Development of a Cultural Connectedness Scale for First Nations youth.

Abstract

Despite a growing recognition of cultural connectedness as an important protective factor for First Nations (FN) peoples' health, there remains a clear need for a conceptual model that organizes, explains, and leads to an understanding of the resiliency mechanisms underlying this concept for FN youth. The current study involved the development of the Cultural Connectedness Scale (CCS) to identify a new scale of cultural connectedness. A sample of 319 FN, Métis, and Inuit youths enrolled in Grades 8-12 from reserve and urban areas in Saskatchewan and Southwestern Ontario, Canada, participated in the current study. A combination of rational expert judgments and empirical data were used to refine the pool of items to a set that is a representative sample of the indicators of the cultural connectedness construct. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to examine the latent structure of the cultural connectedness items, and a confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the fit of a more parsimonious version of the final EFA model. The resulting 29-item inventory consisted of 3 dimensions: identity, traditions, and spirituality. Criterion validity was demonstrated with cultural connectedness dimensions correlating well with other youth well-being indicators. The conceptualization and operationalization of the cultural connectedness has a number of potential applications both for research and prevention. This study provides an orienting framework that guides measurement of cultural connectedness that researchers need to further explore the role of culture in enhancing resiliency and well-being among FN youth in Canada.

Cultural Continuity as a Determinant of Indigenous Peoples’ Health: A Metasynthesis of Qualitative Research in Canada and the United States

“…The recent shift from acculturation to enculturation within research has been an important step in recognizing both Indigenous resilience and the systemic impacts of colonialism (Weinreich, 2009;Zimmerman, Ramirez-Valles, Washienko, Walter, & Dyer, 1996). However, there is also a need to find common ground between enculturation theory and alternative constructs, such as cultural connectedness and continuity, which have been supported by Indigenous communities (Snowshoe et al, 2014). Further, there are well-cited examples that provide alternative understandings to cultural continuity as a determinant of health.…”

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“…2 (Boomsma, 1982;Green, 1984). Model fit as well as model comparison were conducted; as expected, and as found in Snowshoe et al (2015Snowshoe et al ( & 2017, the three-factor There were two items that did not have significant factor loading. Item 10: "I plan on trying to find out more about my Native/Indigenous culture, such as history, Tribal identity, traditions, customs, art and language (.281)."…”

“…ineffectiveness of many Western modalities in reducing health and social disparities for Indigenous communities (Tucker et al, 2016;Walters & Mohammed et al, 2011;McCormick, 1995). Given this, restoration and reconnection to the strengthening of culture or Indigenous/Native identity, is an important part of the solution (Chandler & Lalonde, 1998;Chandler, 2014;Coser, Sittner, Walls, & Handeland, 2018;Gone, 2009;Snowshoe et al, 2017;Snowshoe et al, 2015). However, a paradigm shift in the dominant culture is also needed.…”

“…This was accomplished using similarly operationalized definitions of culture, but differently adapted instruments. For example, in the Snowshoe et al, (2015) study (N = 319, ages 12-29, mean age 15.3) from Saskatchewan and Southwestern Ontario, the participants were First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. In that study, 78% of participants identified as living on-reserve; whereas, in our northern California study, participants were urban-dwelling adults (N = 344, ages 18-79, mean age 43.3) and were much more multi-Tribal with representation from 107 Tribes.…”

“…Our main purpose in Phase 4 of the Culture is Prevention Project was to replicate (in part) the original innovative Snowshoe et al (2015) study conducted in Canada using the adapted version of the CCS instrument. Our objectives were to 1) validate the CCS-CA and evaluate whether it demonstrates similar characteristics as the original CCS instrument in a multi-Tribal community in California, and 2) investigate the relationship between culture (measured by the CCS-CA) and mental health/well-being (measured by the modified Herth Hope Index [mHHI]) to evaluate if we could also conclude (as did Snowshoe and colleagues) that culture is a social determinant of mental health/well-being for this population of Indigenous/Native peoples.…”