Aboriginal Groups Research Articles

Strategies to Support Sustained Participant Engagement in an Oral Health Promotion Study for Indigenous Children and Their Families in Australia.

The health inequities of Indigenous peoples compared with non-Indigenous peoples are significant and long-standing across many countries. Colonisation and dispossession of land and culture has led to profound and devastating consequences on the health of Indigenous peoples. A lack of trust and cultural security of health services remains a barrier to participation in health care services. Similarly, engagement in research activities is also hindered by a history of unethical research practices. Creating partnerships between researchers and Indigenous communities is key in developing research studies that are culturally appropriate, acceptable and relevant to the needs of Indigenous peoples. Baby Teeth Talk was a randomised controlled trial conducted with Indigenous children and their mothers in South Australia that tested an intervention involving dental care, anticipatory guidance on oral health and dietary intake, and motivational interviewing. The study was developed in consultation and partnership with local Indigenous communities in South Australia and overseen by the study’s Aboriginal reference group. The recruitment and retention of participants in the study has been strong over numerous waves of follow-up. The purpose of this paper is to describe the strategies employed in the study that contributed to the successful and sustained engagement of the participants. These strategies included the establishment of an Aboriginal reference group, building relationships with organisations and community, flexibility of appointment scheduling and allocating adequate time, reimbursement for participant time, developing rapport with participants, encouraging participant self-determination, and adaptation of dietary data collection to better suit participants.

Important lack of difference in tacrolimus and mycophenolic acid pharmacokinetics between Aboriginal and Caucasian kidney transplant recipients.

To examine whether differences in tacrolimus and mycophenolic acid (MPA) pharmacokinetics contribute to the poorer kidney transplant outcomes experienced by Aboriginal Australians. Concentration-time profiles for tacrolimus and MPA were prospectively collected from 43 kidney transplant recipients: 27 Aboriginal and 16 Caucasian. Apparent clearance (CL/F) and distribution volume (V/F) for each individual were derived from concentration-time profiles combined with population pharmacokinetic priors, with subsequent assessment for between-group difference in pharmacokinetics. In addition, population pharmacokinetic models were developed using the prospective dataset supplemented by previously developed structural models for tacrolimus and MPA. The change in NONMEM objective function was used to assess improvement in goodness of model fit. No differences were found between Aboriginal and Caucasian groups or empirical Bayes estimates, for CL/F or V/F of MPA or tacrolimus. However, a higher prevalence of CYP3A5 expressers (26% compared with 0%) and wider between-subject variability in tacrolimus CL/F (SD=5.00 compared with 3.25 L/h/70 kg) were observed in the Aboriginal group, though these differences failed to reach statistical significance (p= .07 and p= .08). There were no differences in typical tacrolimus or MPA pharmacokinetics between Aboriginal and Caucasian kidney transplant recipients. This means that Bayesian dosing tools developed to optimise tacrolimus and MPA dosing in Caucasian recipients may be applied to Aboriginal recipients. In turn, this may improve drug exposure and thereby transplant outcomes in this group. Aboriginal recipients appeared to have greater between-subject variability in tacrolimus CL/F and a higher prevalence of CYP3A5 expressers, attributes that have been linked with inferior outcomes.

Concurrent 11. Presentation for: INPEX-led Ichthys Joint Venture – proudly partnering with Indigenous Groups in the Northern Territory

Presented on Wednesday 18 May: Session 11 The INPEX-led Ichthys Joint Venture has established strong partnerships with the Northern Territory Government (NTG), cultural organisations and Traditional Owner groups in the Northern Territory to deliver social and environmental offset programs. The key governance model for delivery of the offset programs is the Ichthys Project Voluntary Offset Agreement (IPVOA), which commits $91 M AUD over a 40-year period through a suite of offset programs. This paper focuses on the journey to partner with the NTG-run Aboriginal Ranger Grants Program (ARGP). Through the IPVOA, INPEX and its Ichthys Joint Venture participants will contribute $24 M AUD over 22 years, to the ARGP, for Aboriginal Ranger programs addressing specific species and their associated habitat throughout the Top End. This is the first time where industry has contributed to the ARGP to deliver positive outcomes in the NT. This has been achieved by fostering collaborative, engaging and trustworthy relationships with the Commonwealth and NT governments; engaging with the Aboriginal Land Management Advisory Group; and meeting with Aboriginal Ranger groups. The key has been finding a common ground between the perspectives and the priorities of all stakeholders for how best to deliver conservation management on country in the NT. This common ground is likely to evolve over the next 22 years as the INPEX-led Ichthys Joint Venture and NTG deliver environmental outcomes, promote a connection to country and empower Aboriginal Ranger groups to better manage their country for future generations. To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here

