Family as the Conduit to Promote Indigenous Women and Men’s Enculturation and Wellness: “I Wish I Had Learned Earlier”

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to explore how food and other cultural traditions promote wellness, cultural continuity, enculturation, and family resilience within tribal communities in the U.S. Using the Framework of Historical Oppression, Resilience, and Transcendence (FHORT), this critical ethnography examines Indigenous peoples' perspectives on and experiences with food and cultural traditions. Thematic analysis of data from 436 participants (approximately 2/3 rds of which were women) across two Southeastern tribes revealed a theme of "fostering the transmission of tribal knowledge and intergenerational family bonding." Traditions such as dancing, food, sewing, beadwork, basket-weaving, music, and tribal sports were some important facets of tribal culture that participants described. Food and cultural practices promoted wellness, pro-social values, and health by fostering physical activity, traditional food practices, enculturation, and social support. Cultural practices offset historical oppression and health disparities. Programs that utilize the strengths of experiential learning through family and cultural practices are highly recommended.

Aspects of Wellbeing for Indigenous Youth in CANZUS Countries: A Systematic Review

“…Twenty-eight studies in this review reported on the wellbeing of Indigenous youth in the USA [ 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 , 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 , 133 , 134 , 135 , 136 , 137 , 138 , 139 , 140 , 141 , 142 , 143 , 144 ]. Our thematic analysis identified six overarching components of wellbeing for this population: safety and basic needs; relationships and connection; cultural identity and pride; looking to the past and the future; and being healthy.…”

“…Connections with community, family, Elders and peers are key contributing factors to how Indigenous youth develop a sense of self and feelings of belonging [ 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 , 124 , 125 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 132 , 133 , 134 , 135 , 136 , 137 , 138 , 139 , 140 , 141 , 142 , 143 , 144 ]. Feeling part of a community, for youth, is fostered through engagement with traditional cultural activities that instil pride and identity [ 117 , 120 , 123 , 125 , 129 , 132 , 133 , 134 , 135 , 137 , 138 , 139 , 140 , 143 , 144 ]. Participation as a community member is often centrally important in developing Indigenous youths’ identity [ 124 , 133 , 139 , 142 , 143 ] and resilience [ 127 ,...…”

“…The wellbeing of Indigenous youth in the USA is connected closely to traditional culture and practices, which are under constant pressure from colonialism and racism [ 117 , 118 , 122 , 123 , 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 , 133 , 134 , 135 , 136 , 137 , 138 , 139 , 140 , 141 , 142 , 143 , 144 ]. Traditional community-based activities, such as subsistence based living (including hunting and fishing), and cultural practices, such as smudging and pow-wows, provide youth with a sense of purpose, connection and cultural pride [ 117 , 118 , 123 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 , 133 , 134 , 137 , 143 , 144 ]. The passing on of language closely bonds Indigenous generations [ 122 , 125 , 127 , 137 , 138 , 141 ], however, there are a decreasing number of fluent native language speakers to ensure continuation through the next generation [ 11...…”

Alcohol consumption and dependence is linked to the extent that people experience need satisfaction while drinking alcohol in two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

“…Cultural activity groups (e.g. painting, dancing, basket-weaving, or cooking) may also help participants meet basic psychological needs and build resilience [ 69 , 70 ].…”

“It's in the family circle”: Communication promoting Indigenous family resilience

“…Family resilience enables families' successful coping under duress; a recent review of family resilience factors identified family communication (i.e., clarity, open emotional expression, and collaborative problem solving) as one essential tool promoting family resilience (Black & Lobo, 2008;Walsh, 2016). Family resilience promotes Indigenous health equity (Burnette, 2018;Burnette & Hefflinger, 2016;Burnette, Renner, & Figley, 2019;Burnette, Roh, et al, 2019;McKinley, Lesesne, et al, 2020).…”