This project involved Elders and youth from Arviat, Nunavut collaborating over two years on a multi-media history project. The goal was to address mental health issues among Inuit youth by fostering intergenerational understanding of Inuit history and culture. Elders shared their experiences of forced assimilation policies to help youth develop pride in Inuit identity and resilience. Filmmaking was used to document interviews and preserve Inuit history and traditions for future generations.
Filming for our Future: Socio-Historical, Cross-Generational & Multi-media Ap...April Émile-Theil
Presented at the 15th International Congress on Circumpolar Health, the following outlines the importance of history, inter-generational connectedness & participatory filmmaking as an approach to Inuit youth mental health and wellbeing, using the case study of the Nanisiniq Arviat History Project.
Nga Pae O Te Maramatanga Presentation - Transforming māori experiences of his...Dr Rawiri Waretini-Karena
This presentation focuses on theories, models and frameworks I developed for the purpose of implementing them in Counselling, Social Work and Mental Health.
Native Craft and Tourism: A Study of Ushafa PotteryAI Publications
The main thrust of the paper was to discuss the relationship between indigenous craft and tourism development using Ushafa pottery as the focus of inquiry. Adopting the qualitative approach to enquiry, the study sought to, among other things, study the processes of pottery making, ascertain the challenges which confront potters, and investigate the contributions of pottery to the development of Ushafa. Findings show that the processes of pottery production include collection of clay, breaking of clay into small particles, sun-drying and soaking of clay in water as well as sieving to produce fine clay. Other stages are kneading for plasticity, moulding, application of designs and finally, firing or baking of clay item. Pottery which leads tourism growth in Ushafa has made the following contributions such as improvement in local economy, provision of basic amenities and self-esteem among community members. Challenges of Tourism Development in Ushafa include the deplorable condition of the road leading to the clay mining area; the need for increased marketing outlets for pottery products, corruption and community poor hygiene.
Presenters: Jordan Konek, Amy Owingayak, Curtis Konek, Martha Okotak and April Dutheil
Supervisors: Dr. Frank Tester, Dr. Paule McNicoll & Mr. Peter Irniq
School of Social Work University of British Columbia
Library and Archives Canada
Ottawa, Canada
May 12, 2011
Filming for our Future: Socio-Historical, Cross-Generational & Multi-media Ap...April Émile-Theil
Presented at the 15th International Congress on Circumpolar Health, the following outlines the importance of history, inter-generational connectedness & participatory filmmaking as an approach to Inuit youth mental health and wellbeing, using the case study of the Nanisiniq Arviat History Project.
Nga Pae O Te Maramatanga Presentation - Transforming māori experiences of his...Dr Rawiri Waretini-Karena
This presentation focuses on theories, models and frameworks I developed for the purpose of implementing them in Counselling, Social Work and Mental Health.
Native Craft and Tourism: A Study of Ushafa PotteryAI Publications
The main thrust of the paper was to discuss the relationship between indigenous craft and tourism development using Ushafa pottery as the focus of inquiry. Adopting the qualitative approach to enquiry, the study sought to, among other things, study the processes of pottery making, ascertain the challenges which confront potters, and investigate the contributions of pottery to the development of Ushafa. Findings show that the processes of pottery production include collection of clay, breaking of clay into small particles, sun-drying and soaking of clay in water as well as sieving to produce fine clay. Other stages are kneading for plasticity, moulding, application of designs and finally, firing or baking of clay item. Pottery which leads tourism growth in Ushafa has made the following contributions such as improvement in local economy, provision of basic amenities and self-esteem among community members. Challenges of Tourism Development in Ushafa include the deplorable condition of the road leading to the clay mining area; the need for increased marketing outlets for pottery products, corruption and community poor hygiene.
