janice victor | University of Lethbridge (original) (raw)

Book Chapters by janice victor

Research paper thumbnail of Moral habilitation and the new normal: Sexual offender narratives of posttreatment community integration

Papers by janice victor

Research paper thumbnail of Decolonizing research through images of wellbeing

Research paper thumbnail of Like Braiding SweetgrassNurturing Relationships and Alliances in IndigenousCommunity-based Research

The shifting environment of Indigenous community-based research demands reflexivity because the n... more The shifting environment of Indigenous community-based research demands reflexivity because the negotiation and maintenance of relationships are central (Findlay, Ray, & Basualdo, 2014). This paper expands on the importance of social relationships in the Nehinuw (Cree) worldview by reflecting on an ongoing research partnership among a team of Indigenous and Settler researchers from three universities and one Indigenous community agency. The Nehinuw relationships of weechihitowin (supporting and helping each other), weechiyauguneetowin (partnership, collaborative or shared action), otootemitowin (respectful openness and acceptance of others), and weechiseechigemitowin (alliances for common action) (L. Goulet & K. Goulet, 2014) form the theoretical framework for analyzing the challenges and successes that have sustained this collaboration for almost 10 years. This article will enhance understanding of Indigenous community-based research to promote an epistemological shift toward Indig...

Research paper thumbnail of “Moving Forward”: Arts and Indigenous Reciprocal Leadership in a Neehithuw (Woodland Cree) School Arts Project

This article discusses an arts-based program carried out in a Neehithuw (Woodland Cree) school in... more This article discusses an arts-based program carried out in a Neehithuw (Woodland Cree) school in northern Saskatchewan. Using historical photographs, students wrote a poem and then performed the poem for various audiences. The teaching/learning relationship based on Neehithuw language concepts and values allowed student leadership to develop so that students were comfortable bringing their lived culture into the curriculum. Thus, the project illustrates the effectiveness of the arts as well as a pedagogical approach that uses Indigenous reciprocal leadership to enact Neehithuw1 concepts and values to achieve educational decolonisation and cultural affirmation.

Research paper thumbnail of I’taamohkanoohsin (everyone comes together): (Re)connecting Indigenous people experiencing homelessness and addiction to their Blackfoot ways of knowing

International Journal of Indigenous Health, 2019

Addiction and homelessness are closely related outcomes for many Indigenous Canadians who live wi... more Addiction and homelessness are closely related outcomes for many Indigenous Canadians who live with extensive intergenerational trauma caused by residential school and the 60s Scoop. In recent years, the rise of opioid addiction along with related overdoses and mortalities in many parts of Canada has led to what is being called an opioid crisis. (Re)connection to Indigenous ways of knowing and practices are frequently seen as a path to healing; therefore, an innovative grassroots program was developed recently in a southern Alberta city to address addictions and homelessness within a largely Blackfoot population. The program increased access to traditional cultural resources and activities in a visible, downtown location to a population who are among the most marginalized in society. A Two-Eyed Seeing framework was used perform a program evaluation and analyze participant and key informant interviews. The results indicated that attendance connected people with their spirits, inspiri...

Research paper thumbnail of I’taamohkanoohsin (everyone comes together): A Blackfoot cultural program supporting people with concurrent mental health challenges and other complex needs

Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Like Braiding Sweetgrass

International Review of Qualitative Research, 2016

The shifting environment of Indigenous community-based research demands reflexivity because the n... more The shifting environment of Indigenous community-based research demands reflexivity because the negotiation and maintenance of relationships are central (Findlay, Ray, & Basualdo, 2014). This paper expands on the importance of social relationships in the Nehinuw (Cree) worldview by reflecting on an ongoing research partnership among a team of Indigenous and Settler researchers from three universities and one Indigenous community agency. The Nehinuw relationships of weechihitowin (supporting and helping each other), weechiyauguneetowin (partnership, collaborative or shared action), otootemitowin (respectful openness and acceptance of others), and weechiseechigemitowin (alliances for common action) (L. Goulet & K. Goulet, 2014) form the theoretical framework for analyzing the challenges and successes that have sustained this collaboration for almost 10 years. This article will enhance understanding of Indigenous community-based research to promote an epistemological shift toward Indig...

