Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Engaging Inuit youth in community-driven programming has been deemed a top priority by community leaders. Not only does engagement lead to more enduring program outcomes, but it may also serve as a protective mechanism against suicidality. Sustained engagement of Inuit youth in community-based research is nevertheless challenging, with various studies reporting high attrition and inconsistent participation. Few studies have investigated strategies to enhance Inuit youth engagement. Existing research is limited to environmental science and focuses solely on physical and educational barriers to participation. The purpose of the proposed doctoral dissertation is to explore multi-systemic factors that support active and long-term engagement of Inuit youth in participatory action, mental wellness research. To do this, I will examine the engagement patterns of 20 Inuit youth leaders involved in a CIHR-funded participatory action research initiative (Inuit youth develop a Virtual Qaggiq). Over the course of three years (2023-2027), I aim to (1) explore and consolidate Inuit youth's understandings of meaningful engagement, (2) identify the discrete factors contributing to youths' continuous participation in the project, as well as the recurring hindrances, (3) and develop a culturally specific conceptual model of engagement, grounded in a relational-developmental systems (RDS) resilience framework. It is hoped this study will support Nunavummiut's understanding of how to increase the presence and voice of Inuit youth in community-led initiatives, contribute to the continuity and sustainability of community-based action, illuminate the role of engagement in youth suicide prevention, and deepen our knowledge of Inuit resilience. The results from this project will give rise to a model for engaging Inuit youth that may benefit areas outside mental wellness research, including youth engagement in schools and government.