Revitalizing Strong Cultural Connections and Resilience: Co-Designing a Pilot Elder-Led Mentorship Program for Indigenous Mothers in a Remote Northern Community in Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Background: Connection to traditional knowledge and culture is important for promoting Indigenous parental well-being and fostering healthy environments for child development. Historical and modern injustices have resulted in a loss of culture, language, identity, spiritual and traditional practices in birth and parenting for many Indigenous peoples across the globe. Community Elders in a remote northern community in Alberta, Canada, and researcher allies collaborated to design a pilot Elders Mentoring Program to support Indigenous mothers(-to-be) and bring back cultural traditions, teachings and Indigenous knowledge on motherhood. Methods: Community-based participatory research principles guided all aspects of the research partnership. Elders and researchers organized 12 workshops with Indigenous mothers(-to-be) centred on traditional activities including beading, sewing, and medicine picking in conjunction with traditional knowledge transfer and cultural teachings from Elders on aspects of well-being. An explanatory mixed methods study design was used for this project. Quantitative data was collected from surveys completed by the mothers (n=9) at the start of the program about perinatal and postpartum health experience, determinants of care needs, and aspects of resilience of Indigenous mothers. To capture the Elders and mothers’ experiences from their participation in the project, qualitative data was collected using a sharing circle with Elders and individual debrief conversations with mothers. Survey responses were analysed descriptively and sharing circles and debrief conversations were analysed using thematic content analysis. Results: Survey results showed limited availability of services, transportation and access to childcare as factors determining access and utilisation of perinatal and postpartum services and programs. Four themes emerged from qualitative data analysis: (1) the meaningful role of Elder mentorship for Indigenous mothers(-to-be); (2) weekly workshops provided a safe space to share and develop peer-to-peer relationships; (3) passing on of traditional stories and skills during participation in cultural activities fostered positive coping and self-esteem among the Elders and mothers; (4) Elder-led workshops encouraged culture and language revitalization and passing on of tradition to younger generations. The project was positively perceived by Elders and mothers who participated. Conclusions: The findings demonstrated that Elder-led cultural workshops promoted cultural connectedness and enhanced resilience for mothers(-to-be) in a remote northern Indigenous community.