Traditional Views on Family Care and Self-Care for Disabled and/or Special Needs Members
CHIPPEWA/OJIBWA & GREAT PLAINS TRIBAL VIEWS 

by Willie Davis, A Turtle Mountain/Ojibwe Enrolled & Disabled Member
- With input from tribal elders, leaders and disabled members -

In our native/traditional Ojibwe,  language we use the following words:

disabled , maakiizewin

I am disabled , miimaakiiz

we are disabled , miimaakiiziimin .

I would like to first begin by stating that no means do I claim to be a disability expert or speak on behalf of my tribe. But, 26 of my 44 years have been in a wheelchair. Serving on National, state and local boards, committees and coalition groups lobbying on behalf of disabled individuals. I have also lived most of my years on or near the reservation. I am also very active in working with the youth. It is my hope that through example, I can serve as a mentor and model for them to strive for life goals. And that through hard work and determination they can achieve.

     We have always tried to protect and shelter those with disabilities and/or special needs. There are two sayings, "blood is thicker than water"  and "If you can't count on your family, then who can you count on?" When things need to get done, family members will step in. Because in our culture and most  Native American communities there is a close knit relationship. There is a bond that ties people together. Aunts and uncles are looked at as second mothers and fathers. Generally, it was the mother who was responsible for the care of the children as well as adults with disabilities or special needs and if she could not provide the help then an older daughter, aunt or other relation who was a female would step in.

There’s a saying that goes, "children should be seen not heard"; that’s sort of how historically disabled or special needs persons were looked over. They are taken care of in all aspects. They are also considered special, especially those children who are born with disabilities and are God's or the Great Spirit's gift.  For example in the years from 1940s to 1970s up until San Haven (near the reservation) closed in the late 1970s this facility was used to institutionalize severe developmentally disabled persons or others with severe mental/emotional difficulties. But, most tribal families who had family members with these disabilities during these years did not see a need to institutionalize the family member.

Views of disability in the late twentieth century (recent history)