“We Cause a Ruckus”: Exploring How Indigenous Youth Navigate the Challenges of Community Engagement and Leadership
Abstract
:1. Introduction
A health worker said that resilience and strength come only when a crisis occurs…It’s hard to get people out for workshops, activities, and community engagement. The top mental health problem among youth is anxiety, and this group doesn’t want to talk about what’s bothering them. Youth tend to be shy to outsiders because there is no trust. There needs to be more involvement in the community to build that acceptance ([1] January 2019]).
2. Methodology
2.1. Study Setting
2.2. Epistemological Approach
We are seeing more and more each visit, which in many respects is an indicator that many in this community are letting us in to see what we see. There is still very much a distance that I doubt will ever be closed, but many are willing to trust us up to a point. The youth reach out, again to a point, but we are able to leave Kas and the youth cannot. I can’t help but think there is a certain resentment about that—not that we are privileged in some way (which I’m sure is part of it), but because the work stalls when we are not there. They need support, and while they get some for basic things, the more difficult work of mediating adult relationships stops.
2.3. Research Approach and Data Collection
2.4. Data Analysis & Ethical Issues
3. Representative Youth Projects
3.1. Case Studies 1 & 2: Social Change Projects
3.1.1. Game Nights & Snow Angels
The kids are of all ages and [one YA] who spoke with two of them last night, said they felt like there was no one to talk to. That hit the YAs hard, and they were like ‘we understand, but we’re here too’. There was a pause in the conversation, and I don’t think any of them have seen a counselor or if they have, maybe for only a couple of crisis-related sessions. When I asked if they’d seen a psychologist or someone like that, [the YA] said: ‘NO, they’ll say I’m crazy’ ([1] March 2020).
3.1.2. Valentine’s Day Dance
3.2. Case Studies 3 & 4: Structural Engagement Projects
3.2.1. Youth Space Development Project
3.2.2. Youth Participation in Community Decision-Making
The AP’s need support, and while they get some for basic things such as the Valentine’s dance, the more difficult work of mediating adult relationships stops ([1] March 2020).
4. Conclusions
5. Next Steps
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References and Note
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High School Responses (n = 40) | Youth Apprentice Responses (n = 4) |
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Shepherd, R.P.; Orchard, T.R. “We Cause a Ruckus”: Exploring How Indigenous Youth Navigate the Challenges of Community Engagement and Leadership. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 9542. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159542
Shepherd RP, Orchard TR. “We Cause a Ruckus”: Exploring How Indigenous Youth Navigate the Challenges of Community Engagement and Leadership. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(15):9542. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159542
Chicago/Turabian StyleShepherd, Robert P., and Treena R. Orchard. 2022. "“We Cause a Ruckus”: Exploring How Indigenous Youth Navigate the Challenges of Community Engagement and Leadership" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 15: 9542. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159542