First Nations Youth Research Articles

The Overlap Between the Child Welfare and Youth Justice Systems in Manitoba, Canada

IntroductionManitoba has one of the highest rates of children taken into care of child welfare services (Child and Family Services; CFS) in the world, and also one of the highest youth incarceration rates in Canada. Policy-makers recognize there is overlap between these systems; the extent of that overlap is unknown.
 Objectives and ApproachWe linked CFS, Justice, and Population Health Registry data to quantify the overlap between having a history of CFS during childhood (0-17 years) and being charged with a crime as a youth (12-17 years). Using a cohort approach, we selected all individuals in Manitoba who were born in 1988 (N=28,178); those not in the province at any time from 12-17 years were excluded, leaving a final cohort of 18,182. The cohort was divided into 3 groups according to CFS involvement: CFS out-of-home care (1,148); CFS in-home services (3,395); no CFS (13,639). Criminal charges between 12-17 years were identified.
 Results6.3% of our cohort had CFS out-of-home care, 18.7% received CFS in-home services, and 75% had no CFS involvement. 10.5% of the cohort were charged of a crime between 12-17 years. Almost half (46.6%) of youth who had CFS out-of-home care had criminal charges, compared to 19.4% of youth who had CFS in-home services, and 5.3% of youth with no CFS. Despite accounting for only 6.3% of the cohort, youth who had out-of-home care accounted for 28.0% of youth with criminal charges. Indigenous (First Nations (FN) and Metis) children/youth were over-represented in both systems; for example, 24.5% of FN youth had been in care compared to 3.1% of non-Indigenous; and 32.2% of FN youth were charged with a crime compared to 6.6% of non-Indigenous youth.
 Conclusion/ImplicationsThere is substantial overlap between the child welfare and youth justice systems, with overrepresentation of Indigenous youth in both systems. Culturally appropriate programs and policies aimed at supporting parents, families and communities to care for their own children will likely have long-term positive impacts on the youth justice system.

Using Art as a Medium for First Nations Youth to Express Their Pain: A Two-Eyed Seeing Qualitative Study

Abstract BACKGROUND: First Nations (FN) youth in Canada have the highest rates of pain-related conditions (ear, dental, headaches) yet may be least likely to be treated for them. Untreated pain has an arresting impact on growth and development and is detrimental to the achievement of life goals. In recent research conducted by the Aboriginal Children’s Hurt & Healing Initiative (ACHH), community participants reported that First Nation children are stoic and are reluctant to talk about their pain (Latimer & Rudderham, 2013). Clinicians are trained to assess pain based on overt signs of expression (cry, facial grimace, ability to describe) however if you do not present your pain this way it may reduce the chance of proper assessment and treatment. OBJECTIVES: Using a Two-Eyed Seeing qualitative perspective (best of Indigenous and Western knowledge) the purpose of this research was to provide FN youth with the method of art making to determine how they express their pain. DESIGN/METHODS: Youth from four FN communities, in three Maritime Provinces were invited to participate in art workshops facilitated by internationally renowned Mi’kmaq artist Alan Syliboy. The workshop began with a conversation circle about pain experiences and then proceeded to the art making. A FN documentary cinematographer captured the workshops and the results are documented in art and film. Three team members independently themed the data using thematic analysis and the inter-rater reliability was >85%. RESULTS: 39 youth aged 10-18 years participated in 4 community-based conversation and art sessions. The themes for the sessions were themed using the four dimensions of the Medicine Wheel. While the overwhelming theme discussed in the conversation sessions was physical pain, when provided the nonverbal, art mode of expression, the youth painted emotional pain more frequently than physical, spiritual and mental pain. There was overlap between the four themes but 70% of the artwork prominently illustrated emotional pain with 54% overlapping with physical, 30% mental and 31% spiritual. CONCLUSION: These results present a more complicated issue regarding the integration of the different types of pain, intertwined together. The finding that when asked-youth primarily discussed physical pain but given the opportunity, more frequently painted emotional pain may shed new light on the degree to which emotional pain is a factor for these youth. The artwork and accompanying narratives are powerful and have implications for understanding the complexity of assessing the different dimensions of pain in a culturally meaningful manner and for clinician education purposes. A sample of the artwork is attached.

Correlates of physical activity in First Nations youth residing in First Nations and northern communities in Canada.

Physical activity (PA) can help youth achieve balance among physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions of health. The objective was to identify individual, family and community factors associated with PA among First Nations (FN) youth residing in on-reserve and northern FN communities. Participants were 4,837 youth (12-17 years of age) responding to the 2008/10 First Nations Regional Health Survey. Through in-person interviews, youth responded to questions about moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), participation in traditional physical activities, and individuallevel, family and community factors. When averaged across all days of the year, 65% of FN youth accumulated at least 60 min/day of MVPA and 48% of youth participated in at least one traditional FN PA in the previous year. Being male, having a lower number of chronic conditions, living in balance physically, living with at least one biological parent, having more relatives help youth understand their culture, having more community challenges and having more leisure/recreation facilities were independently associated with an increased likelihood of accumulating ≥ 60 min of MVPA. Younger age, being male, knowledge and use of FN language, living in balance spiritually, living with at least one biological parent, having more relatives help youth understand their culture, living in a community of ≤ 300 people, and perceiving the natural environment and community health programs as strengths were independently associated with participation in traditional FN physical activities. There are several correlates of PA from diverse ecological levels among FN youth.

