Canadian Korean Adoptee Network - CKAN

In Honor of John Lim

2008-11-24T20:39:00.002-05:00

Dear Friends, John Lim passed away Thursday. He was a great friend and advocate and we are grieving each in our own way.

John used to send emails signed, “Love, John Lim.” He may be the only person I’ll ever know who truly had such generosity and love for people, that he really did send love to people he barely knew.

John touched us in a special way. I believe the testimony of his life will bless and comfort his loved ones in their grief. John modestly held out a hand to many, I suspect again and again, and in the sharing of these stories with one another or in the quietness of a touched heart John’s love will live on.

Speaker Needed for ACO's ARE

2008-02-10T12:54:00.000-05:00

This is a call for panel speakers on interracial families for the Adoption Council of Ontario's Spring Adoption Resource Exchange (ARE), on April 5th.

This is a biannual conference held by the ACO to bring together all members of the adoption community, primarily domestic but including an interracial/international focus.

This is an opportunity for many families beginning the adoption process to consider if international/interracial adoption is for them.

It is therefore an excellent opportunity to spread awareness around issues of racism and identity.

If you have an interesting story to tell or take an angle on your lifestory that you think adopting families need to know, please contact us at CKAN or go directly to the Program Manager for the ACO, Kristen Maynard at kristen.maynard@adoptontario.ca.

East Meets West at Las Vegas Mini-Gathering!

2008-01-26T11:33:00.001-05:00

Yes, folks, we made it down to our first gathering in Las Vegas, Nevada. Organized by IKAA, International Korean Adoptee Associations, it annually brings together Korean adoptees from around the world to discuss and share issues affecting adoptees' lives. Moreover, it provides an excellent opportunity for adoptees, so long isolated, to socialize and network with other members of the adoption community.

CKAN made connections with groups from all across the United States, and Sweden and Norway. We also met our West Coast equivilant, with whom we share common struggles and successes, in our on-going efforts to start a group. Although we are few in numbers here in Canada, we definitely share a feeling that the work is necessary for future generations of adoptees. CKAN went away from the gathering with a renewed sense of hope, that although our steps may be small, that they indeed lead to a vibrant future.

On that note, we hope that all of you reading this continue to check in for future CKAN activities here in Toronto. Plus, check out IKAA's website for information on the next gathering in Hawaii!

Arcticle: "Adoption Across Races Has Challenges"

2008-01-19T09:57:00.000-05:00

Jan 14, 2008 04:30 AM
Lauren La Rose
THE CANADIAN PRESS

It was a small gesture, but a significant one to Danica Denommé – and one that spoke volumes about the dedication of her adoptive mother.

Knowing that Denommé, then 14, and her twin sister wanted to go to Caribana in Toronto, their mother drove three hours from Zurich, Ont., where they had been visiting family, into the city to attend the annual celebration of Caribbean arts, music and culture.

"The whole time she was like, `I can't believe I'm doing this.' I could tell she was thinking, `I'm the only white person,'" she recalls, laughing. "But I will always remember that.''

Now 19, Denommé, who is black, recalls the occasion among many examples of her parents stepping outside their comfort zone to engage the sisters in the community.

"I believe that they did everything they could, and they did such a great job of letting us learn all about different cultures, supporting us with whatever we wanted to do – any activity, they said, "Sure, go for it," says Denommé, of Abbotsford, B.C.

She is among several transracially adopted youth and adults who participate on a panel in workshops designed to address the concerns of parents adopting a child of a different race or cultural background.

"Building Skills for Transracial Parenting," offered by the Adoptive Families Association of B.C., is two day-long workshops aimed at addressing some of the challenges that parents adopting outside of their race will likely encounter.

"With intercountry adoption, there's been a real influx of families adopting children of African heritage from the States in the last 10 years, and all of those families are finding themselves with issues that they perhaps hadn't anticipated," co-ordinator Yvonne Devitt says.

One such example: the attention a mixed-race family will get when out in public.

"When we cover that piece on the workshop sheet, you kind of get that deer in the headlights look from a lot of families going, `Really? People are going to notice me and say stuff?'

"The huge value is, if they've spent an afternoon thinking about that and how to respond, that they're a little bit prepared when it happens."

