Abstract:
In the US. Indigenous youth in particular have poorer health and educational outcomes than any other culturally diverse group face racial violence, are historicized and dehumanized creating a litany of health and educational related problems in a time that is critical to identity development. While resources are dedicated to addressing disparate conditions for Indigenous youth such as suicide rates, substance use, or even closing achievement gaps. While less is known about practices that will serve the interests of Indigenous communities or places where their members reside and receive an education. What are the culturally relevant experiences that promote Indigenous youth resilience and who are defining the importance of these experiences? Often, Indigenous youth and their voices are overlooked in research. This study addresses this gap by examining: 1) How youth express their understanding of health and wellness (e.g. cultural connectedness: values, beliefs, ways of knowing, language, spirituality, connection to land); 2) What experiences do Indigenous Youth have that they believe contribute to their own health and Wellness (e.g. cultural connectedness: values, beliefs, ways of knowing, language, spirituality, connection to land); 3)How do Indigenous youth express their cultural connectedness in terms of place (urban/rural)? Data for the study was gathered from focus groups conducted with AI/AN youth in the Northwest.