Research paper thumbnail of Moral Habilitation and the New Normal

Narrative Criminology, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Kiskenimisowin (self-knowledge): Co-researching Wellbeing With Canadian First Nations Youth Through Participatory Visual Methods

International Journal of Indigenous Health, 2016

Indigenous youth represent one of the most marginalized demographics in Canada. As such they must... more Indigenous youth represent one of the most marginalized demographics in Canada. As such they must contend with many barriers to wellness that stem from oppression, including historical and ongoing colonization and racism. Developing effective health programming requires innovation and flexibility, especially important when programs take place in diverse Indigenous communities where local needs and cultural practices vary. This article reports the findings of an after-school program in 2014 that blended a participatory visual method of research with Indigenous knowledge, methodologies, and practices to provide sociocultural health programming for youth in a First Nation in southern Saskatchewan, Canada. Engaging with youth to co-research wellbeing through the arts was conceptualized as both research and health promotion. Participatory arts methods created a safe space for youth to express their views of health and wellness issues while developing self-knowledge about their individual...

Research paper thumbnail of Storyscapes of place: First Nation youths’ photographic depictions of home

Journal of Youth Studies, 2021

Cultural continuity and a sense of belonging are of central importance to the health and wellness... more Cultural continuity and a sense of belonging are of central importance to the health and wellness of Indigenous youth. Identity development for these young people requires navigation through a plethora of multi-mediated and global influences including the structures and ideologies of colonization that devalue and minimize Indigenous ways of knowing and living. Consequently, it is valuable to explore how youth are making their way through this myriad of influences and obstacles. This photovoice project investigated how a group of high school students in a remote Canadian First Nations community would represent positive elements of their day-today lives. What resulted were a series of photo essays, or storyscapes, that expressed the value that youth placed on family, friends, traditional activities, sports, and the deep connection to land, lake, and sky. Youth shared parts of their identity-forming life worlds through their storyscapes. Their embodied knowledge of place, self, and spirit were fed by deeper feelings of belonging and interacting with their social, physical, and spiritual environments. ARTICLE HISTORY

Research paper thumbnail of Widening the Angle: Film as Alternative Pedagogy For Wellness In Indigenous Youth

Widening the Angle: Film as Alternative Pedagogy For Wellness In Indigenous Youth, 2019

Indigenous youth face numerous challenges in terms of their well-being. Colonization enforced lan... more Indigenous youth face numerous challenges in terms of their well-being. Colonization enforced land and cultural loss, fractured relationships, and restricted the use of the imagination and agentic capacity (Colonial policies, structures, and approaches in education have been detrimental to Indigenous youth (Nardozi, 2013). Many First Nations leaders, community members, and youth have expressed a need for a wider range of activities that move beyond Western models of knowledge and learning (Goulet & Goulet, 2015). School curricula in Indigenous communities are incorporating alternative pedagogical tools, such as the arts, that not only allow youth to explore and express their realities and interests but that also offer them holistic ways of learning and knowing (Yuen et al., 2013). This article describes a participatory arts research project which featured film production and was delivered in the context of a grade 10 Communications Media course. The research took place at a First Na...

Research paper thumbnail of Storyscapes of place: First Nation youths' photographic depictions of home

Journal of Youth Studies, 2021

Cultural continuity and a sense of belonging are of central importance to the health and wellness... more Cultural continuity and a sense of belonging are of central importance to the health and wellness of Indigenous youth. Identity development for these young people requires navigation through a plethora of multi-mediated and global influences including the structures and ideologies of colonization that devalue and minimize Indigenous ways of knowing and living. Consequently, it is valuable to explore how youth are making their way through this myriad of influences and obstacles. This photovoice project investigated how a group of high school students in a remote Canadian First Nations community would represent positive elements of their day-today lives. What resulted were a series of photo essays, or storyscapes, that expressed the value that youth placed on family, friends, traditional activities, sports, and the deep connection to land, lake, and sky. Youth shared parts of their identity-forming life worlds through their storyscapes. Their embodied knowledge of place, self, and spirit were fed by deeper feelings of belonging and interacting with their social, physical, and spiritual environments. ARTICLE HISTORY