Looking After the Rock Art of Kakadu National Park, Australia

ABSTRACT Iconic, magnificent and breathtaking are words often used to describe the rock art of Kakadu National Park in the northern tropics of Australia, which is inscribed on the World Heritage List, due to the very many sites with significant rock art (bim) and the strength of continuing Aboriginal culture. A small but dedicated team of Traditional Owners, Park staff and rock art specialists work on an annual program to monitor, maintain and manage this significant landscape through a collaborative framework. To do this the Cultural Programs team, both Bininj/Mungguy (Aboriginal people) and Balanda (non-Indigenous people), work together, incorporating traditional and scientific knowledge systems to build a cooperative approach to look after rock art in Kakadu. Putting culture first is central to the decolonised program, where western scientific conservation techniques play a secondary supporting role. Culture is the foundation in this living cultural landscape and the voices of the Elders guide the co-designed annual program. Alongside this Indigenous stewardship, knowledge of conservation practices is shared to improve understanding and skills in the professional development of local people, Aboriginal ranger groups and national park staff in managing the Kakadu rock art estate. This is achieved through getting families, old people and the young back to Country (traditional custodial lands), which supports intergenerational exchange of knowledge, maintaining culture and connections to kin, Country and language. Here we demonstrate that by keeping culture central, connections between traditional and scientific approaches to protecting, conserving and managing rock art can advance best practice so that bim can endure.

INPEX-led Ichthys Joint Venture – proudly partnering with Indigenous Groups in the Northern Territory

The INPEX-led Ichthys Joint Venture has established strong partnerships with the Northern Territory Government (NTG), cultural organisations and Traditional Owner groups in the Northern Territory to deliver social and environmental offset programs. The key governance model for delivery of the offset programs is the Ichthys Project Voluntary Offset Agreement (IPVOA), which commits $91 M AUD over a 40-year period through a suite of offset programs. This paper focuses on the journey to partner with the NTG-run Aboriginal Ranger Grants Program (ARGP). Through the IPVOA, INPEX and its Ichthys Joint Venture participants will contribute $24 M AUD over 22 years, to the ARGP, for Aboriginal Ranger programs addressing specific species and their associated habitat throughout the Top End. This is the first time where industry has contributed to the ARGP to deliver positive outcomes in the NT. This has been achieved by fostering collaborative, engaging and trustworthy relationships with the Commonwealth and NT governments; engaging with the Aboriginal Land Management Advisory Group; and meeting with Aboriginal Ranger groups. The key has been finding a common ground between the perspectives and the priorities of all stakeholders for how best to deliver conservation management on country in the NT. This common ground is likely to evolve over the next 22 years as the INPEX-led Ichthys Joint Venture and NTG deliver environmental outcomes, promote a connection to country and empower Aboriginal Ranger groups to better manage their country for future generations.

Community co-selection of measures to evaluate the health and wellbeing impact of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community running groups.

Physical activity participation can improve the physical health and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The evaluation of physical activity programmes can elicit a clearer understanding of where these impacts occur and to what extent. We describe applying a collaborative approach to the selection of a set of measures that can be used to examine health and wellbeing impacts of Indigenous community running groups. Physical activity, health and wellbeing measurement tools previously used with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were collated. Participants in the collaborative process were nine female running group members aged 30+ years from a regional New South Wales (NSW) town. The Indigenous research method, Yarning, explored views of participating in the group on health and wellbeing and how these could be measured using those collated measurement tools. Runners described participating for holistic physical, mental and social reasons and stated the importance of the group participating together and providing social support to each other. There was broad support for the identified physical activity, lifestyle, physical health, and social and emotional wellbeing measures, with social networks and sports injuries identified as additionally relevant. Co-selecting measures to evaluate a physical activity programme for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants can better inform the development of relevant future healthy lifestyle programme evaluation, revealing factors that may be missed as relevant by researchers. SO WHAT?: This process presents an example of determining evaluation measures with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants that could be applied more broadly to evaluation design.

Developing culturally appropriate food literacy resources for Aboriginal children with Foodbank WA's Superhero Foods®.