Presenters: Jordan Konek, Amy Owingayak, Curtis Konek, Martha Okotak and April Dutheil
Supervisors: Dr. Frank Tester, Dr. Paule McNicoll & Mr. Peter Irniq
School of Social Work University of British Columbia
Library and Archives Canada
Ottawa, Canada
May 12, 2011
The presentation focuses on indigenous knowledge systems and science and their role in rural and agricultural development. Both knowledge systems are important to the modern man. They are a science which can be used profitably to further progress and without contradictions.
Addressing risk and resilience: an analysis of Māori communities and cultural...Global Risk Forum GRFDavos
Christine Marie KENNEY1, David JOHNSTON2, Douglas PATON3, John REID4, Suzanne Rachel PHIBBS5
1Edith Cowan University, Australia; 2Joint Centre for Disaster Research/GNS Science, New Zealand; 3University of Tasmania, Australia; 4Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, New Zealand; 5Massey University, New Zealand
This presentation was given for the course "Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology" at History faculty of Karaganda State University (Kazakhstan)
Māori Deficit Statistics in Aotearoa New Zealand- A response for maori by maoriDr Rawiri Waretini-Karena
This presentation focuses on Maori deficit statistics and historical contexts that contribute to Maori Experioences of Historical Intergenerational Trauma
The presentation focuses on indigenous knowledge systems and science and their role in rural and agricultural development. Both knowledge systems are important to the modern man. They are a science which can be used profitably to further progress and without contradictions.
Addressing risk and resilience: an analysis of Māori communities and cultural...Global Risk Forum GRFDavos
Christine Marie KENNEY1, David JOHNSTON2, Douglas PATON3, John REID4, Suzanne Rachel PHIBBS5
1Edith Cowan University, Australia; 2Joint Centre for Disaster Research/GNS Science, New Zealand; 3University of Tasmania, Australia; 4Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, New Zealand; 5Massey University, New Zealand
This presentation was given for the course "Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology" at History faculty of Karaganda State University (Kazakhstan)
Māori Deficit Statistics in Aotearoa New Zealand- A response for maori by maoriDr Rawiri Waretini-Karena
This presentation focuses on Maori deficit statistics and historical contexts that contribute to Maori Experioences of Historical Intergenerational Trauma
1. Ashoka: Innovators for the Public
Filming for Our future
Socio-Historical, Cross-Generational and Multi-media Approaches to Inuit
Youth Mental Health and Well-being
School of Social Work, University of British Columbia School (UBC), Vancouver, Canada
Nanisiniq Arviat History Project Research Team: Martha Okotak, Silas Illungiayok, Tamar
Mukyunik, Jordan Konek, Curtis Kuunuaq, Amy Owingayak, Dr. Paule McNicoll, Mr. Peter
Irniq, Dr. Frank Tester & April Dutheil
2. Nanisiniq Arviat History Project
• Inuit Elders & youth
from Arviat, Nunavut
• Two year multi-media
history project
• Participatory action
research
• Sivulinuut Elders
Society & University of
British Columbia School
of Social Work
3. Arviat, Nunavut
• 1,200 kilometers north
of Winnipeg
• Third largest town in
Nunavut
• Population approx.
3,000
4. Inuit History
• Most dramatic
assimilation period in
history
• Relocation
• Starvation
• Residential school
• An attempt to
assimilate Inuit into
western culture
Tester & McNicoll (2004)
5. Mental Health and Well-being
• Arviat: 74% of population
under 25 years old
compared to 35% for
general Canada
• Arviat: Highest national
birth rate
– 35/1,000
• Nunavut suicide eight times
the rate of suicide in
southern Canada
– 119.7/100,000 vs.
