Indigenous Ways of Living, Culture, Language, and Connection as a Source for Mental Wellness for Individuals, Families, and Community by J. Erynne Sjoblom A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Community Health Science University of Manitoba Winnipeg Copyright © 2018 by J. Erynne Sjoblom Abstract TITLE: Indigenous Ways of Living, Culture, Language, and Connection as a Source for Mental Wellness for Individuals, Families, and Community INTRODUCTION: Canada’s Indigenous peoples experience a disproportionate burden of mental health conditions, including significantly higher rates of suicide, depression, and substance use problems than the general population. While a number of studies have investigated patterns of mental health conditions across First Nations populations in Canada and predictors of mental wellness, very few studies have explored from the perspectives of community members, the factors that work to protect and promote mental wellness. Hence, the objective of this qualitative study was to investigate the ways in which members of a tribal council and a remote, fly-in Saulteaux community in Manitoba understand how family and community environments protect and promote mental wellness. METHOD: This study was guided by a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach. This study was framed by Indigenous methodological research design principles and utilized a modified grounded theory approach for thematic analysis and data organization. A combination of purposive and snowball sampling was employed to recruit a total of 17 participants from a First Nation Tribal Council and a First Nations community located within the Tribal Council area (Manitoba). Interviews were conducted using a conversational approach with open-ended, semi-structured interview questions to prompt conversation and facilitate participant and researcher co-creation of knowledge. RESULTS: Three intertwining thematic areas arose around participants’ understandings of community wellness and mental wellness: Anishinaabe ways of living; connection and relationships; and making meaning. Importantly, discussions of Anishinaabe culture, spirituality, and language intersected each of these themes in crucial ways, along with notions of change and loss attributed to historical and on-going colonizing forces. CONCLUSION: Mental health promotion and policy with Indigenous communities should consider incorporating activities that promote and protect Indigenous culture, spirituality, and language as an important means of building community unity and promote collective healing from the impacts of colonization on community and family wellness, as well as the mental wellness of individuals. Keywords: Indigenous, First Nations, mental wellness, culture, language, community i Acknowledgments I would like to start by acknowledging that this thesis was conceived on Treaty 1 and Treaty 5 territory, and am thankful to the signatory communities who agreed to share their traditional territories. I wish to thank my colleagues and co-investigators, Dora and Marsha Simmons for their support and friendship, as well as for helping me build trust and connection with community. Kitchi miigwetch to my friend and colleague Louis Young, who always took the time to answer my relentless questions, to translate and explain Ojibway words and concepts to me, to offer spiritual and cultural guidance, and to brighten my day with jokes and stories. I also thank my thesis advisor, Dr. Brenda Elias for her expertise, encouragement, and patience. Much gratitude to my thesis advisory committee members Dr. Deborah McPhail and Dr. Colleen MacQuarrie for your guidance, insight, and kind support in this work. Thank you to Dr. Andrew Hatala for his support and advice, and for considering me in opportunities that enabled my work and perspective to grow and expand. I am deeply indebted to the participants and community members whose stories are the core of this research. They have each passed on a unique gift of themselves. Thank you to my friends and classmates for listening and sharing in the thesis process, but also for giving advice and support when needed. Lastly, I wish to thank the Southeast Resource Development Council, whose staff took me under their wings and provided invaluable mentorship and guidance throughout this project. ii Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ i Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... iii List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. v Situating Self ................................................................................................................................... 1 A note on terminology .................................................................................................................... 3 Chapter I: Introduction .................................................................................................................... 5 Chapter II: Literature Review ......................................................................................................... 8 Colonization and Canada’s First Nations Peoples: ............................................................. 8 Colonization and Health ................................................................................................... 12 Colonization and Mental Health ....................................................................................... 15 Factors Promoting & Protecting Mental Wellness ........................................................... 19 Intersected by Gender: ...................................................................................................... 22 Applying a Theory of Intersectionality ............................................................................. 28 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 32 Chapter III: Methods ..................................................................................................................... 33 Community-based Participatory Research and Indigenous Methodology ........................ 33 Research Setting................................................................................................................ 38 Sampling ........................................................................................................................... 40 Instrument Design and Data Collection ............................................................................ 41 Data Analysis .................................................................................................................... 42 Ethical Considerations ...................................................................................................... 43 Reflexivity......................................................................................................................... 44 Chapter IV: Results ....................................................................................................................... 46 Anishinaabe Ways of Living ............................................................................................ 46 Connection & Relationships ............................................................................................. 58 At the community level ..................................................................................................... 58 At the family level ............................................................................................................ 73 At the individual level ....................................................................................................... 78 Making Meaning ............................................................................................................... 84 Chapter V: Discussion & Conclusion ........................................................................................... 89 Anishinaabe Ways of Living ............................................................................................ 90 iii Connections & Relationships ............................................................................................ 93 Making Meaning ............................................................................................................. 103 Study Limitations and Strengths ..................................................................................... 105 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 108 Study Implications .......................................................................................................... 111 References ................................................................................................................................... 115 Appendices .................................................................................................................................