Lea Harper, 24, an occupational therapist in Vancouver, was raised in Victoria by white parents after being adopted from South Korea at age 1. "I think you can never really understand racism unless you've actually experienced it, which my parents obviously haven't because they're both white," Harper says.

"They were super, super empathetic and always willing to listen and we had a really open relationship talking about things like that on the rare occasion something did happen."

The workshops also focus on how to celebrate the child's culture, while exploring tough issues such as dealing with racism.

In one exercise, parents are split up and assigned to different racial groups where they attach words connected to stereotypes about a particular background to posters bearing the face of an individual of that race.

For some, it can be a difficult and emotional exercise, Devitt says. "Those are the words and ideas that are going to be attached to your child from people you don't even know,"' she says.

Denommé says some parents come to the workshops with the idea that they are colour-blind and race won't be a factor, but having a child of a different background makes that approach untenable.

"It's my personal opinion that if you're going to adopt children from a different background, then race will matter – it has to matter," she says.

"That's something your children are going to experience on a day-to-day basis, so don't ignore it."

Lunar New Year with KCCA

2008-01-08T20:26:00.000-05:00

Come and celebrate Lunar New Year with the good folks at KCCA. Their celebration will be on Feb. 2, 2008 (Sat) from 10:00am to 1:00pm at the Korean Cultural Centre (1133 Leslie Street, North York,(416) 443-8551). It's always good fun and the food is delicious!

Another bit of news from KCCA. They are offering Korean language classes starting Feb. 9, (Sat) 10:00-12:00 at 50 Cumberland St. Bloor and Yonge, 2nd floor, Class Room.
Classes usually run for 6 weeks. Great opportunity!

Join us for a Holiday Get Together!

2007-12-31T13:13:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone,

Hope you're getting ready to ring in the New Year! As part of your New Year plans, we hope that you will have time to join us for a CKAN Holiday Get Together.

Wednesday, Jan. 2 - join us for cross country skiing at Hardwood Hills. Get more information here. We will meet there at 10am.

Thursday, Jan. 3 - if you can't make it Wednesday, mark Thursday evening in your calendar for dinner and drinks at Korean Grill House, Yonge and Dundas location. We will meet at 6pm.

We hope to see you at, if not both events, then at least one. Please let us know if you're coming or if you have any further questions. From CKAN blog, we wish you all the best for 2008 and look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

Holiday Get Together

2007-12-24T07:16:00.000-05:00

Hello CKAN!
It's been a while but I hope you've all been keeping well! CKAN is still active (in case you've been wondering) just very busy. So thank you for hanging in there with us!

It is that time of year when we get together with friends and family to celebrate the holiday season. From everyone here at CKAN, we would like to wish all of you the best of the season.

PLUS...you know it must be Christmas when they finally sell SOJU at the LCBO! Yes, check out the store nearest you and enjoy (responsibly!).

Last but not least, if you're in the Toronto area on January 2nd or 3rd, please join us for the CKAN Holiday Get Together. We would love to celebrate the new year together. Email us here for more information! Hope to see you soon!

Chusok as the Korean Thanksgiving

2007-09-29T16:00:00.000-04:00

Chusok as the Korean Thanksgiving
Chu'sok means "fall evening" and is celebrated every 24th of September, which is the 15th day of the eighth lunar moon. This serves as Korea's Harvest Moon festival and at the same time the Thanksgiving for the country. The holiday is said to have originated during the time of the Shilla Kingdom, when the king held a festival of games, entertainment, food, and drinks. Today, it is one of the most important festivals for the Koreans, which is observed by both farmers and the city dwellers. The occassion is the day in the year when family members come together to share lots of special foods. They commemorate their ancestors by visiting the graves and pay respect. Children enjoy playing different games like see-saw, swinging, and other type of dances like Kang-gangsulle. The men played sirum, which a Korean wrestling. They also held races that has animals as a price. And of course, Thanksgiving will not be complete without the special dishes on the table. They serve Songpyon, which is a full-moon rice cakes stuffed with sesame, beans,chestnuts, or Chinese dates. They also have Khaegangjong, YakGwa, and yultanja (made of rice flour, chestnuts and honey) to share together. In general,Korean Thanksgiving is not very different from ours. They still observe the very essence of the occasion, which is about the importance of family.

