“It’s a lot of work, and I’m still doing it”: Indigenous perceptions of help after sexual abuse and sexual violence

Abstract

This project used a sequential exploratory design to learn about what Canadian Indigenous people found helpful for dealing with the impacts of sexual abuse and sexual violence, as well as facilitators and barriers to service use. Participants resided in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada and identified primarily as Ojibway, Oji-Cree, Cree, and Métis. Talking Circles and individual interviews were integrated with quantitative survey data. The Medicine Wheel was used to organize and describe findings. Spiritual practices included meeting with Elders, attending ceremonies, being outside, teachings, Healing Circles, and using Traditional Healers and Traditional Medicines. Emotional practices included connection, listening and being listened to, validation, cultural connections, self-reflection, belonging, and help with grieving. Physical practices included fasting, having a safe place to go, and sobriety, while mental practices included learning and understanding, non-judgement, learning coping skills, and being persistent. Findings reinforce that supports for sexual abuse/violence must be conceptualized beyond formal supports and be inclusive of the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical practices used by Indigenous peoples.