The Impact of Culture, Identity and Intergenerational Connections on Indigenous Youth Mental Health: Qualitative Findings from a Longitudinal Digital Health Community Trial

Abstract

Background: Indigenous youth in settler nations are susceptible to poor mental health due to complex inter-generational systemic inequities. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of a culturally-responsive, land-based, active living initiative on the mental health of Indigenous youth. Methods: This study is part of Smart Indigenous Youth (SIY), a mixed-methods 5-year longitudinal digital citizen science initiative. SIY embeds culturally-responsive, landbased active living programs into the curricula of high schools in rural Indigenous communities in the western Canadian province of Saskatchewan. In year-1 (Winter 2019), 76 Indigenous youth citizen scientists (13-18 years) from 2 schools participated in the study. At the beginning of the term, each school initiated separate 4-month landbased active living programs specific to their culture, community, geography, and language (Cree and Saulteaux). Before and after the term, focus groups were conducted with the 2 Youth Citizen Scientist Councils, which includes students from both participating schools. This study includes data from focus groups of one participating school, with 11 youth citizen scientists (5 boys, 6 girls). Focus group data were transcribed and analyzed by two independent reviewers using Nvivo to identify themes and subthemes. Both reviewers discussed their thematic analysis to come to a consensus about final findings. Results: Baseline focus group analyses revealed themes demonstrating the importance of Indigenous culture, identity, history, and language. Youth emphasized the impact of loss of language and culture, the importance of being a helper, and the necessity of intergenerational knowledge transfer. Follow-up focus group analyses indicated that cultural school programming led to students expressing positive mental health benefits, increased interest in ceremonies, increased participation in physical activity, and greater knowledge of culture, identity, and ceremonial protocol. Conclusions: Land-based active living can play a critical role in improving Indigenous youth mental health. This study highlights the importance of linking active living with culture and the potential of leveraging citizen-owned ubiquitous tools in implementing interventions in rural communities. Digital citizen science shows promise for supporting Indigenous youth mental health initiatives.

Mino Bimaadiziwin Homebuilder Program’s Impact on Sustainable Livelihoods Among Youth in Garden Hill and Wasagamack First Nations: An Evaluative Study

“…Let Indigenous-led postsecondary education implement those strategies. Applied homebuilding education offers a COVID-19 recovery strategy if funded adequately (Walker, Kannan, Bhawra, Foulds, & Katapally, 2021), bringing creative minds to design culturally appropriate homes that are resilient to climate change and net-zero. Investments in community-led Indigenous colleges or universities on reserves provide solid steps toward the good life by building capacity and housing.…”

Linking Heart Health and Mental Wellbeing: Centering Indigenous Perspectives from across Canada

“…A strong sense of cultural identity is a valuable contributor to mental health and overall wellbeing [ 13 , 56 , 57 ]. In a study exploring a culturally responsive, land-based initiative on the mental health of Indigenous youth, Walker et al heard that students learned about their identity from their family, through language, and through school [ 58 ]. Furthermore, that the initiatives, which offered numerous cultural activities specific to their culture, community, geography, and language, changed the way the youth felt about themselves, describing that afterwards they felt good with one student quote as saying “I do feel a change like I feel that my spirit is fed like with goodness” [ 58 ].…”

“…In a study exploring a culturally responsive, land-based initiative on the mental health of Indigenous youth, Walker et al heard that students learned about their identity from their family, through language, and through school [ 58 ]. Furthermore, that the initiatives, which offered numerous cultural activities specific to their culture, community, geography, and language, changed the way the youth felt about themselves, describing that afterwards they felt good with one student quote as saying “I do feel a change like I feel that my spirit is fed like with goodness” [ 58 ]. Snowshoe et al [ 59 ] found that cultural connectedness including knowledge and association with identity, traditions and spiritual practices, was a positive contributor to mental wellbeing.…”

“…First Nations and Métis people have found that activities, such as traditional arts, songs, dance, and ceremonies, were beneficial to their overall wholistic wellbeing [ 56 , 58 ]. Indigenous youth who participated in a land-based program said that participating in cultural activities, like attending ceremony, beading, and listening to pow wow music benefitted their mental health through grounding and reducing stress [ 58 ].…”

“…First Nations and Métis people have found that activities, such as traditional arts, songs, dance, and ceremonies, were beneficial to their overall wholistic wellbeing [ 56 , 58 ]. Indigenous youth who participated in a land-based program said that participating in cultural activities, like attending ceremony, beading, and listening to pow wow music benefitted their mental health through grounding and reducing stress [ 58 ]. While we have yet to find literature on the direct connection between cultural connectedness and reductions in heart disease, the discussed improvements in mental health are likely to also be associated with positive associations for cardiac health.…”