Body weight perceptions and eating-related weight control behaviors of on-reserve First Nations youth from Ontario, Canada

Research investigating the body weight perceptions and eating-related weight control behaviors of First Nations (FN) youth living on reserve in Canada has been scarce. Knowledge of body weight perceptions may help to improve the relevance of initiatives promoting healthy weights. The purpose of this study was to examine the body weight perceptions and eating-related weight control behaviors of grade 6-8 on-reserve FN youth from seven Ontario communities. Data were collected from December 2003 to June 2010 from a convenience sample of FN youth (aged 10-14 years) using the Waterloo Web-based Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (WEB-Q). Participants were categorized into body mass index (BMI) categories based on International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut points. Frequency statistics were computed in the comparison of measured BMI and weight perceptions and weight control behaviors. Differences by BMI category were tested using Pearson Χ2 tests. A total of 267 youth from seven Ontario FN communities participated in the study (48.6% male). Overall, 36.3% of youth were overweight and 21.3% were obese (combined total of 57.6%). Similar to non-Aboriginal youth, a greater proportion of FN girls who were at a normal weight were concerned that their weight was too high compared to boys. However, one-third of normal weight boys were currently trying to lose weight. A greater proportion of obese girls were trying to lose weight compared to boys. Overall, a large proportion of both overweight boys and girls were attempting to gain weight. The present study provides a unique investigation into the weight perceptions and weight control behaviors of on-reserve FN youth living in isolated communities in Ontario, Canada. Many of the perceptions elucidated in this study are similar to those observed in non-Aboriginal youth, while others differed. The knowledge of these perceptions and further research to investigate what factors influences them will help to customize health promoting initiatives that are relevant to the youth in the participating communities.

Intakes of milk and alternatives among on-reserve First Nations youth in northern and southern Ontario, Canada.

To assess the adequacy of milk and alternatives, Ca and vitamin D intakes in First Nations (FN) youth in Ontario, Canada. Intakes were compared with the general population and dietary standards. Variation in intakes by community (proxy for remoteness) and BMI was examined. Data were collected by 24 h recall between November 2003 and June 2010. Intakes were analysed descriptively. Variation in intakes, by community and BMI category, was assessed using ANOVA. Five remote FN communities of the Mushkegowuk Territory (northern Ontario, Canada) and two less-remote southern Ontario FN communities. Schoolchildren (n 457) in grades 6 to 12. Compared with Canada's Food Guide recommendations, 72.6 to 84.7% had an inadequate intake of milk and alternatives depending on age and sex group; 86.2% of individuals fell below the RDA for Ca; 96.4% fell below the RDA for vitamin D. Community variation in intakes was detected, although in all cases Fort Albany had higher intakes, even when it was the more northern (remote) community. A BMI × sex interaction was found for intake of milk and alternatives (P = 0.041): an inverse relationship between intake and BMI was seen in females; in males, those who were overweight had the highest intake, followed by normal-weight and obese youth. The nutritional inadequacies parallel the results of other Canadian studies of Aboriginal populations. Population health interventions to improve intakes are warranted. Moreover, community variation in intakes exists among FN youth in the present study (Fort Albany pairs only), but results were not as expected.

Vegetable and fruit intakes of on-reserve first nations schoolchildren compared to Canadian averages and current recommendations.

This study investigated, in on-reserve First Nations (FN) youth in Ontario, Canada, the following: (a) the intakes of vegetable and fruit, “other” foods and relevant nutrients as compared to current recommendations and national averages, (b) current prevalence rates of overweight and obesity and (c) the relationship between latitude and dietary intakes. Twenty-four-hour diet recalls were collected via the Waterloo Web-Based Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (WEB-Q) (n = 443). Heights and weights of participants were self reported using measured values and Body Mass Index was categorized using the International Obesity Task Force cutoffs. Food group and nutrient intakes were compared to current standards, Southern Ontario Food Behaviour data and the Canadian Community Health Survey, Cycle 2.2, using descriptive statistics. Mean vegetable and fruit, fibre and folate intakes were less than current recommendations. Girls aged 14–18 years had mean intakes of vitamin A below current recommendations for this sub-group; for all sub-groups, mean intakes of vegetables and fruit were below Canadian averages. All sub-groups also had intakes of all nutrients and food groups investigated that were less than those observed in non-FN youth from Southern Ontario, with the exception of “other” foods in boys 12–18 years. Prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 31.8% and 19.6%, respectively, exceeding rates in the general population. Dietary intakes did not vary consistently by latitude (n = 248), as revealed by ANOVA. This study provided a unique investigation of the dietary intakes of on-reserve FN youth in Ontario and revealed poor intakes of vegetables and fruit and related nutrients and high intakes of “other” foods. Prevalence rates of overweight and obesity exceed those of the general population.