Research paper thumbnail of Widening the Angle: Film as Alternative Pedagogy For Wellness In Indigenous Youth

International Journal of Education & the Arts, 2020

Indigenous youth face numerous challenges in terms of their well-being. Colonization enforced lan... more Indigenous youth face numerous challenges in terms of their well-being. Colonization enforced land and cultural loss, fractured relationships, and restricted the use of the imagination and agentic capacity (Colonial policies, structures, and approaches in education have been detrimental to Indigenous youth (Nardozi, 2013). Many First Nations leaders, community members, and youth have expressed a need for a wider range of activities that move beyond Western models of knowledge and learning (Goulet & Goulet, 2015). School curricula in Indigenous communities are incorporating alternative pedagogical tools, such as the arts, that not only allow youth to explore and express their realities and interests but that also offer them holistic ways of learning and knowing (Yuen et al., 2013). This article describes a participatory arts research project which featured film production and was delivered in the context of a grade 10 Communications Media course. The research took place at a First Nations high school in a Neehithuw (Woodland Cree) community in northern Saskatchewan. This article highlights the content of the films produced, the benefits of the filmmaking experience, and the challenges faced by the teacher and students during the process.

Research paper thumbnail of "Moving Forward": Arts and Indigenous Reciprocal Leadership in a Neehithuw (Woodland Cree) School Arts Project

WINHEC: International Journal of Indigenous Education Scholarship, 2019

This article discusses an arts-based program carried out in a Neehithuw (Woodland Cree) school in... more This article discusses an arts-based program carried out in a Neehithuw (Woodland Cree) school in northern Saskatchewan. Using historical photographs, students wrote a poem and then performed the poem for various audiences. The teaching/learning relationship based on Neehithuw language concepts and values allowed student leadership to develop so that students were comfortable bringing their lived culture into the curriculum. Thus, the project illustrates the effectiveness of the arts as well as a pedagogical approach that uses Indigenous reciprocal leadership to enact Neehithuw 1 concepts and values to achieve educational decolonisation and cultural affirmation.

Research paper thumbnail of PRACTICE INNOVATIONS I'taamohkanoohsin (everyone comes together): A Blackfoot cultural program supporting people with concurrent mental health challenges and other complex needs

Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 2018

Trauma, addiction, and homelessness for Indigenous people are interwoven with colonialism and the... more Trauma, addiction, and homelessness for Indigenous people are interwoven with colonialism and the loss of culture. I'taamohkanoohsin is a grassroots program that was developed to support healing and recovery for a highly marginalized Indigenous population with concurrent mental health challenges and other complex needs in a downtown core neighbourhood.

Research paper thumbnail of I'taamohkanoohsin (everyone comes together): (Re)connecting Indigenous people experiencing homelessness and substance misuse to Blackfoot ways of knowing

International Journal of Indigenous Health, 2019

Substance misuse and homelessness are closely related outcomes for many Indigenous Canadians who ... more Substance misuse and homelessness are closely related outcomes for many Indigenous Canadians who live with extensive intergenerational trauma caused by residential school and the 60s Scoop. In recent years, the rise of opioid addiction along with related overdoses and mortalities in many parts of Canada has led to what is being called an opioid crisis. (Re)connection to Indigenous ways of knowing and practices are frequently seen as a path to healing. To address substance misuse and homelessness within a Canadian city, a grassroots program was developed for a largely Blackfoot population. The program increased access to traditional cultural resources and activities in a visible, downtown location. Two-Eyed Seeing informed the development and evaluation of the program. Results indicated that attendance connected people with their spirits, inspiring strength and hope for the future, and ameliorated spiritual homelessness. The program formed a safe space where relationships were strengthened, people felt respected, and meaningful activity away from substances was available.