CKAN will celebrate Thanksgiving together on Sat. Oct. 6, at a Cook and Gather session. Contact us for more information. All welcome!

"Court quashes adoption disclosure law"

2007-09-20T20:14:00.000-04:00

CBC's Metro Morning followed up on this story, also covered in the Sept. 19 edition of the Toronto Star, by saying that one of the opponents of Ontario's recently passed adoption disclosure law was an established, Catholic mother of four who did not want a pregnancy at age fifteen revealed. Because this mirrors many birth mother situations in Korea, we thought it worth pursuing the story. The Toronto Star article does not go further into this particular case, but alludes to it by quoting the legal representation against the bill, Toronto lawyer Clayton Ruby, as saying: "What is not good is to take someone who was promised privacy and then unilaterally say, 'Ah, too bad. We've changed our mind, you live with the consequences."'

As Korean adoptees who often don't possess identifying information, the issue of disclosure is often a mute point. But the principle behind disclosure is the same whether in domestic or international adoption. Often the needs of mother and child are at odds, and within patriarchal or religious cultures, the mother often chooses or is forced to forsake the needs of her child. But to assume that this decision is made free of consequence is unrealistic. Sooner or later, the child, now an adult, will have questions about his or her origins. Who has the right to tell an adoptee that he or she cannot access this information? Do the courts have the right? After yesterday's decision, apparently they do. This is an unfortunate step backwards for disclosure advocates, such as former Ontario New Democrat member Marilyn Churley, who fought so long to get this bill passed in the first place. Sooner or later the chickens come home to roost. Can you really have a child and give it up without consequence?

Call for Adult Adoptee Speakers

2007-09-16T08:55:00.001-04:00

Here are a couple of calls for adult adoptees to participate in the wider adoption community. If you are interested and going to be in the Toronto area, please contact either CKAN or the agencies themselves. These are challenging gigs but important advocacy opportunities for increasing awareness about race and adoption issues.

Adoption Council of Ontario - Adoption Resource Exchange
need a panel speaker regarding multicultural families. The Adoption Resource Exchange is a two day workshop held by the ACO twice a year. It is often the first stop for many couples thinking of adoption and exploring both domestic and international options. As part of the weekend, they have the opportunity to view domestic children through CAS and hear from transracial adoptees. CKAN members have spoken at AREs in the past and found it an excellent way of reaching a large group of prospective adopting parents. If you are interested, contact:

Kristen Maynard
Program Manager
Adoption Council of Ontario
3216 Yonge Street, 2nd Floor
Toronto, Ontario M4N 2L2
T:416-482-0021
F: 416-482-1586
www.adoptontario.ca
www.adoption.on.ca

Jane Brown Workshops
need helpers for their excellent workshops for young adoptees. Jane Brown is a social worker from the States who has put together a three hour workshop for young transracial adoptees. During the session, adoptees get an opportunity to express concerns and feelings regarding their adoption and foster relationships that empower their sense of self. Most of the participants are from China and Korea and range in age from four to eleven. This is a powerful experience. Helpers are mainly there to be visible rolemodels to these youngsters who may have never met an adult with the same experience as them. This is a rush call so if you're interested and available next weekend, contact Catherine Collinson at Ccollinsonathome@aol.com.

Inspiration of `My Father' Speaks About Family, Love

2007-09-15T10:10:00.000-04:00

One last post about the new Daniel Henney movie, "My Father". The real-life adoptee behind the movie, Aaron Bates, was in Seoul recently to attend the premier of the movie and gave the media an excuse to push another "inspirational" adoption story. Had it not been for phrases such as "Love never fails, love conquers all", "adoption works" and "When you love someone so much you don't see what their eyes, skin color are like", this could have been an interesting article about the tribulations of adoption reunion. Take for instance the irony that when going to meet the person he thinks is his father, the real-life adoptee Aaron Bates finds out that he is in fact his stepfather. We wonder if this is included in the movie?

One issue that the article does raise is the role of the media. Is it help or hindrance in adoption reunion? For most adoptees it is the only means of finding birth parents but as a result we endure prying questions and must submit to the hungry eye of the camera during the most private moments. And as with Aaron Bates, the media always has its agenda, whether to feed the division within the adoption community or to play up a one-sided discussion.

