u Ottawa L'Universltg canadiemie Canada's university ItfrfT FACULTE DES ETUDES SUPERIEURES FACULTY OF GRADUATE AND ET POSTOCTORALES u Ottawa POSDOCTORAL STUDIES L'University eanadienne Canada's university Anita Olsen Harper AUTEUR DE LA THESE / AUTHOR OF THESIS Ph.D. (Education) GRADE/DEGREE Faculty of Education FACULTE, ECOLE, DEPARTEMENT/ FACULTY, SCHOOL, DEPARTMENT Domestic Violence in Aboriginal Communities: A Context for Resilience TITRE DE LA THESE / TITLE OF THESIS Sharon Ann Cook DIRECTEUR (DIRECTRICE) DE LA THESE / THESIS SUPERVISOR CO-DIRECTEUR (CO-DIRECTRICE) DE LA THESE / THESIS CO-SUPERVISOR Larry Chartrand Nicholas Ng-A-Fook Marlene Brant Castellano Trent University _ George Sioui Timothy Stanley Gary W. Slater Le Doyen de la Faculte des etudes superieures et postdoctorales / Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Domestic Violence in Aboriginal Communities: A Context for Resilience Anita Olsen Harper Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the PhD degree in Education Faculty of Education University of Ottawa Ottawa, Canada, 2010 ©Anita Olsen Harper, Ottawa, Canada, 2011 Library and Archives Bibliotheque et 1*1 Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-79722-8 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-79722-8 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduce, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par I'lnternet, preter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans le loan, distribute and sell theses monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non­ support microforme, papier, electronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. 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While these forms may be included Bien que ces formulaires aient inclus dans in the document page count, their la pagination, il n'y aura aucun contenu removal does not represent any loss manquant. of content from the thesis. ••I Canada RESILIENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 2 Abstract My research is a study of the perspectives of resilience by survivors of domestic violence (DV) in three Aboriginal communities. The Executive Directors (EDs) of the women's shelters on these reserves were interviewed, as well as three DV survivors who were identified by the EDs. The meanings articulated by interviewees is intended to provide educators and those in anti-violence efforts with an increased understanding of resilience as defined by Aboriginal DV survivors. The interpretations that were voiced are different from those that are understood according to prevailing Western tradition. Among Aboriginal populations, internally-derived perspectives of resilience, I contend, are foundational in developing curricula aimed at reducing DV and its traumatic manifestations. DV is often deceptively and simplistically construed as the conduct and dynamics of two people within a home. However, my investigative study that includes a comprehensive literature review, exposes the fallacy of this assumption as it pertains to Aboriginal communities: DV has historic origins that are strongly grounded in colonialism. DV is, as well, socially constructed in power hierarchies that sustain patriarchal supremacy, and a devastating social and psychological plague in all reserve communities. My research recognizes that community-based interventions in Aboriginal communities can only be effectively operationalized with the knowledge of the intricacies of colonialism as they pertain specifically to DV. Drawing on traditional beliefs and community principles such as meaningful participation, integration of cultural and spiritual practices, recognition of historical injustices by colonizing forces, consensus-derived decision­ making involving women and youth all help inform educational offerings about the actionable content and delivery of resilience teachings. Keywords: Aboriginal, colonialism, domestic violence, resilience, well-being RESILIENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 3 Acknowledgements Kiitchi meegwetch and sincerest appreciation to the community participants and Executive Directors of on-reserve women's shelters who gave their time and energy to participate in my study. Community participants related their personal stories of resilience