Research paper thumbnail of Like braiding sweetgrass: Nurturing relationships and alliances in Indigenous community-based research

The shifting environment of Indigenous community-based research demands reflexivity because the n... more The shifting environment of Indigenous community-based research demands reflexivity because the negotiation and maintenance of relationships are central (Findlay, Ray, & Basualdo, 2014). This paper expands on the importance of social relationships in the Nehinuw (Cree) worldview by reflecting on an ongoing research partnership among a team of Indigenous and Settler researchers from three universities and one Indigenous community agency. The Nehinuw relationships of weechihitowin (supporting and helping each other), weechiyauguneetowin (partnership, collaborative or shared action), otootemitowin (respectful openness and acceptance of others), and weechiseechigemitowin (alliances for common action) (L. Goulet & K. Goulet, 2014) form the theoretical framework for analyzing the challenges and successes that have sustained this collaboration for almost 10 years. This article will enhance understanding of Indigenous community-based research to promote an epistemological shift toward Indigenous modes of inquiry.

Research paper thumbnail of Kiskenimisowin (self-knowledge): Co-researching wellbeing with Canadian First Nations youth through participatory visual methods

Indigenous youth represent one of the most marginalized demographics in Canada. As such they must... more Indigenous youth represent one of the most marginalized demographics in Canada. As such they must contend with many barriers to wellness that stem from oppression, including historical and ongoing colonization and racism. Developing effective health programming requires innovation and flexibility, especially important when programs take place in diverse Indigenous communities where local needs and cultural practices vary. This article reports the findings of an after-school program in 2014 that blended a participatory visual method of research with Indigenous knowledge, methodologies, and practices to provide sociocultural health programming for youth in a First Nation in southern Saskatchewan, Canada. Engaging with youth to co-research wellbeing through the arts was conceptualized as both research and health promotion. Participatory arts methods created a safe space for youth to express their views of health and wellness issues while developing self-knowledge about their individual and cultural identities.

Research paper thumbnail of Decolonizing research through images of wellbeing

Research paper thumbnail of Like Braiding SweetgrassNurturing Relationships and Alliances in IndigenousCommunity-based Research

The shifting environment of Indigenous community-based research demands reflexivity because the n... more The shifting environment of Indigenous community-based research demands reflexivity because the negotiation and maintenance of relationships are central (Findlay, Ray, & Basualdo, 2014). This paper expands on the importance of social relationships in the Nehinuw (Cree) worldview by reflecting on an ongoing research partnership among a team of Indigenous and Settler researchers from three universities and one Indigenous community agency. The Nehinuw relationships of weechihitowin (supporting and helping each other), weechiyauguneetowin (partnership, collaborative or shared action), otootemitowin (respectful openness and acceptance of others), and weechiseechigemitowin (alliances for common action) (L. Goulet & K. Goulet, 2014) form the theoretical framework for analyzing the challenges and successes that have sustained this collaboration for almost 10 years. This article will enhance understanding of Indigenous community-based research to promote an epistemological shift toward Indig...

Research paper thumbnail of “Moving Forward”: Arts and Indigenous Reciprocal Leadership in a Neehithuw (Woodland Cree) School Arts Project

This article discusses an arts-based program carried out in a Neehithuw (Woodland Cree) school in... more This article discusses an arts-based program carried out in a Neehithuw (Woodland Cree) school in northern Saskatchewan. Using historical photographs, students wrote a poem and then performed the poem for various audiences. The teaching/learning relationship based on Neehithuw language concepts and values allowed student leadership to develop so that students were comfortable bringing their lived culture into the curriculum. Thus, the project illustrates the effectiveness of the arts as well as a pedagogical approach that uses Indigenous reciprocal leadership to enact Neehithuw1 concepts and values to achieve educational decolonisation and cultural affirmation.

