Canadian first nations grandparents raising grandchildren: A portrait in resilience

Between 1991 and 200 1, there was a 20% increase in the number of Canadian children under 18 years old who were living with their grandparents without a parent present in the home. Recent research revealed that Canadians of First Nations origin, including North American Indians, Metis, and Inuit, were vastly over-represented among grandparents raising grandchildren in skipped generation households (households which include only grandparents and grandchildren). Using custom tabulation data from the 1996 Canadian Census, this article presents a profile of First Nations Canadian grandparents raising grandchildren in skipped generation households. Despite extremely high rates of poverty and disability, one-third of First Nations Canadian skipped generation families were raising two or more grandchildren. In comparison to other grandparent caregivers, First Nations custodial caregivers; were more likely to also be caring for a senior (23%) and to spend more than 30 hours a week on childcare duties (46%) and on housework (41%). Implications for policy, practice, and research are discussed.