to me, and discussed their reasons and motivations for moving into violence-free lives. Special thanks also to the Executive Directors of the women's shelters who helped me facilitate the logistics of the interviews, and also articulated stories of the resilience of their clients. Without the input of these women, my study simply would not have taken place. Thank you to my supervisor, Dr. Sharon Cook, and all my Advisory Committee members. It was a long four years that were mixed with both high and low points - a few times, moving onwards was very difficult. Thank you, Meegwetch, to my husband Elijah, and all my family and friends who told me that, yes, I would really do this. RESILIENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 4 Dedication My work is dedicated to all women and men who live in domestic violence. May they hear the words of Creation and of the ancestors who voice a desire for good lives for all, and may their resilience move them into healthy lifestyles. My work is also dedicated to those who strive to eradicate domestic violence. I think of Inuit singer Lucie Idlout with special thanks; she raised awareness of domestic violence by singing at the meeting in Iqaluit of the G7 finance ministers from the world's leading economies in February 2010. These are the words of her song, "Angel Street": Broken down on Angel Street, he pushed you down, made you unseen Irene — High heels on a gravel road Irene — High heels on a gravel road He never loved you, that's all he knows, could never please him, so the story goes Irene — High heels on a gravel road Irene - High heels on a gravel road My lovely Irene Why didn't you walk away, you should have just walked away You ain't crazy, how could you have known, he'd kill a lifetime And break all your bones Irene — High heels on a gravel road Irene — High heels on a gravel road High heels on a gravel road- My lovely Irene RESILIENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 5 Table of Contents 1. Domestic Violence (DV) in Aboriginal Communities 8 1.1 Introduction 8 1.2 The violence of colonialism 12 1.3 Colonial revision of Aboriginal tradition 19 1.3.1 Gender parallelism in traditional Aboriginal populations 19 1.3.2 Changing realities 22 1.3.3 Displacement through gender assimilation & settlement 26 1.4 DV: A representation of neocolonialism 33 1.4.1 Lasting legislative changes & DV 33 1.4.2 High incidence of DV 40 1.4.3 On-reserve women's shelters 43 1.5 Well-being, health & resilience in a DV context 47 2. Literature Review 55 2.1 DV in Aboriginal communities 55 2.1.1 Extent 55 2.1.2 The role of colonialism in D V 5 8 2.1.3 Gender changes & DV 61 2.1.4 Few options for DV victims 65 2.1.5 Trauma & other health issues from DV 69 2.1.6 Effect on children 72 2.1.7 Men's place: A context as perpetrators 74 2.2 Resilience 79 2.2.1 A synopsis: Resilience in Western thought 79 2.2.2 Resilience in Aboriginal epistemology 82 2.2.3 Educating for resilience 90 2.3 Indigenous approaches to research 94 2.3.1 Tensions between Indigenous peoples & the broader research community 94 2.3.2 The need for decolonizing research 97 2.3.3 Characteristics of Indigenous-specific methodologies 100 2.4 Research gaps 105 3. Research Design 109 RESILIENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 6 3.1 Conceptual framework 109 3.2 Methodology 117 3.2.1 Principles of research practice 117 3.2.2 Self-location 122 3.2.3 Research objectives 129 3.2.4 Research questions 130 3.2.5 Procedures 131 3.2.6 Data analysis 139 3.2.7 Ethical considerations 141 4. Findings & Discussion 144 4.1 Community, shelter & client profiles 144 4.1.1 Community & shelter profiles 144 4.1.2 Shelter client profiles 145 4.2 Research themes 149 4.2.1 Executive Directors 149 4.2.1.1 Meanings & manifestations of resilience 149 4.2.1.2 Interrelationships: Resilience, culture, spirituality & identity 153 4.2.1.3 Where resilience comes from 156 4.2.1.4 Resilience, spiritual health & healing 160 4.2.2 DV survivors: Community participants 162 4.2.2.1 Jayna of Mukkwuh First Nation 162 4.2.2.2 Lucy of Niipbin First Nation 172 4.2.2.3 Martha ofAkimaak First Nation 179 4.3 Discussion 184 4.3.1 Resilience 184 4.3.2 Men in my interviews 189 4.3.3 Community participants'experiences in education 194 4.3.4 Implications for education 200 5.