Edey family becomes 'a little Indian' after adopting Lawrence

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When Edmonton couple David and Wendy Edey adopted their Native son Lawrence five years ago through provincial social services, the only education they had about Native people came from watching Wild West movies on television.

They know how important it is for non-Natives to understand and appreciate aboriginal culture. But they don't understand why they had to research Indian issues without help from the government.

All they got when they took custody of Lawrence, who is now six years old, was in Indian and Inuit affairs' booklet from the federal government outlining treaty right and benefits.

And David Edey said it took almost a year to get that.

"They gave us very little information," he told Windspeaker in a recent interview at his south Edmonton home.

Edey and his wife have been digging into the past in order to provide their son, a Blood descendant, with knowledge about his heritage.

The couple, who have two children of their own, stockpiled their own resource material since Lawrence became a member of their family. Much of the material came from the Glenbow Museum in Calgary and other information center around the province.

But Edey believes the provincial government should have been more involved in preparing them -- and Lawrence -- for the cultural transition.

Lawrence has now gained a better understanding of Blood heritage and Wendy Edey realizes the importance of allowing him to maintain his Native identity.

"We're all a little Indian now," she said.

"We have every intention of helping Lawrence keep in contact with the Blood Tribe. We just don't know how yet."

She said she's been writing band elders and the band administration in an effort to set up correspondence with Lawrence, but has gotten no replies.

Edey said provincial adoption services was efficient at getting Lawrence placed in their care within one month after the family was approved by a home assessment, but she said she's disappointed there was no additional help from the government to satisfy their son's hunger for cultural awareness.

Lawrence spends much of his spare time reading about Alberta Indians.

His eyes light up when he leafs through a picture book about his own people.

"(The Land of the Bloods) is my favorite book in the whole world," he beamed.