In Australia, food sovereignty of traditional landowners has been marginalised by the globalisation of food systems and resulted in limited opportunities for children to experience familiar bush tucker foods as healthy choices, particularly in a school environment. Superhero Foods® themed teaching resources focus on the development of nutrition education materials that included traditional Aboriginal foods together with contemporary foods readily available in regional/remote communities. Consultation with an Aboriginal expert and Aboriginal artist; local, regional/remote teachers and stakeholders informed the development of tailored resources including food cartoon characters, school lesson plans and a storybook. The latter was guided by a resource development model. Users of the resources were surveyed to ascertain the useability, alignment with the Australian Dietary Guidelines, cross-curricular learnings and cultural relevance. Respondents across regional/remote and urban locations completed a lesson plan and food character (clipart) survey (N=51) and storybook survey (N=14). Respondents advised the resources were relevant, enjoyable, engaging and culturally appropriate for all students regardless of Aboriginality. The resources provided learning opportunities for all children to enhance knowledge about Aboriginal culture and bush foods. Independent evaluation has further indicated the translation of messaging into student's knowledge and learning. Key enablers to the success of the resource included; free online access, the highly engaging nature of the resources and adaptability to be implemented across a number of Aboriginal language groups in WA. Ensuring visual representation of healthy choices was fundamental to reinforcing nutrition messaging. Superhero Foods resources are a positive and important inclusion in the health promotion toolbox for Aboriginal children. SO WHAT?: Superhero Foods are novel nutrition education resources depicting Aboriginal foods and Aboriginal children. These food literacy resources will engage children's understanding of Aboriginal culture, improve food literacy and strengthen equitable access for regional and remote communities.

Ironbark: Developing a healthy community program for older Aboriginal people.

Programs by, with and for Aboriginal older people must be culturally safe and relevant. Successful elements include being Aboriginal specific and group based. Co-design with Aboriginal people and stakeholders is essential. We describe the co-design process of developing the Ironbark: Healthy Community program. Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing and yarning conversational methods guided the development process, during 2018. A desktop review provided details of current group characteristics and key community stakeholders. Stakeholder engagement regarding views about group operations, participants and benefits also occurred. Aboriginal Elders views of their groups were gathered through yarning circles in New South Wales (NSW). Grounded theory approach was used to ascertain key themes. Initial engagement occurred with 13 different community stakeholders and organisations in three Australian states (NSW, South Australia (SA), Western Australia (WA)). Three yarning circles occurred with Elders from urban (N=10), regional coastal (N=10) and regional country (N=4) groups. Six key themes were organised in three groups according to an Aboriginal ontology. 1. Knowing: groups provide opportunities to share knowledge and connect socially. Adequate program resourcing and sustainability are valued. 2. Being: groups strengthen culture, providing important social, emotional and other forms of support to age well. 3. Doing: previous program experiences inform perceptions for new program operations. Group venues and operational aspects should be culturally safe, acknowledging diversity among Elders, their preferences and community control. Themes were used to develop the program and its resource manual that were finalised with stakeholders, including steering committee approval. Stakeholder feedback at multiple stages and Aboriginal Elders' perspectives resulted in a new co-designed community program involving weekly yarning circles and social activities. So what?: Co-design, guided by Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing, can develop programs relevant for Aboriginal people.

Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Delayed Sputum Smear Conversion in Malaysian Aborigines with Smear-Positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious public health challenge despite enormous eradication efforts. Indigenous groups worldwide have a higher TB incidence and associated delayed sputum–smear conversion. The aim of this case–control study was to determine the epidemiology and factors associated with delayed sputum–smear conversion among Malaysian aborigines. Methods: We used secondary data from 2016 to 2020 in the MyTB surveillance system. Malaysian aborigines with smear-positive pulmonary TB were enrolled and followed until the end of the intensive phase. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were used for data analysis. Results: Of 725 Malaysian aborigines with pulmonary TB, 572 (78.9%) were smear-positive and 487 (78.9%) fulfilled the study criteria. The mean (SD) age of smear-positive pulmonary TB was 39.20 (16.33) years. Majority of participants were male (63%), Senoi tribe (54.9%), living in rural areas (88.1%), formally educated (60.4%) and living below the poverty line (97.1%). Overall, 93 (19.1%) of 487 patients showed delayed sputum-smear conversion and significantly associated factors, such as smoking (AdjOR: 3.25; 95% CI: 1.88, 5.59), diabetes mellitus (AdjOR: 12.84; 95% CI: 6.33, 26.06), and HIV infection (AdjOR: 9.76; 95% CI: 3.01, 31.65). Conclusions: Stakeholders should adopt targeted approaches to tackle the problem of aboriginal groups with pulmonary TB and these associated risk factors to realise the End TB target.

