Re-imagining miyo-wicehtowin: Human-nature relations, land-making, and wellness among Indigenous youth in a Canadian urban context. (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hatala, Andrew R.; Morton, Darrien; Njeze, Chinyere; Bird-Naytowhow, Kelley; Pearl, Tamara
• Is Part Of: Social science & medicine. Volume 230(2019)
• Page Start: 122
• Page End: 130
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: Indigenous youth -- Land -- Meaning-making -- Environmental repossession -- Agency -- Resilience -- Saskatchewan -- Community-based research; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine sociale -- Périodiques; Anthropologie médicale -- Périodiques; Santé publique -- Périodiques; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.04.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-9536

Abstract

Abstract: Relationships to land and nature have long been recognized globally as a central Indigenous determinant of health. As more Indigenous peoples migrate to larger urban centers, it is crucial to better understand how these relationships are maintained or function within urban spaces. This article outlines the results of a year-long collaborative study that qualitatively explored Indigenous young peoples' connections between "land, " nature, and wellness in an urban Canadian context. Thirty-eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 Cree and Métis Indigenous youth living within Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A strength based analysis focused on re-imagining miyo-wicehtowin; that is, the processes of youths' self-determination and agency that build positive human-nature relationships and enact "land-making" amidst their urban spaces. This research critically engages environmental dispossession and repossession to more readily consider decolonizing land-based approaches to health and wellness among urban contexts. Future empirical and methodological directions for exploring human-nature relationships in urban health research are also offered. Highlights: Re-imaging positive human-nature relationships support health and wellness. Urban Indigenous self-determination and agency involves processes of "land-making". Land-based approaches to health and wellness can include urban contexts. Miyo-wicehtowin challenges human-nature relationships and conceptual boundaries.