Former foster child devotes herself to foster parenting
Foster parent Martha Semeniuk knows what it’s like to be a foster child because she was one herself. That experience inspired her to open her own home to Aboriginal foster children where she has provided love, hope and stability for close to three decades now.
Semeniuk, who is Metis, was removed from her Northern Alberta home in the 1960s and placed in foster care. “My one and only placement was with a Ukrainian family, John and Helen Ewasiuk,” she recalls. “They were a strong and loving family. Many of my attributes come from the kind, gentle manner in which they raised children.”
As an adult, she decided to become a foster parent herself and has now been caring for children – particularly Aboriginal children – for 28 years. She and her partner, Dale Williamson, currently have six children ranging in age from 10 to 18, both male and female, living with them. Many of the children have been with her for over 10 years but still maintain contact with their biological and extended families.
“I have an open door policy when it comes to biological and extended families,” says Semeniuk. “They are encouraged to celebrate birthday parties, Christmas, graduations, or any significant events in the lives of the children. This approach has proven beneficial to the children and the entire family.
“Through fostering I have traveled to many native communities to meet the extended family and relatives of the children in my home. Preserving the link to their families and communities is one of the most important parts of the children's life.”
Semeniuk also makes it a priority to ensure that the children remain connected with their home community and Aboriginal culture in general. Several are actively involved in music, dance and cultural events such as smudges, tobacco offerings, Metis jigging, pow-wow drumming and sweats. She says all of the children have a close relationship with their Aboriginal culture and heritage.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that one of her favorite past-times is to spend it with the children. They sing, jig, play guitar, camp, and play baseball together.
“Our children feel good about themselves and grow in confidence because we tell them they are important - not necessarily with words but through the time we give and one-to-one contact we have with them. The effort we make to listen to them and to answer their questions tells them how important they are,” she says.
Over the decades, she’s taken extensive training to understand and respond to the children’s and families’ needs. As a foster parent, she says she feels obliged to get training in a variety of areas to enhance her skills and give her a better understanding of how to deal with children afflicted with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, developmental issues and the like.
As the director of Four Directions Foster Parent Association, Semeniuk is currently working closely with representatives of the Child and Family Services Authorities in Alberta to develop strategies to improve provincial policy and programs concerning foster children and families.
Semeniuk’s inspiration to care for foster children may have been sparked by the family that took her in as a child but she says it has been fuelled by the support of foster care workers, teachers, Aboriginal organizations and her own family in helping her plan the futures for the children in her home.
“The greatest reward is to see these children grow into beautiful young adults with a sense of pride and purpose in life,” says Semeniuk. “To all the children in my home, I want to thank [them] for enriching my life, and for making my life journey all the more interesting. I will continue as long as there is a need to provide supports and encouragement to children.”
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