Arab-Indian −530 β-distal promoter haplotype and sickle/Hb D heterozygosis in Badagas of Nilgiris: is it suggestive of Harappan origin?

Origin and ancestry of the Badagas of Nilgiris, an indigenous community of Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu in India, is a controversial topic. During our massive screening for haemoglobinopathies among Badagas, we identified a rare south Indian haemoglobin variant, the haemoglobin D (Hb D) Punjab (HBB: c.364G>C; rs33946267). The observed Hb D cases were double heterozygous with sickle cell trait (HbSD-Punjab) and manifested symptoms. The beta-globin distal promoter motif (-530 cap site BP1U) sequencing revealed a characteristic heterozygous combination of Arab-Indian sickle haplotype ((AT)9 (T)5) with universally common beta gene haplotype ((AT)7 (T)7). The report is a pioneer one informing the presence of Hb-D Punjab from an indigenous or aboriginal group of southern India. By the above information, we support the theory of unicentric tribal origin and distribution during Harappan civilization.

How and why do women’s groups (WGs) improve the quality of maternal and child health (MCH) care? A systematic review of the literature

BackgroundThis systematic review was undertaken to assist the implementation of the WOmen’s action for Mums and Bubs (WOMB) project which explores Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community women’s group (WG)...

Conducting a Global Quadruple Aim Thematic Analysis of Telemedicine Performance in Rural Indigenous Populations and Evidence-Based Recommendations for Improvement

As telehealth is a growing form of healthcare delivery across the world, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s impact on patient populations particularly in aboriginal and rural communities boasts many questions. As the health disparities between aboriginal groups living in rural areas on reserves and the rest of the Canadian demographics remain to be mountainous, telemedicine is often seen as the new way forward in reducing these healthcare gaps.
 Presently, much research has been conducted on these cohorts, particularly in the health equity atmosphere. However, much of this research lacks a comprehensive framework or tool in which it analyzes the efficacy of outcomes. In this review paper, the quadruple aim – the ideal standard of care which North American health systems seek to conform to – will be used to analyze telemedicine performance, and assert evidence-based recommendations for improvement. 
 Therefore, this paper seeks to conduct a thematic analysis on the various issues and barriers to telemedicine delivery and usage in aboriginal populations with respect to the quadruple aim as well as identifying evidence-based solutions to alleviate some of these concerns and bolster care.

Strengths-Based Nursing to Combat Common Infectious Diseases in Indigenous Australians.

(1) Problem: The increasing incidence and prevalence of infectious diseases in Indigenous Australians (Aboriginal groups and Torres Strait Islanders) are concerning. Indigenous Australians experience the burden of infectious diseases disproportionately when compared to non-Indigenous Australians. (2) Aim: Our report aims to describe how to apply Strengths-Based Nursing (SBN) to ameliorate the impact of the most common infectious diseases in Indigenous Australians. Specifically, we aim to describe how nurses can use SBN to partner with Indigenous Australian communities to remediate, control, and mollify the impact of the most common infectious diseases encountered by them using their limited resources. (3) Methods: Meticulous PubMed, Google Scholar, and web searches were conducted pertaining to Strengths-Based Nursing and common infectious diseases in Indigenous Australians. (4) Findings: The two groups of infectious diseases considered are sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and infectious skin diseases (including parasitic infestations). The prevalence of these infectious diseases in Indigenous Australians is deliberated on, with data when possible, or known trends and impacts. Finally, existing, evidence-based, prudent, and possible SBN approaches are discussed towards tackling these infectious diseases judiciously with available local resources, in conjunction with the support of impacted people, their families, and their communities. (5) Discussion and Conclusion: The SBN approach is a relatively new perspective/approach to clinical and nursing care. In contradistinction to the commonly utilised medical model, SBN pits strengths against deficits, available resources against professional judgment, solutions against unavailable items, and collaborations against hierarchy. In light of the current situation/data, several SBN approaches to combat STIs and skin infections in Indigenous Australians were identified and discussed for the first time in the “Results” section of this paper.

