Exploring the Role of Culture Among Urban Indigenous Youth in Montreal
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Exploring the Role of Culture Among Urban Indigenous Youth in Montreal Elizabeth Fast School of Social Work McGill University, Montreal July 2014 A thesis submitted to McGill University in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Ph.D in Social Work ©Elizabeth Fast 2014 Acknowledgements This journey would not have been possible without the never-ending support of my husband Xavier who supported me emotionally from beginning to end – thank you. Henri – you always brought the focus back to what is really important in life – family and having fun, I love you. To my parents and brother who always believed in me and gave me the self-confidence to pursue whatever crazy goal was on my list, thank you for that. The youth advisory committee was incredible in guiding me through this process – thank you – especially to Nahka, Jennifer and Swaneige. My amazing dissertation supervisor - Nico, and equally amazing committee members Nicole and Monty, you were all perfect examples of doing excellent research and having a healthy work-life balance. Thank you to the participants of the study who shared their stories with me and who will hopefully make a difference in the lives of other urban Indigenous youth. I`d also like to thank the Montreal organizations that opened their doors and supported my work. Also an enormous thank you to the dozens of child welfare managers and workers at First Nations agencies that I met during the Canadian Incidence Study – the work you do is truly remarkable and made me aware of different possibilities for positive child welfare work. Meegwetch, Mikwetc, Tshinashkumitin, Qujannamiik, Welaliog, Niá : wen, Mąsi chok!! Horelyų́ nuhghąnighila, Merci, Thank you!!! Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 Résumé ......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 5 Who I am and Why I Wanted to Undertake this Study ............................................................................ 5 Language and Terminology ...................................................................................................................... 7 Purpose of the Study and Research Questions ........................................................................................ 7 Definitional Contexts .............................................................................................................................. 10 Research Goals and Anticipated Uses of Research ................................................................................ 12 Context of Urban Indigenous Peoples in Montreal ................................................................................ 13 Organization of this Dissertation ............................................................................................................ 14 Literature RevieW ....................................................................................................................................... 16 Pre-colonial Cultures in Québec and Government Relations Post-Contact ........................................... 16 Colonisation and Constructions of Race ................................................................................................. 31 Colonisation and Indigenous Identity Construction ............................................................................... 34 Residential Schools ................................................................................................................................. 37 Historical Trauma ................................................................................................................................... 41 Indigenous Urbanisation & Urban Resources ........................................................................................ 46 Identity and Cultural Identity Studies ..................................................................................................... 57 Youth and cultural identity ..................................................................................................................... 61 Identity, Decolonization and Healing ..................................................................................................... 67 Contemporary Indigenous identities ...................................................................................................... 69 Summary of Literature Review ............................................................................................................... 73 Methodology .............................................................................................................................................. 75 Method ................................................................................................................................................... 75 Research, O.C.A.P. and Indigenous peoples .......................................................................................... 76 O.C.A.P. and This Study .......................................................................................................................... 80 Study Purpose and Research Questions ................................................................................................. 83 Research Design ..................................................................................................................................... 83 Sampling ................................................................................................................................................. 84 Participant Profile ................................................................................................................................... 86 Data Collection ....................................................................................................................................... 88 Researcher Reflexivity ............................................................................................................................ 92 Member Checking .................................................................................................................................. 94 Informed Consent, Confidentiality and Ethics Approval ........................................................................ 95 Methodological Rigor ............................................................................................................................. 96 Methodology Summary .......................................................................................................................... 98 Findings ...................................................................................................................................................... 99 OvervieW of Theoretical Constructs ....................................................................................................... 99 Strategies for Identity Building or Culture Maintenance ..................................................................... 131 Outcomes of Identity building or Culture Maintenance Activities ....................................................... 143 Supports for Identity Building or Culture Maintenance Activities ....................................................... 146 Barriers to Identity building or Culture Maintenance Strategies ......................................................... 152 Findings Summary ................................................................................................................................ 158 Discussion ................................................................................................................................................. 161 Context of the Role of Culture Among Urban Indigenous Youth ......................................................... 161 Pre-conditions for Identity Building or Culture Maintenance Strategies ............................................. 165 Strategies for Identity Building or Culture Maintenance ..................................................................... 173 Outcomes of Identity Building or Culture Maintenance Activities ....................................................... 180 Supports for Identity Building or Culture Maintenance Activities ....................................................... 182 Barriers to Identity Building or Culture Maintenance Strategies ......................................................... 183 Summary of Discussion of Findings ...................................................................................................... 187 Implications and Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 188 Why this Study is Unique ...................................................................................................................... 188 Implications for Practice, Policy and Research ..................................................................................... 189 Limitations of the Study ....................................................................................................................... 196 Concluding Reflections