Adoptees have worked too long and told too many personal stories of pain and anger, to have the message that love conquers all retold. We are no longer in the 70's and we've come too far to go back to that trite truism that makes transracial adoption sound so simple.

"Fewer children finding homes in Canada; Foreign adoption in decline", Peterborough Examiner Article

2007-09-10T20:33:00.000-04:00

Here are some current statistics on international adoption in Canada, as reported by a Sept. 7 post in the Peterborough Examiner. Funny how the title and general slant of the article make this sound like a bad thing. Decide for yourself. Is the reporter happy to report that due to improved conditions, certain countries with a previously long history of inter-country adoption are now following the mandates of the Hague Convention (1993) by serving the best interests of the child, which are: 1) to stay with its biological family; 2) when that not possible, to be adopted domestically; 3) or, as a last resort, be adopted internationally? Or, can the article be read more as evidence of how the chain of supply and demand is breaking down, forcing people looking to adopt internationally to go farther a-field?
We at CKAN do not like to enter into debate over the adoption issue, seeing it as a complex topic that goes beyond a blog post, and not merely something black or white. But...articles that present international adoption as a numbers game, as an issue of supply and demand, don't do justice to all involved in the adoption community. Articles like this need to be addressed for their narrow scope and representation of adopting countries as baby-hungry nations. We would be happy to hear any of your comments.

"Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam" Trailer

2007-09-09T17:13:00.000-04:00

Here's a great trailer for an up-coming documentary titled "Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam". As in the Korean adoptee community, the Vietnamese babies who were airlifted out of Vietnam during the war are now coming of age and looking to tell their stories. Check out the website for the full story behind the airlift. Thanks to MF for the link!

Interview with Tim Holm of IKAA

2007-09-08T09:29:00.000-04:00

This interview was taped just prior to the 2007 Gathering in Seoul. Tim explains how IKAA was formed after the first Holt Gathering in Washington in 2004. It was a big step in Korean adoptees doing it for themselves. Ever since then, all subsequent gatherings have been planned and organized by adoptees for adoptees. As an umbrella organization, Tim says their primary role is to bring adoptees together. After being isolated for so long, connecting with each other can be a strong driving force behind many of our searches for identity. These words definitely ring true for Canada's small Korean Canadian adult adoptee community. One of CKAN's primary mission statements is to reach out and find other Korean adoptees in Canada. Obviously, this is a shared mission with adoptees around the world. Thanks to CG for the link!

Promoting Korean Adoption?

2007-09-03T13:42:00.000-04:00

Lee Ann Kim is a Korean American anchor and general assignment reporter for KGTV Channel 10 in San Diego. She is currently in Seoul as a jury member for the annual EBS International Documentary Festival. Two English-language Korean newspapers feature articles on her. As always it is interesting to see the angle the media chooses to take when covering issues around adoption and race.

Check out this article first from the Sept. 3 edition of the Korea Times, titled "Kim Pushes For Asian American Cinema". As a first generation Korean American, her experience of racism in the States sounds very similar to many accounts of adoptees growing up in white communities. The Korea Times chooses to omit information about her recent adoption of a Korean boy.

We have to go to the Korea Herald to read about that. In the Aug. 31 interview with Kim, titled "Adopting a child is a beautiful thing",Kim openly derides the social climate in Korea that forces unwed mothers to relinquish their children.

We would be interested to know if these articles are featured in their Korean counterparts (unfortunately our Korean isn't good enough to find out just yet!!). But even if their main readership is English speakers, promoting adoption from Korea amongst Korean North Americans is also an important thing.

Unfortunately MPAK's (Mission to Promote Adoption in Korea) website is outdated, but they feature some profiles of Korean Americans who adopted from Korea. Worth a browse.

Korea Times: "Domestic Adoptions Reach 60 Percent"

2007-09-02T20:55:00.000-04:00

Here's an article from the August 30, 2007 edition of the Korea Times.

By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter

About 60 percent of all adoptions were made domestically in the first half of this year, making it the first time for them to surpass overseas adoptions.

