Incorporating diverse understandings of Indigenous identity: toward a broader definition of cultural safety for urban Indigenous youth

Abstract

This article explores the concept of cultural safety in relation with the diversity of cultural identities experienced by urban Indigenous youth. While the existing literature focuses on educating health care providers on the historical context and resultant disparities in social determinants of health among Indigenous Peoples, little attention has been given to how these histories have impacted the ways in which urban Indigenous Peoples have negotiated their identities. We contend that the numerous ways in which urban Indigenous identities have been impacted by colonial policies have many implications for urban service providers and policy-makers, and for the meaning of cultural safety in this context. Drawing on participatory research that employed Indigenous methodologies, with 20 urban Indigenous youth living in Montreal, we outline some guiding principles in addressing questions of Indigenous identity among urban youth, and their relevance to the definition and application of cultural safety concept and practices.

“The work of a leader is to carry the bones of the people”: exploring female-led articulation of Indigenous knowledge in an urban setting

“…Urban Indigenous identities are complex, multi-dimensional, scaffolded constructs, influenced by mobility patterns, different levels of cultural awareness and the nature of one’s relationships in the city among many other factors (Fast et al, 2017). FitzMaurice (2012) perceives internal divisions and socio-economic disparities relating to identity and culture as main challenges to community cohesion in urban Indigenous governance initiatives.…”

Victim-Blaming and the Crisis of Representation in the Violence Prevention Field

“…In this article, the authors focus on the ways in which victims are blamed or held responsible for their mistreatment, as if they have done something wrong. Elizabeth Fast and Cathy Richardson have documented this type of violence against Métis people, who have been blamed for their perceived deficiences, such as having fragmented identities or not being "Native enough" (Fast, 2016;Fast, Drouin-Gagné, Bertrand, Bertrand, & Allouche, 2017;Hancock, 2017;Richardson, 2004Richardson, , 2017Vowel, 2017). Because the Métis are so misunderstood (and misrepresented) in Canada, this population falls through many systemic cracks and are denied rights, reparations, and appropriate social services (Richardson, 2004).…”

“…For women, the same logic states: if you want equality with men, you should have been born a man. For the Métis, victim-blaming involves condemning them for being mixed-race and not something "whole" (Fast et al, 2017;Richardson, 2004).…”

Le point de vue de jeunes autochtones en milieu urbain sur leur parcours scolaire

“…D'autres études démontrent toutefois que les jeunes autochtones font preuve de résilience, résistent à l'assimilation, souhaitent demeurer liés à leur société d'appartenance tout en se créant une place dans la société civile (Jérôme, 2010;Rowhani et Hatala, 2017). En ville, les jeunes veulent être reconnus en tant que personnes autochtones tout en recevant une éducation qui leur permette une pleine participation au sein du système éducatif dominant (Conseil canadien sur l 'apprentissage, 2009;Environics Institute, 2010;Fast, Drouin-Gagné, Bertrand, Bertrand et Allouche, 2017).…”