Сoncentration of sex hormones and dopamine in different groups of women in the Arctic depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle

INTRODUCTION: The transition of the indigenous population of the North from a nomadic to a sedentary lifestyle leads to a change in a number of regulatory mechanisms, which can affect the reproductive health of the female population. AIM: To study the state of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad system and the level of dopamine in women in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, taking into account the phase of the menstrual cycle and the fact that the women belong to different groups of the population during the period of rapid transition of aborigines from nomadic to settled life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This article is an observational, cross-sectional, uncontrolled study that examines the differences in sex hormone concentrations and dopamine levels between groups of nomadic and sedentary aborigines and the local Caucasian population in the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. A total of 157 women aged 23 to 51 years were examined. The concentrations of the main sex hormones, the sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), antisperm antibodies, and dopamine were determined by enzyme immunoassay. Statistical processing was performed using Statistica 10.0. Nonparametric methods of analysis were used because the majority of the obtained samples did not have a normal distribution (as assessed by the ShapiroWilk test). The threshold value of the significance level (p) was equal to 0.05. The significance of differences between groups was assessed using the MannWhitney U-test. RESULTS: The differences between the groups were very similar in different phases. The follicle-stimulating hormone in the local Caucasian population was 1.5 to 2 times higher, and prolactin and antisperm antibodies were 1.5 to 2 times lower than in the aboriginal population groups, when 43% to 50% of individuals with dopamine values below normal were detected. Total and free testosterone were also lower in sedentary natives compared with other groups, and SHBG was higher (4264% of cases above normal). CONCLUSION: The features of the state of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad system, depending on the lifestyle, can contribute to the implementation of diagnostic and preventive measures while maintaining reproductive health in different groups of the Arctic population.

Assessing The Validity Of A Culturally Modified Drinking Motives Questionnaire For Use In Aboriginal Communities.

Introduction: Alcohol related harms disproportionately affect Aboriginal people in Australia. Motives to drink have been identified as the most proximal factor to alcohol consumption. Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the validity of a culturally modified Drinking Motives Questionnaire-Revised (DMQ-R) (Cooper, 1994) with Aboriginal participants. Design: The study was cross sectional, utilising data collected via face-to-face surveys with a sample of adult Aboriginal participants. Participants: A convenience sample of 135 Aboriginal men (n=41) and women (n=94) from the Pilbara Region of Western Australia, who had consumed alcohol in the preceding 12 months. Outcome Measures: The Culturally modified DMQ-R (CDMQ-R) developed in consultation with Aboriginal community researchers and a local Aboriginal Community Reference Group was the primary outcome measure for this study. Results: Confirmatory Factor Analysis indicated the four-factor model of drinking motives as measured by a culturally modified DMQ-R was valid for use with Aboriginal people of the Pilbara region. Conclusions: While most items loaded on the factor solution as hypothesised, there were some minor discrepancies which suggest further modification may be needed. In addition, the reduction of the original five-point scale to a three-point scale created statistical challenges. Future research might seek to further refine the DMQ-R for this population and determine an appropriate method for expanding the response scale incorporating advice from Aboriginal people.

Integrating scientific and Aboriginal knowledge, practice and priorities to conserve an endangered rainforest ecosystem in the Kimberley region, northern Australia

SummaryAustralia’s diverse plants and animals evolved for tens of thousands of years with Aboriginal biocultural knowledge, land management and cultural practice. The interdependency of this biocultural knowledge and land management practice is still ecologically relevant today but is only recently being acknowledged in mainstream scientific conservation management processes and research. We present an example of cross‐cultural collaborative management of the endangered monsoon vine thickets of the Dampier Peninsula, West Kimberley, northern Australia. These vine thickets occur as a network of over 80 patches in the lee of coastal dunes on the Peninsula, and are ecologically rich (containing 25% of Peninsula plant species) and culturally important for Peninsula Aboriginal groups for food, medicine, camping, cultural ceremonies and law. Adversely affected by land‐clearing, weeds and wildfires, the vine thickets were listed as nationally endangered in 2013. The overlapping significance of the vine thickets by scientific and Aboriginal knowledge systems resulted in the formation of the Monsoon Vine Thicket Project in 2008 that aimed to document and conserve the ecosystem and its associated culture. The project has grown successfully over 13 years and has been guided by cross‐cultural collaboration principles of respect for: cultural knowledge, practices and priorities; cultural knowledge holders; and long‐term partnerships. The project has resulted in considerable outcomes in weed and fire management; seed collection, propagation and revegetation; community education; and the documentation, transfer and practice of Aboriginal biocultural knowledge. The greatest challenge for the project has been to better prioritise cultural activities, with examples provided of how this can increase benefits to both ecological conservation and cultural maintenance. The project’s strength was its cross‐cultural approach and resultant respectful and trusting relationships that allowed for project flexibility and adaptation and for the collaborative partners to learn and develop capacity. The integration of cultural and scientific knowledge and practice resulted in greater conservation outcomes for monsoon vine thickets of the Dampier Peninsula, and we believe is an important cross‐cultural model for ecosystem management elsewhere in Australia.

