Abstract
This project is a qualitative study of a land-based intervention used in an Indigenous community in northern Ontario. As previous research suggests, a sense of connection to the land is an integral part of Indigenous well-being, and mental health interventions centered around this connection may be more appropriate for use in Indigenous communities than Western treatment approaches that typically emphasize individuality. The present study gains further insight into how a land-based intervention can be applied to an Indigenous community. Interviews with three community members were conducted and summarized in order to understand their views on the background, components, advantages, and challenges of the program. Results showed a focus on strengthening cultural identity, facilitating intergenerational knowledge transfer, and building relationships with others, similar to other land-based programs across Canada. The importance of reconnecting Indigenous youth with their cultural heritage and developing community-centered programs are discussed.
Highlights
The two older participants spoke of experiences in their early youth when they accompanied their grandparents on trips to gather wood and hunt
This project is a qualitative study of a land-based intervention used in an Indigenous community in northern Ontario
A sense of connection to the land is an integral part of Indigenous well-being, and mental health interventions centered around this connection may be more appropriate for use in Indigenous communities than Western treatment approaches that typically emphasize individuality
Summary
The two older participants spoke of experiences in their early youth when they accompanied their grandparents on trips to gather wood and hunt. These experiences involved a shared connection to the land with their elders. I remember going out there with a dog team with my grandad while he went to get his wood. It wasn’t much – what I was doing out on the land – it was just being. It’s almost like therapy, but you’re just sitting here with your own thoughts. You’re just taking in everything that’s around you.^
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