“Connection to Culture Is Like a Massive Lifeline”: Yarning With Aboriginal Young People About Culture and Social and Emotional Wellbeing

Abstract

Culture is an important social and emotional wellbeing factor for Aboriginal peoples in Australia, particularly regarding recovery from colonization. However, little is understood about how culture and wellbeing interact for young urban Aboriginal people. This study used Yarning methods to explore experiences and perceptions of culture and wellbeing for young urban Aboriginal people in Narrm, Australia. Findings indicate that culture is experienced as connection, and that perceived connection or disconnection has an essential influence on the wellbeing of young people. Through sharing young people stories, a range of factors, including colonization, relationships, cultural knowledge, community support, and agency, were identified as affecting perceptions of connectedness, and therefore on wellbeing. Youth were able to develop strategies to increase connection and provided illuminating advice and suggestions for improving connection for future generations. This study thus contributes to efforts to improved understanding of Aboriginal perspectives about social and emotional wellbeing and culture.

Decolonising qualitative research with respectful, reciprocal, and responsible research practice: a narrative review of the application of Yarning method in qualitative Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research

“…Eleven publications provided their entire interview guide [31,34,39,45,[48][49][50][51][52][53][54]. Others provided a sample of example questions, [40,44,[55][56][57] while others briefly described areas explored during Yarning [27,28,39,43,47,54,[58][59][60][61].…”

“…Eleven publications provided their entire interview guide [31,34,39,45,[48][49][50][51][52][53][54]. Others provided a sample of example questions, [40,44,[55][56][57] while others briefly described areas explored during Yarning [27,28,39,43,47,54,[58][59][60][61]. One publication noted that there was "no set interview guide and that participants were encouraged, with consistent prompts to 'yarn' about their experiences with renal service providers" [62].…”

“…Although critiques of Yarning point to difficulty in establishing rigor due to the inherent "messiness" of gathered data, these limitations are based on perspectives from Eurocentric epistemological priorities which can be offset by establishing Indigenous epistemological foundations and engaging an appropriate cultural lens to analysis. (Murrup-Stewart, Whyman et al 2021 [54]) were often lacking, and were the least comprehensive component of the methodology sections.…”

Evaluating an Aboriginal community controlled residential alcohol and other drug services: Use of benchmarking to examine within treatment changes in wellbeing

“…The Centre has a strong focus on health and wellbeing and incorporates sport and other physical activity as a core component of daily activities. Maintaining and strengthening the connection to Aboriginal culture, traditional practices and Aboriginal Elders is an important aspect of Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing [19,20]. The Glen prides itself on having a culturally appropriate program for Aboriginal men including the traditional dance, yarning around the fire, didgeridoo lessons and ongoing involvement with Aboriginal Elders.…”

Sleep health and its implications in First Nation Australians: A systematic review

“…2 First Nations Australians share strong spiritual beliefs that connect them to land, sea and country with diverse cultural traditions across Australia. 3 Similar to Indigenous populations across the globe, 4 dispossession from their land, sea and country, historical colonisation, interruption of culture and intergenerational trauma coupled with ongoing racism and disadvantage have significantly impacted the health and wellbeing of our first nation populations. 4 and represent key drivers of health inequity.…”