Reclaiming Indigenous identities: Culture as strength against suicide among Indigenous youth in Canada

Abstract

In Canada, Indigenous youth suicide represents one of several health disparities burdening Indigenous populations, and like many other of these disparities, can be understood as an expression of societal, historical, cultural and familial trauma. As the number of Indigenous youth who take their own lives every year in Canada continues to far exceed national averages, it appears that conventional suicide prevention efforts remain ineffective among this population. A growing body of research argues that conventional interventions, largely rooted in Western individual-level behavioural change frameworks, are culturally discordant with Indigenous paradigms. In response, some Indigenous communities are turning to cultural revitalization as a holistic community-driven response to suicide prevention and treatment. The following commentary explores the emerging evidence base for "culture as treatment" -a novel approach to suicide that emphasizes the significance of interconnectedness in healing, alongside the revitalization of traditional values to reclaim community wellness. In doing so, we seek to contribute to a changing discourse surrounding Indigenous youth suicide by acknowledging culture as strength against this national crisis.KEY WORDS: Suicide; health services; Indigenous; population groups; adolescent La traduction du résumé se trouve à la fin de l'article.

Performing Pimâtisiwin: The Expression of Indigenous Wellness Identities through Community‐based Theater

“…This revival, practice, and revolutionary exploration of Indigenous identity and culture can have a profound positive effect on Indigenous communities, particularly on youth identity formation and solidification that fosters wellness outcomes (Barker et al. 2017; Bien 2005).…”

“…Since there are extensive data detailing the health inequities experienced by Canadian Indigenous—First Nations, Inuit, and Métis—populations (Barker et al. 2017; Hatala et al. 2016; Isbister‐Bear et al.…”

The End of Life is an Auspicious Opportunity for Healing

“…Intergenerational trauma expands unless addressed and this is particularly true for those grieving the loss of a loved one. Colonization (e.g., the Indian Act, residential school system, Sixties Scoop, forced relocation, child welfare system) is at the root of intergenerational trauma, and has resulted in many Indigenous people experiencing repeated and ongoing traumas from a wide variety of sources, including health care professionals and institutions (Barker, Goodman, & DeBeck, 2017;Howard, 2014;Kirmayer, Gone, & Moses, 2014;Myhra, 2011;Reeves & Stewart, 2017). Therefore, death and dying may retraumatize individuals and communities resulting in expanded intergenerational trauma unless affected people are afforded opportunities to address both past and ongoing traumas (Gone, 2013).…”

Indigenous Youth Suicide

“…These principles are in direct conflict with the Indigenous perspective of wholistic healing. The Western method of focusing on the individual, and the risk factors associated with that person, leave aside what is known about the sociocultural, economic and historical experiences Indigenous communities may have endured as a whole and the effects these may have had on individual youth (Barker et al, 2017;Wexler et al, 2017).…”

“…As Chief Shawn Atleo states, the word, "suicide" did not exist in any Indigenous traditional language. There is, therefore, no history of Indigenous Peoples taking their own lives (Barker, DeBeck and Goodman, 2017;Eggertson, 2015). Studies demonstrate one of the main reasons for the large numbers of Indigenous youth dying by suicide is due to Canada's history of colonization (Auger, 2016;For the Cedar Project Partnership et al, 2015;Nelson & Wilson, 2017).…”