Cindy Blackstock
Executive Director, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada and Associate Professor, University of Alberta
A member of the Gitksan Nation, Cindy Blackstock has worked in the field of child and family services for over 20 years. An author of over 50 publications, her key interests include exploring, and addressing, the causes of disadvantage for Aboriginal children and families by promoting equitable and culturally based interventions.
Current professional interests include holding fellowships with the Atkinson Foundation, the Ashoka Foundation and the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation.
Research Interests
- The structural drivers of disadvantage for First Nations children
- Indigenous theory
Teaching Interests
- First Nations child welfare
- Indigenous theory
- Human rights advocacy
- Citizen engagement
Publications
Recent Publications in Refereed Journals
Blackstock, C. The emergence of the breath of life theory. Accepted for publication by the Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics.
Blackstock, C. Why if Canada wins, Canadians lose: The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal on First Nations Child Welfare. Children and Youth Services Review, 33 (2011), 187-194.
Tommyr, L. & Blackstock, C. Commentary: Public health approach in First Nations communities. International Journal on Mental Health and Addictions, 8(2), 135-144. 2010.
Fluke, J., Chabot, M., Fallon, B., MacLaurin, B., & Blackstock, C. Placement decisions and disparities among aboriginal groups: an application of the decision making ecology through multi-level analysis. Child Abuse and Neglect, 34(1), 57-69. 2010.
Blackstock, C. First Nations children count: enveloping quantitative research in an Indigenous envelope. First Peoples Child and Family Review, 4(2), 135-144. 2009.
Blackstock, C. Why addressing the over-representation of First Nations children in care requires a new theoretical approach. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 6(3). 2009.
Blackstock, C. The occasional evil of angels: learning from the experiences of Aboriginal peoples with social work. First Peoples child and family review, 4(1), 28-37.
Blackstock, C. After the apology: why are so many First Nations children still in foster care? Children Australia, 34 (1), 22-31. 2009.
Books
Blackstock, C., Cross, T., Brown, I., George, J., & Formsma, J. Reconciliation in Child Welfare: Touchstones of Hope for Indigenous children, youth and families. Ottawa: First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada.
Blackstock, C., Bruyere, D., & Moreau, E. Many Hands One Dream: principles for a new perspective on the health of First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and youth. Ottawa: Canadian Paediatric Society.
Alderman, J., Balla, S., Blackstock, C. & Khanna, N. Declaration of Accountability on the ethical engagement of young people and adults in Canadian organizations. Ottawa: First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada.
In the Future First Nations Children Will. C. Blackstock, S. Hobenshield and M. Kovach Eds. West Vancouver: Caring for First Nations Children Society.
Presentations
Recent Presentations at Juried Conference
Keynote speaker, Ontario Association of Social Workers (2010)
Keynote speaker, World Indigenous Women’s Conference, Darwin, Australia (2010)
Keynote speaker, SNAICC conference, Alice Springs, Australia (2010)
Workshop presenter, SNAICC conference, Alice Springs, Australia (2010)
Keynote speaker, PrevNet conference, McMaster University (2010)
Keynote speaker, Canadian Paediatric Society Resident’s Seminar (2010)
Keynote speaker, Waterloo University, Social Innovation Generation Speakers Series (2010)
Panel presenter, Osgoode Law School, Post-Gladue Conference (2010)
Keynote speaker, National Indian Child Welfare Conference, Portland, Oregon (2010)
Workshop presenter, National Indian Child Welfare Conference, Portland, Oregon (2010)
Keynote speaker, Alberta Association of Social Workers Conference, Edmonton (2010)
Recent Presentations at Community Events/Conferences
Keynote presenter, Wabano Health Center Youth Forum (2011)
National Women’s Legal Association Forum (2011)
Ontario University Students Association (2011)
Workshop presenter, Rise up for Rights, Canadian Labour Congress (2010)
Keynote speaker, National Youth in Care Network 25 anniversary (2010)
Keynote speaker, Native Women’s Centre of Hamilton (2010)
Workshop presenter, Rise up for Rights, Ottawa (2010)
Workshop presenter, Covenant Chain Aboriginal Conference (2010)
Keynote speaker, Assembly of First Nations Youth Gathering (2010)
Workshop presenter, Yellowhead Tribal Services National Conference (2010)
Areas of Expertise
- First Nations children and families
- Human rights
- Youth engagement
- Policy advocacy and change
Contact
cblackst@fncaringsociety.com
(613) 230-5885