"Sewing Is Part of Our Tradition": A Case Study of Sewing as a Strategy for Arts-Based Inquiry in Health Research With Inuit Women.

Laura Jane Brubacher,Sherilee L Harper,Ashlee Cunsolo,Gwen K Healey Akearok,Naomi Tatty,Sally Humphries,Cate E Dewey

doi:10.1177/10497323211042869

Abstract

In this article, we present a case study of sewing as a strategy for arts-based inquiry in health research, situated within a broader project that highlighted Nunavut Inuit women’s childbirth experiences. Five focus groups were hosted as sewing sessions with pregnant women (N = 19) in Iqaluit, Nunavut (2017–2018). Women’s reflections on the sessions, and the significance of sewing to Inuit, were integrated with researchers’ critical reflections to examine the value of sewing as a strategy for arts-based inquiry within a focus group method: results related to the flexibility of the sessions; how collective sewing created space for voicing, sharing, and relating; sewing as a tactile and place-specific practice tied to Inuit knowledge and tradition; and lessons learned. Our results underscore the possibilities of arts-based approaches, such as sewing, to enhance data gathering within a focus group method and to contribute to more locally appropriate, place-based methods for Indigenous health research.

Highlights

Sewing is part of our tradition, our culture
We explore the methodological possibilities and value of arts-based inquiry in health research through a case study on maternal health in Iqaluit, Nunavut
The results presented relate to the significance of collective sewing for participants, and how sewing together facilitated data gathering

Summary

Introduction

Sewing is part of our tradition, our culture. It gives a warm welcoming into the group. Like out on the land—you get away from reality, and you receive what the land has to offer you, what the animals in the water are. It’s just a real peaceful state, your entire body and soul is feeling around you. ’Cause you’re keeping the tradition going, you have all these different reasons to be motivated to be able to participate in these sewing groups. It’s such a satisfying feeling of emotion that, “Oh, I finished this! It’s going to be used and kept warm.”. It’s going to be used and kept warm.” Something you can provide for your family. (Naomi Tatty, Inuk team member and co-author, on sewing)

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Results

Conclusion