Research paper thumbnail of I’taamohkanoohsin (everyone comes together): (Re)connecting Indigenous people experiencing homelessness and addiction to their Blackfoot ways of knowing

International Journal of Indigenous Health, 2019

Addiction and homelessness are closely related outcomes for many Indigenous Canadians who live wi... more Addiction and homelessness are closely related outcomes for many Indigenous Canadians who live with extensive intergenerational trauma caused by residential school and the 60s Scoop. In recent years, the rise of opioid addiction along with related overdoses and mortalities in many parts of Canada has led to what is being called an opioid crisis. (Re)connection to Indigenous ways of knowing and practices are frequently seen as a path to healing; therefore, an innovative grassroots program was developed recently in a southern Alberta city to address addictions and homelessness within a largely Blackfoot population. The program increased access to traditional cultural resources and activities in a visible, downtown location to a population who are among the most marginalized in society. A Two-Eyed Seeing framework was used perform a program evaluation and analyze participant and key informant interviews. The results indicated that attendance connected people with their spirits, inspiri...

Research paper thumbnail of I’taamohkanoohsin (everyone comes together): A Blackfoot cultural program supporting people with concurrent mental health challenges and other complex needs

Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Like Braiding Sweetgrass

International Review of Qualitative Research, 2016

The shifting environment of Indigenous community-based research demands reflexivity because the n... more The shifting environment of Indigenous community-based research demands reflexivity because the negotiation and maintenance of relationships are central (Findlay, Ray, & Basualdo, 2014). This paper expands on the importance of social relationships in the Nehinuw (Cree) worldview by reflecting on an ongoing research partnership among a team of Indigenous and Settler researchers from three universities and one Indigenous community agency. The Nehinuw relationships of weechihitowin (supporting and helping each other), weechiyauguneetowin (partnership, collaborative or shared action), otootemitowin (respectful openness and acceptance of others), and weechiseechigemitowin (alliances for common action) (L. Goulet & K. Goulet, 2014) form the theoretical framework for analyzing the challenges and successes that have sustained this collaboration for almost 10 years. This article will enhance understanding of Indigenous community-based research to promote an epistemological shift toward Indig...

Research paper thumbnail of Moral Habilitation and the New Normal

Narrative Criminology, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Kiskenimisowin (self-knowledge): Co-researching Wellbeing With Canadian First Nations Youth Through Participatory Visual Methods

International Journal of Indigenous Health, 2016

Indigenous youth represent one of the most marginalized demographics in Canada. As such they must... more Indigenous youth represent one of the most marginalized demographics in Canada. As such they must contend with many barriers to wellness that stem from oppression, including historical and ongoing colonization and racism. Developing effective health programming requires innovation and flexibility, especially important when programs take place in diverse Indigenous communities where local needs and cultural practices vary. This article reports the findings of an after-school program in 2014 that blended a participatory visual method of research with Indigenous knowledge, methodologies, and practices to provide sociocultural health programming for youth in a First Nation in southern Saskatchewan, Canada. Engaging with youth to co-research wellbeing through the arts was conceptualized as both research and health promotion. Participatory arts methods created a safe space for youth to express their views of health and wellness issues while developing self-knowledge about their individual...

Research paper thumbnail of Storyscapes of place: First Nation youths’ photographic depictions of home

Journal of Youth Studies, 2021

Cultural continuity and a sense of belonging are of central importance to the health and wellness... more Cultural continuity and a sense of belonging are of central importance to the health and wellness of Indigenous youth. Identity development for these young people requires navigation through a plethora of multi-mediated and global influences including the structures and ideologies of colonization that devalue and minimize Indigenous ways of knowing and living. Consequently, it is valuable to explore how youth are making their way through this myriad of influences and obstacles. This photovoice project investigated how a group of high school students in a remote Canadian First Nations community would represent positive elements of their day-today lives. What resulted were a series of photo essays, or storyscapes, that expressed the value that youth placed on family, friends, traditional activities, sports, and the deep connection to land, lake, and sky. Youth shared parts of their identity-forming life worlds through their storyscapes. Their embodied knowledge of place, self, and spirit were fed by deeper feelings of belonging and interacting with their social, physical, and spiritual environments. ARTICLE HISTORY