The Construction of Canadian Metis Identity in Halfbreed

Halfbreed is a representative aboriginal novel of Canadian female writer Maria Campbell. It is an extraordinary memoir that records Campbell’ life experience as a Canadian Metis woman and initiates a rebirth of Canadian aboriginal literature. In the novel, Campbell began her recovery journey after overcoming the difficulties of poverty, alcoholism, drug addiction and prostitution. Through her recovery, she became aware of self-consciousness and dedicated herself to fighting for the rights of Canadian Metis. This essay analyzes the complex psychological process of inferiority, hatred, obedience, and loss that experienced by Canadian Metis when they suffered discrimination and oppression both physically and spiritually, as well as the way of constructing their cultural identity. Meanwhile, three elements of Campbell’ consciousness awakening process are demonstrated. Campbell has always been the leader in the process of pursuing her cultural identity. It is the result of the joint influence of individual, family and society factors. The awakening of the awareness of Canadian Metis will help and inspire the aboriginal groups and people sharing similar experiences around the world, to pursue their own cultural identities and strive for revitalizing their own cultures.

MATAK WOMEN STATUS IN THE CULTURAL FIELD: A SPECIAL FOCUS IN THE RELIGION SPHERE IN DIBRUGARH DISTRICT, ASSAM

Basically living in the upper parts like in the district of Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Sivasagar, Matak is an important aboriginal ethnic group of Assam. Culture shape and reshape the identities of different groups and its people and play a crucial role to determine the status of men and women within this group through practices, norms, religion, marriage, festivals, beliefs, myths etc. Infect it is the culture which defines male and female as the men and women through the gender socialization process. Within a patriarchal base system religion as a cultural tool define women lower positon in this ethnic group. But here occurring dual sources reflect a complex situation regarding this religion issue. From the earlier time exist as tribal religious worshipped represent a specific position of Matak women but later on adopting Neo –Vaishnava push women lower position. Thus, this paper analysis a complex interplay by religion to determine the Matak women status in the cultural sphere in the context of Dibrugarh district

On the incompatibility of ‘Western’ and Aboriginal views of Restorative Justice in Canada: a claim based on an understanding of the Cree justice

ABSTRACT ‘Restorative justice’ (RJ) has been a popular notion in Canada. A common belief has been that ‘‘western approaches’ to RJ are compatible with that of Canada’s Aboriginals. I hold a different position. I argue that the religious beliefs of Canada’s Aboriginals are basic to their understanding of RJ. As such, their view of RJ is essentially incompatible with western approaches, which are secular. Any similarity between the two is only an apparent one produced by the indiscriminate uses of similar terms such as ‘holistic’, ‘healing’ or ‘restoration’. I support my argument by providing an account of Canada’s largest Aboriginal group’s view of RJ: the Cree. I demonstrate that it is based on certain religious principles that are absent from western approaches to RJ. As such, it is fundamentally incompatible with secular western approaches to RJ in Canada. These religious principles, basically and broadly speaking, are shared by all Aboriginal groups in Canada.

Малочисленные народы Севера арктических районов Якутии в урбанизационных процессах середины ХХ в.

The purpose of the research is to shed light on the demographic and urbanisation processes among small-numbered peoples that took place in the North of Yakutia in the 1930s-1950s. The paper considers the general situation that developed by the middle of the XX century, as well as the factors that influenced the formation of the ethnic landscape in the studied region. Scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that social transformations in the Arctic regions, as well as the role that local aboriginal ethnic groups played in the said processes during the specified period have not yet become a separate object of study. The research findings present the socio-demographic picture that has developed in the circumpolar regions of Yakutia at the initial stage of the large-scale industrial development of the Arctic.