The Health and Welfare Ministry reported Thursday that 59.2 percent of adoptions, or 729 of 1,223 children in the January-June period, were by domestic couples, far higher than the 41percent to 42 percent average over the past five years.

A ministry spokesman said the "increase'' is largely attributed to a new law prioritizing domestic adoption to overseas adoption _ rather than changing attitudes towards adoption _ as well as tax incentives and campaigns to encourage domestic adoptions.

But it may take time to assess the full impact of the new law on adoption patterns, a ministry spokesman said.

Over 2,000 Korean children have been adopted by foreign families every year, but a fall in these adoptions has contributed to an overall decrease in total adoptions.

As a result, more children are now housed at childcare centers or with temporary families awaiting adoption.

The Overseas Korean Foundation estimated a total of 157,145 Korean children have been adopted by foreign couples over the past 50 years, the majority being from the U.S., followed by France, Sweden and Denmark.

In 2005, Korea was rated the fourth biggest source for overseas adoptions, behind China, Russia and Guatemala _ 2,101 Korean children were adopted by foreign couples in 2005.

The government has been making efforts to shake off the country's reputation as a ``baby-exporting'' nation but any fruitful results have yet to be observed.

Today's Parent Magazine Covering International Adoption Issues

2007-09-01T11:58:00.000-04:00

We're always looking for Korean Canadian adoption issues being covered in the media. That's why we've had to go back into the archives (and will continue to do so) to dig up some old articles. Back in July of 2005, one of our very own CKAN members was profiled in this piece about "Adoption Myths and Truths".

It's interesting to chart the development of adoptee advocacy. Well before protests and gatherings, advocacy started with adoptees telling their stories, often very personal and heartfelt histories. Without the courage of these adult adoptees stepping forward, many "myths" would still be circulating.

You can also take a look at the most recent KCCA Motherland Tour that took place in May 2007, on Today's Parent Caroline Connell's Korea Blog. The photos and posts sum up how amazing and powerful the experience was. If you look closely you might be able to find some more CKAN members there!

Korean Beat Boxer Rocks the IKAA Gathering

2007-08-31T09:04:00.000-04:00

It wasn't all work at the IKAA gathering in Seoul. Here's a kick-a** beat box performance that totally rocked the final Gala dinner sponsored by Samsung. Check out how he produces more than one sound at a time. Enjoy the clip, especially since it was filmed by one of our very own!
(Yes, a Canadian!).

Media Coverage of the 2007 IKAA Gathering in Seoul

2007-08-29T23:17:00.000-04:00

It is always interesting to watch how the media covers international adoption. As feed back from the most recent gathering in Seoul starts to trickle in, the initial response from the online community to the media coverage is mixed. Some people are objecting to the angle the media is choosing to take by suggesting the existence of a great rift among adoptees concerning the practise of international adoption. Take this report by NPR's Jason Strother. He interviews Kim Stoker representative for ASK, Adoptee Solidarity Korea, who are adamently against international adoption, and Sandra McClaughlin, director of Bethany Christian Services in Pennsylvania, who maintains that adoption from Korea is still a viable solution to current social conditions. By offering only the extreme opinions on the issue, coverage often overlooks other important issues, i.e. what, if any, changes to Korea's social welfare system have occurred; and misrepresents facts, i.e. the status of children left in state care. By calling state care facilities "orphanages", it implies that the child's parents are dead. In Korea, this is most often not the reason children are in care. According to the good people over at Harlow's Monkey, the main reason children are abandoned is not due to unwed mothers, as this report claims, but to divorcing couples, where either the father does not want to assume responsibility or the mother cannot support them on her own.
We don't know if all the facts are in on this one, but it's good to see discussion abound on this very important topic. Weigh in for yourself by checking out Strother's report.

Trailer for new Daniel Henney movie, My Father

2007-08-29T23:08:00.000-04:00

Here's the trailer for that new Daniel Henney movie, My Father. He plays a Korean American adoptee searching for his birth father in Korea. When he finds him, he discovers that he's on death row.