Research paper thumbnail of Widening the Angle: Film as Alternative Pedagogy For Wellness In Indigenous Youth

Widening the Angle: Film as Alternative Pedagogy For Wellness In Indigenous Youth, 2019

Indigenous youth face numerous challenges in terms of their well-being. Colonization enforced lan... more Indigenous youth face numerous challenges in terms of their well-being. Colonization enforced land and cultural loss, fractured relationships, and restricted the use of the imagination and agentic capacity (Colonial policies, structures, and approaches in education have been detrimental to Indigenous youth (Nardozi, 2013). Many First Nations leaders, community members, and youth have expressed a need for a wider range of activities that move beyond Western models of knowledge and learning (Goulet & Goulet, 2015). School curricula in Indigenous communities are incorporating alternative pedagogical tools, such as the arts, that not only allow youth to explore and express their realities and interests but that also offer them holistic ways of learning and knowing (Yuen et al., 2013). This article describes a participatory arts research project which featured film production and was delivered in the context of a grade 10 Communications Media course. The research took place at a First Na...

Research paper thumbnail of Storyscapes of place: First Nation youths' photographic depictions of home

Journal of Youth Studies, 2021

Cultural continuity and a sense of belonging are of central importance to the health and wellness... more Cultural continuity and a sense of belonging are of central importance to the health and wellness of Indigenous youth. Identity development for these young people requires navigation through a plethora of multi-mediated and global influences including the structures and ideologies of colonization that devalue and minimize Indigenous ways of knowing and living. Consequently, it is valuable to explore how youth are making their way through this myriad of influences and obstacles. This photovoice project investigated how a group of high school students in a remote Canadian First Nations community would represent positive elements of their day-today lives. What resulted were a series of photo essays, or storyscapes, that expressed the value that youth placed on family, friends, traditional activities, sports, and the deep connection to land, lake, and sky. Youth shared parts of their identity-forming life worlds through their storyscapes. Their embodied knowledge of place, self, and spirit were fed by deeper feelings of belonging and interacting with their social, physical, and spiritual environments. ARTICLE HISTORY

Research paper thumbnail of Widening the Angle: Film as Alternative Pedagogy For Wellness In Indigenous Youth

International Journal of Education & the Arts, 2020

Indigenous youth face numerous challenges in terms of their well-being. Colonization enforced lan... more Indigenous youth face numerous challenges in terms of their well-being. Colonization enforced land and cultural loss, fractured relationships, and restricted the use of the imagination and agentic capacity (Colonial policies, structures, and approaches in education have been detrimental to Indigenous youth (Nardozi, 2013). Many First Nations leaders, community members, and youth have expressed a need for a wider range of activities that move beyond Western models of knowledge and learning (Goulet & Goulet, 2015). School curricula in Indigenous communities are incorporating alternative pedagogical tools, such as the arts, that not only allow youth to explore and express their realities and interests but that also offer them holistic ways of learning and knowing (Yuen et al., 2013). This article describes a participatory arts research project which featured film production and was delivered in the context of a grade 10 Communications Media course. The research took place at a First Nations high school in a Neehithuw (Woodland Cree) community in northern Saskatchewan. This article highlights the content of the films produced, the benefits of the filmmaking experience, and the challenges faced by the teacher and students during the process.

Research paper thumbnail of "Moving Forward": Arts and Indigenous Reciprocal Leadership in a Neehithuw (Woodland Cree) School Arts Project

WINHEC: International Journal of Indigenous Education Scholarship, 2019

This article discusses an arts-based program carried out in a Neehithuw (Woodland Cree) school in... more This article discusses an arts-based program carried out in a Neehithuw (Woodland Cree) school in northern Saskatchewan. Using historical photographs, students wrote a poem and then performed the poem for various audiences. The teaching/learning relationship based on Neehithuw language concepts and values allowed student leadership to develop so that students were comfortable bringing their lived culture into the curriculum. Thus, the project illustrates the effectiveness of the arts as well as a pedagogical approach that uses Indigenous reciprocal leadership to enact Neehithuw 1 concepts and values to achieve educational decolonisation and cultural affirmation.

