother or father in their nurturing role and
responsibilities to that child in the family.
When a family is out of balance and in distress due to violence or issues of addiction
or poverty, the ideal is not to remove the child from that situation but to re-establish
the balance in the circle. When a family cannot protect their children at that time, the
other circles outside of the immediate family can step in and assume responsibility for
the children.
The next circle that the family and extended family can look to for support is the
community. Each community then has a connection to their Nation and their
territory. It is essential that Aboriginal children stay within these circles so that
cultural identity is never compromised.
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To Métis people, the words community and family are almost interchangeable.
Métis people view not only their relations as family, but friends, neighbours and
workmates can all be a part of what a Métis person considers part of the family
(Kainai Board of Education et al., 2005).