Globe and Mail Article

2007-08-28T20:07:00.000-04:00

Check out this article from the July 31st edition of the Globe and Mail's Family and Relationships section, titled Unearthing the Roots of Adoption. The main point of the article is that adoption agencies, such as Children's Bridge, are mandating support programs for adoptive parents based on the experience of the first wave of international adoptees. It's reassuring to know that the word is getting out there. And having had first hand experience with the awesome people at Children's Bridge, I know that this is grounding breaking work. These innovations to adoption support are in large part due to the testimonials of adoptees and the advocacy work that they do. Foremost among them is Mihee-Nathalie Lemoine, based in Montreal, who founded GOAL, Global Overseas Adoptees' Link in Seoul. If you are not familiar with GOAL, go to our Links section and find out about all the amazing supports and opportunities they provide. Many birth parent searches begin with them.

Daniel Henney and his Umma

2007-08-27T21:02:00.000-04:00

We're going to make a quick foray into the States for a minute to look at a Korean-American actor bringing adoption issues to Korean pop culture. For those of you who don't know, Daniel Henney started off as a model and later went on to make it big in Korea.
Check him out with Gwyneth Paltrow in this commercial for Korean TV. Although he doesn't speak a lot of Korean, he managed to land a role in the popular Korean drama My Lovely Sam Soon. His current film (2007) My Father is about an adoptee who comes to Korea to look for his biological parents and how he eventually reunites with his father.
This topic is not foreign to him as his mother is a Korean American adoptee. Watch him and his Umma on her first trip back to Korea in this profile on Henney for Korean TV.

Teaching Opportunities for Korean-Canadian Adoptees in Pohang, Korea

2007-08-26T20:34:00.000-04:00

Grace, headteacher of YMA in Pohang, sent this email:

"This is Grace Park from Pohang, Korea. I work for a private language institute as headteacher. I'm writing this..because I'd like to have some grownup adoptees take a chance to teach English to our students. Doing this, the Korean-Canadians or Korean-Americans may learn their forgotten culture and language. Furthermore, they may get a help finding their own identity while communicating with the Korean teenagers. One thing I do this is..the job here, in my school is not so much demanding and we provide a very warm friendly working environment. With a university degree, everyone can help the kids learn English. Besides, we give some teaching skills for the novice. If you happen to see someone who shows a great interest in the job, please pass my email address and let them know this opportunity. Millions thanks in advance. Looking forward to hearing."

If you are interested, please email Grace at: yma_ssam@yahoo.co.kr

First Gathering of Canadian Korean Adoptee Network - CKAN

2007-08-26T16:03:00.000-04:00

Aug. 24- Aug. 26, 2007

Welcome to the first gathering of CKAN - Canadian Korean Adoptee Network! We are the first gathering that we are aware of to occur in Canada. Adult Korean adoptees, from Montreal and the Toronto area, came together in Toronto to discuss how we can best serve the needs of our small community here in Canada.

Coming together was the first step! On Friday, we met for supper at a hip watering spot in Toronto. Getting to know other Korean adoptees in Canada was the initial ice breaker for those of us who had never met other adoptees before. The discussion was lively and provided a balanced spectrum of opinions and ideas. It was the first meeting of what will hopefully become an active, vibrant community!

On Saturday, we drove up to East Gwillimbury to attend KCCA's (Korean Canadian Children's Association) Culture Camp. We were treated to a delicious spread of Korean food and participated in some pretty strenuous camp activities. Connecting with families and young adoptees was an important link for many of us to make.

On Sunday, we met for brunch and watched a video of the recent IKAA (International Korean Adoptee Association) gathering in Seoul. Seeing the more than 500 participants from 17 different countries was really inspiring. It also reinforced the need for a Canadian contingent as there were only 4 Canadians among them!

As a group, we identified some CKAN objectives:

To be a resource for the adoption community.

To develop a CKAN blog with links to the adoption community in Canada, Korea and abroad.
To increase our network of Korean adoptees in Canada.

To develop a support network for adult Korean adoptees in Canada.

Saying good bye was hard but we all left feeling positive about the new connections we had made. We are happy to ride the wave of momentum from the IKAA gatherings and feel the time is right for a similar initiative to start in Canada. We need to spread the word and represent!

If this is your first time exploring Korean adoption issues in Canada, we encourage you to drop us a line.

If you know someone adopted from Korea who might be interested in getting in touch, please let them know about us.

We hope you'll stay along for the ride. Or even better, come join us!