Research paper thumbnail of PRACTICE INNOVATIONS I'taamohkanoohsin (everyone comes together): A Blackfoot cultural program supporting people with concurrent mental health challenges and other complex needs

Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 2018

Trauma, addiction, and homelessness for Indigenous people are interwoven with colonialism and the... more Trauma, addiction, and homelessness for Indigenous people are interwoven with colonialism and the loss of culture. I'taamohkanoohsin is a grassroots program that was developed to support healing and recovery for a highly marginalized Indigenous population with concurrent mental health challenges and other complex needs in a downtown core neighbourhood.

Research paper thumbnail of I'taamohkanoohsin (everyone comes together): (Re)connecting Indigenous people experiencing homelessness and substance misuse to Blackfoot ways of knowing

International Journal of Indigenous Health, 2019

Substance misuse and homelessness are closely related outcomes for many Indigenous Canadians who ... more Substance misuse and homelessness are closely related outcomes for many Indigenous Canadians who live with extensive intergenerational trauma caused by residential school and the 60s Scoop. In recent years, the rise of opioid addiction along with related overdoses and mortalities in many parts of Canada has led to what is being called an opioid crisis. (Re)connection to Indigenous ways of knowing and practices are frequently seen as a path to healing. To address substance misuse and homelessness within a Canadian city, a grassroots program was developed for a largely Blackfoot population. The program increased access to traditional cultural resources and activities in a visible, downtown location. Two-Eyed Seeing informed the development and evaluation of the program. Results indicated that attendance connected people with their spirits, inspiring strength and hope for the future, and ameliorated spiritual homelessness. The program formed a safe space where relationships were strengthened, people felt respected, and meaningful activity away from substances was available.

Research paper thumbnail of Like braiding sweetgrass: Nurturing relationships and alliances in Indigenous community-based research

The shifting environment of Indigenous community-based research demands reflexivity because the n... more The shifting environment of Indigenous community-based research demands reflexivity because the negotiation and maintenance of relationships are central (Findlay, Ray, & Basualdo, 2014). This paper expands on the importance of social relationships in the Nehinuw (Cree) worldview by reflecting on an ongoing research partnership among a team of Indigenous and Settler researchers from three universities and one Indigenous community agency. The Nehinuw relationships of weechihitowin (supporting and helping each other), weechiyauguneetowin (partnership, collaborative or shared action), otootemitowin (respectful openness and acceptance of others), and weechiseechigemitowin (alliances for common action) (L. Goulet & K. Goulet, 2014) form the theoretical framework for analyzing the challenges and successes that have sustained this collaboration for almost 10 years. This article will enhance understanding of Indigenous community-based research to promote an epistemological shift toward Indigenous modes of inquiry.

Research paper thumbnail of Kiskenimisowin (self-knowledge): Co-researching wellbeing with Canadian First Nations youth through participatory visual methods

Indigenous youth represent one of the most marginalized demographics in Canada. As such they must... more Indigenous youth represent one of the most marginalized demographics in Canada. As such they must contend with many barriers to wellness that stem from oppression, including historical and ongoing colonization and racism. Developing effective health programming requires innovation and flexibility, especially important when programs take place in diverse Indigenous communities where local needs and cultural practices vary. This article reports the findings of an after-school program in 2014 that blended a participatory visual method of research with Indigenous knowledge, methodologies, and practices to provide sociocultural health programming for youth in a First Nation in southern Saskatchewan, Canada. Engaging with youth to co-research wellbeing through the arts was conceptualized as both research and health promotion. Participatory arts methods created a safe space for youth to express their views of health and wellness issues while developing self-knowledge about their individual and cultural identities.