For the love of our children: an Indigenous connectedness framework

Abstract

This article draws on Indigenous literature to develop a conceptual framework that makes visible Indigenous child wellbeing. A process of qualitative content analysis identified and examined the core concepts and mechanisms of Indigenous wellbeing. Central to the framework is the concept of connectedness. The premise of this article is that deepening our understanding of Indigenous connectedness can assist with the restoration of knowledge and practices that promote child wellbeing. When children are able to engage in environmental, community, family, intergenerational and spiritual connectedness, this contributes to a synergistic outcome of collective wellbeing. The Indigenous Connectedness Framework may be particularly useful to Indigenous communities that directly serve children. The hope is that communities can adapt the Indigenous Connectedness Framework to their particular history, culture, stories, customs and ways of life.

Living a Good Way of Life: Perspectives from American Indian and First Nation Young Adults

“…However, other participants reasoned that some basic aspects of caring for self are essential in order to follow traditional teachings, traditions, and values. One woman commented, “Yeah, but, but, the personal care things, I mean like not abusing alcohol and, you know, that’s very, very basic, like you need that or you’re, you know, you’re going to suffer.” Another woman agreed, “Yeah, you can’t get to [Cluster] 8 unless you do [Clusters] 1 through 3, you know.” Participants commented that, in some respect, an individual had the ability to better focus on Anishinaabe teachings, traditions, and values if they could first address their own self-care needs and that self-care was a necessary precursor to achieving the remaining aspects of wellness, similar to other Indigenous frameworks that place the wellbeing of the individual at the center of the model (Priest et al, 2012; Ullrich, 2019). Despite the slight differences in mean ranking values between clusters, participants felt that each of the individual clusters and particularly the concept map as a whole represented a meaningful depiction of what it means for an Anishinaabe young adult to live a good way of life/have wellness.…”

“…Globally, Indigenous notions of wellness also focus on emotional, physical, mental and social health, yet move further to heavily emphasize interconnections and balance among mind, body, and spirit and between the individual, community, and the land (Cross et al, 2011; Lowe & Struthers, 2001; McCormick, 1996; 2009; Ullrich, 2019). Aspects of Indigenous wellness have included cultural and spiritual involvement (Hodge & Nandy, 2011; Kral, Idlout, Minore, Dyck, & Kirmayer, 2011; LaFromboise, Hoyt, Oliver, & Whitbeck , 2006), active participation in community (Boulton & Gifford, 2014), family and community support and sense of belonging (Hill, 2006; Hodge & Nandy, 2011; Kral et al, 2011 LaFromboise et al, 2006; Schultz et al, 2016a), the importance of the land and place (Goodkind, Gorman, Hess, Parker & Hough, 2015; Schultz, Walters, Beltran, Stroud & Johnson-Jennings, 2016b), and intergenerational/ancestral connection (Lowe & Struthers, 2001; Schultz et al, 2016a; Ullrich, 2019). Thus, individual, communal, and environmental wellness are interconnected.…”

Development and Dissemination of a Strengths-Based Indigenous Children's Storybook: “Our Smallest Warriors, Our Strongest Medicine: Overcoming COVID-19”

“…This approach is not new to Indigenous communities, whose value systems revere children as “considered to be special, sacred gifts” and “carriers of the future” (p. 96; Cajete, 2000 ). Further, this storybook conveys important teachings about intergenerational, family, community, and environmental connectedness that can promote Indigenous children's wellness (Ullrich, 2019 ). In remembering and passing on these values and traditions alongside public health messaging in the form of storytelling, “Our Smallest Warriors, Our Strongest Medicine: Overcoming COVID-19” aligns with the cultural strengths of Indigenous communities and exemplifies on many levels shared traditional beliefs that children are “strong medicine.”…”

“…Moreover, the mental and spiritual health impacts of COVID-19 related losses are particularly profound given traditional values emphasizing the importance of family, community connectedness, and intergenerational learning (Cajete, 2000 ; Ullrich, 2019 ). These impacts may include loss of tribal Elders who are carriers of Indigenous knowledges and languages, the inability to engage in ceremonies and community gatherings, reliving memories of past traumas, and isolation from extended family (Indian Health Service, 2020b ; National Indian Health Board, 2020 ; Urban Indian Health Board, 2020 ).…”

Cultural Sources of Strength and Resilience: A Case Study of Holistic Wellness Boxes for COVID-19 Response in Indigenous Communities

“…Indigenous language use has been associated with lower youth suicide ( Hallett et al, 2007 ) and lower rates of diabetes ( Oster et al, 2014 ), and connection to land and nature has been linked to individual and community healing and resilience ( Ritchie et al, 2014 ; Goodkind et al, 2015 ; Schultz et al, 2016 ). Culture is so vital to Indigenous health that accepted models of health and health care for this population rely on a foundation of culture ( Lowe and Struthers, 2001 ; Hill, 2006 ; Ullrich, 2019 ).…”