“Every day I grew stronger and stronger being there”.: empowerment through land-and art-based Peer Leader retreats with Indigenous and Northern young people

Abstract

Indigenous adolescents in Canada are among those shouldering the impacts of colonialism and racism. Peer approaches and art-and-land-based programming have demonstrated promise to support empowerment and well-being, yet little is known about their efficacy with Northern and Indigenous adolescents in Canada or of how this group conceptualises empowerment. Fostering Open eXpression among Youth (FOXY) and Strength, Masculinities, and Sexual Health (SMASH) conduct land-and-arts-based Peer Leader Retreats with adolescents from the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the Yukon Territories. Retreats (2017–2019) included 286 participants (n=196 women [trans-inclusive], n=84 men [trans-inclusive], n=5 non-binary), aged 12–19, the majority of whom (n=235) were Indigenous. Participants completed surveys immediately before and following retreats and 6 months after. Focus group discussions (FGDs) (n=24) were conducted with participants (peer leaders and apprentices) (n=232) following the retreat, and youth staff members (peer facilitators) (aged 14–21, n=7 FGDs). Applying thematic analysis, we explored retreat experiences (FGDs), and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to examine pre/post retreat changes in leadership, empowerment, and self-confidence (surveys). Quantitatively, there were statistically significant increases in leadership and empowerment in post-retreat scores compared to pre-retreat. Qualitatively, findings demonstrate how Peer Leader Retreats premised on land-and-art-based approaches can support empowerment, confidence, leadership, and social-connectedness.

Peer and land-based approaches for fostering empowering and healthy relationships with Indigenous and northern young people in the Northwest Territories

“…Peer Leader Retreat programs included ceremonies, Elder teachings, sharing circles, grief circles, digital storytelling, rattle-making, beading, traditional hand drumming, photography, visual arts, Northern games, sexual and mental health education, journaling, personality mapping and community leadership projects. Design and findings from these programs have been documented elsewhere [23,24,28,29]. FOXY and SMASH are funded by a government and non-governmental research and programmatic funders [30,31].…”

“…Similarly, deficits-based approaches are common in Indigenous health research and practice [17] which marginalise the voices of Indigenous people [18][19][20][21][22] tremendous creativity and resilience. Approaches such as peer-led, art-and land-based youth programming can be empowering [23], and can support coping, [22] resilience, connectedness and self-efficacy for Indigenous and Northern Youth [24]. Such approaches have been documented as transformative, with the potential to catalyze social change and promote social inclusion in diverse global contexts [25].…”

Human immunodeficiency virus prevention outcomes associated with arts-based sexual health workshop participation among Northern and Indigenous adolescents in the Northwest Territories, Canada

“…10 Further, arts-based methodologies can advance strengths-based approaches, acknowledging and confronting the persistent effects of colonialism on the health of Indigenous youth, while also emphasizing participants' unique resiliencies, strengths, and resources through culturally relevant activities including poetry, storytelling, traditional hand drumming and singing, and sharing circles. [9][10][11][12] Arts-based sexual health programming has the potential to facilitate empowerment through building leadership skills and self-efficacy, nurturing social connections, enhancing confidence, and promoting a greater sense of control of one's life and environment. 9,10,13 Notably, in the Northwest Territories, arts-based methods have been linked with increased STI knowledge and safer sex self-efficacy among Indigenous youth.…”

“…[9][10][11][12] Arts-based sexual health programming has the potential to facilitate empowerment through building leadership skills and self-efficacy, nurturing social connections, enhancing confidence, and promoting a greater sense of control of one's life and environment. 9,10,13 Notably, in the Northwest Territories, arts-based methods have been linked with increased STI knowledge and safer sex self-efficacy among Indigenous youth. 14,15 Although previous studies have evaluated the ability of community-led arts-based programs to improve sexual health among Indigenous youth in Northern Canada, key knowledge gaps remain.…”

“…7,8 Past health intervention research has identified arts-based methodologies as an effective route for engaging Northern and Indigenous youth and collecting data on topics related to sexual health. 9,10 Specifically, arts-based methodologies can enable participants to perceive phenomena in novel ways, are likely to be more memorable and accessible to audiences with low literacy levels, can enhance understanding of complex experiences by reducing verbal communication barriers, and can encourage dialogue on challenging or stigmatized topics. 10 Further, arts-based methodologies can advance strengths-based approaches, acknowledging and confronting the persistent effects of colonialism on the health of Indigenous youth, while also emphasizing participants' unique resiliencies, strengths, and resources through culturally relevant activities including poetry, storytelling, traditional hand drumming and singing, and sharing circles.…”