Grant: Project Grant

In partnership with six nations, "Sharing medicine bundles" aims to gather knowledge on approaches to land-based healing and wellness activities as a conduit to restoring youth roles and responsibilities in community. The proposed study will build on a two-year study addressing mental health protective factors for youth in a rural and remote Indigenous community through revitalizing ancestral kinship teachings involving carving a cedar dug-out canoe. Through this research, it became evident that we were working to heal the impacts of colonialism through cultural continuity, a social determinant of Indigenous health (Loppie & Wein, 2009) and creating a pathway to community wellness. Our initial findings indicate the importance of intergenerational knowledge transmission and the participation of whole community so that youth have authentic experiences of meaningful contributions while engaging the natural laws of their nation. Drawing on Dione Stout's (2012) call for a paradigm shift in Indigenous health frameworks and the initial findings from the previous study, our university team will engage six nations over the next three years to develop nation-specific community wellness frameworks that support and restore youth roles in community. This study will engage 4 Indigenous doctoral students in human and social development programs to be mentored in community-led land-based healing and wellness research activities, and 6 community partners responsible for community wellness and cultural heritage in their respective nations, including 3 nations in BC and 3 nations in the NWT/Nunavut. These nations notably include First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. The study will culminate with a land-based gathering in Year 3 to facilitate knowledge exchange on pathways to community wellness between Coast Salish, Cree, Dene, Nuu-chah-nulth, Nattilingmiut, and Métis community partners, knowledge keepers, youth representatives, and university team members.