14/100,000
• Socio-historical trauma &
fractured identity/belonging
Hicks (2004); Tester & McNicoll (2004); White (2010)
6. Generational Gap
• Decreased interaction
between Elders and
youth
• Impacts grasp of
culturally, socially and
geographically -relevant
Inuit knowledge
7. Forgotten History
• Limited understanding
of Inuit history among
youth
• Inuit history not taught
in Nunavut (or southern
Canada)
• Painful to talk about
8. History & Identity
• Knowing one’s history
to make sense of
personal & community
experiences
• Rediscovering,
celebrating & re-
enforcing identity
9. History & Resistance
“First of all I'd like to say that Inuit were treated back then as
if they were stupid. They knew how to hunt well and how to
survive on the land but then, what did they get? White
people writing them a book of wisdom which Inuit already
had! From reading the documents we have been looking at,
Inuit stayed quiet and tried to listen to the White
people...What the white
people did not know then was
Inuit were already smart enough
to live their lives...”
-Amy Owingayak, August 22 2010
11. Elders & Strength
“I'm amazed by these Elders I'm watching who were all
mistreated by the Canadian Government - Yet they still stand
strong. I'm even more amazed how they know the
environment around them. We're losing it.”
-Jordan Konek, August 2 2012
15. Acknowledgements
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of
Canada
• Sivulinuut Elders Society
• Nunavut Research Institute
• Nunavut Arctic College
16. References
• Hicks, J. (2004, January 24). Nunavut Kiglisiniaqtiit: Evaluation
and Statistics. Presentation to the Founding Conference of the
Nunavut Suicide Prevention Council, Iqaluit, NU.
• Korhonen, M. (2006). Suicide prevention: Inuit traditional
practices that encouraged resilience and coping. Retrieved
from the Ajunnginiq Centre, National Aboriginal Health
Organization website:
http://www.naho.ca/inuit/e/resources/documents/SuicidePr
evention-FinalEnglish_000.pdf
• Tester, F. J., & McNicoll, P. (2004). Isumagijaksaq: Mindful of
the state: Social constructions of inuit suicide. Social Science
& Medicine, 58(12):2625-2636.
• White, Patrick (2010, June 5). Inuit mothers fight for their
children’s health. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from
http://freeinternetpress.com/story.php?sid=25989
-explain that “Are you Rich?” was already presented at IPY, but the final slides are online at Nanisiniq.tumblr.com -explain that you’re here presenting on behalf of a team
-Outline three topics we’re going to cover, implications for public health & health research: Mental health & wellness among youth, intergenerational connectedness, history, knowledge translation. -Asset-based approach
-audience participation: who here can tell me where Arviat is?
-Mental health is an important, yet currently minimally addressed issue in the Canadian North. Suicide rates in Nunavut are eight times the rate of those in southern Canada (Tester & McNicoll, 2004). The Baffin region of Nunavut has the highest male suicide rate at 133.9/100,000 and the highest female suicide rate at 47.1/100,000 (Tester & McNicoll, 2004). In the Baffin region as well as other regions of Nunavut, the prevalence of Inuit male (ages 15-29) suicide is among the highest in the world (Tester & McNicoll, 2004).
-Trained Inuit youth as historical researchers- examined archival document, pictures & film footage from the eastern Arctic, 1935-1970 -Many Inuit now living in Arviat underwent dramatic relocation from Ennadai Lake to Eskimo Point, now Arviat- starvations, TB, relocations -more of a change from one physical location to another, but attempts for psycho-social assimilation -History for healing
-History as a foundation for understanding -resistance
-I hear a lot of discussions of health at this conference that is defined as a lack of disease, but would argue that mental health & wellness is central to health for Inuit -Good relations are central to wellbeing and health in Inuit communities -if you have good relations, everything else is bearable & good -Working together
-knowledge translation- Zach Kunuk, said that the Video Camera is the best tool for research with Inuit communities -skills-based training, supports youth with employable skills- all youth involved went on to receive work in filmming, education, youth work -Participatory Filmmaking (resistance against dominant culture & TV/Internet) -creates space of resistance in research-relationships -implications participatory policy making
-educating researchers, communication & relationship building -Social media -Mention “My Word” storytelling project
-implications for Nunavut Arctic College & high school systems
-Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada