NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: North Slave Region

Tags: social sciences, wellness, dene culture, physical activity, participatory research, socio-cultural, health awareness, photovoice, social media

Objective(s): To qualitatively explore physical activity within the sociocultural context of the Yellowknives Dene people and communities.

Project Description: The goal of this research is to qualitatively explore physical activity within the sociocultural context of the Yellowknives Dene people and communities. Specific objectives are: 1) to document the community’s experiences with and perspective of regular physical activity through the eyes of their youth; and 2) to raise awareness about physical activity in the community, and develop strategies to sustain and improve regular physical activity initiatives. This research is being done in collaboration with the Yellowknives Dene First Nations (YKDFN) Community Wellness Program. Together with these partners, the research team have reached a common understanding that the overall goal is to increase the awareness of physical activity and develop strategies to sustain physical activity initiatives at a community level. The two research objectives will be accomplished in two parts. Objective 1 corresponds to part 1 of the research: the youth participatory video project. Objective 2 correspond to part 2 of the research: community talking circles ('focus groups'). These two components are driven by an overarching participatory action research approach where researchers and the community co-develop the research process and co-create knowledge. Participants help to shape and guide the direction and potential outcome of the research. Part 1 of the research will specifically apply the method of participatory video with a focused ethnographic lens, guided by the research focus on the role of physical activity in the strengthening and development of Aboriginal youths’ cultural identity. Part 2 of the research involves talking circles which comprises the essential knowledge translation aspect of participatory action research where concrete actions will be put in motion to achieve positive change in the community. Part 1) Youth participatory video project. First Nations youth from the YKDFN communities of Ndilo and Dettah will be involved in a video and social media project using a participatory research approach. Visual media methods have become increasingly popular in the field of health and social sciences research because they adopt a participatory lens. Methods such as Photovoice, photo novella, participatory video, and digital storytelling give the power to the participant to share a particular perspective, experience, story, and concern using media tools such as camera and video recording device. The products, either photomontages or videos, generally lead to certain social actions that would improve the livelihood and health of the participants and their communities. Visual media methods thus break down power dynamics between researchers and participants, by treating the latter as co-researchers and co-creators of knowledge. Such methods give participants, particularly marginalized groups such as Aboriginal youth, a voice that would otherwise remain silent through traditional research methods. Through their unique voice and perspective, the youth will document the community’s experience with regular physical activity in a northern context. Video-making sessions will be held on-location at the Chekoa summer youth programs in Ndilo and Dettah, each with approximately 5 to 10 youth participants. A specific event such as a canoe trip, cultural day, or camping trip will be central in the exploration of the connection between physical activity and cultural identity. These sessions will be co-facilitated by the researcher and local community workers. Facilitators will treat youths as co-researchers. Youths will develop their own interview questions and envision how these questions will be addressed through visual media. Involving youths as co-researchers has proven to be a valid and credible method that balances power relationships and confers ownership to the participants in the research process. Skill training including leadership, teamwork, research, interview, and media will be embedded in the video-making process. Part 1 of the research project will not only raise awareness among the youths about physical activity in their local cultural context but also build capacity for them to take initiative in the community. Moreover, because the “process […] can bear more significance for all actors of the video than the video-as-a-product,” the project will therefore impact the youth participants as much as their intended audiences (their peers and communities). Recruitment: Participants will be youths between the ages of 10-25 from Ndilo and Dettah. Research collaborators from the Community Wellness Program, who manages the Chekoa youth program, will facilitate the recruitment process. The video project will be embedded in the youth program’s regular summer activities. Facilitators will introduce the video project and the broader research goals and objectives to the youth participants dropping into the program either in a group setting or on an individual basis. Since consistent participation in the general summer program is not always guaranteed, recruitment will occur on an on-going basis to identify interested participants. Posters for the video project will also be displayed at the community centres in both Ndilo and Dettah to attract potential participants. Contact will be facilitated through research collaborators. Consent: Signed consent (forwarded with a project description) will be obtained from the guardians of youth under the age of 18. However, because oral tradition may be strong in the communities, an oral consent is also a valid form of consent. As such, in the case when a guardian expresses concern about a written signed consent, facilitators will present the option of oral consent by explaining the project verbally, noting date, time, and place, and confirming the consent with the facilitator’s signature. Youths will also provide assent by completing the signed consent form after their guardians. If the youth prefers, facilitators will obtain oral assent in the same manner as the oral consent procedure. If the youth reaches the legal age of independent consent during the research project, then an option will be provided to sign an additional consent form to indicate continued participation. Options to withdraw, end, or modify participation in the research will be made explicit to the participants and their guardians initially in the consent form and introduction, and re-iterated later should circumstances require. Participants (and their guardians) may request to view the progress of the research at distinct stages to decide continued commitment or early termination. Data analysis: The video segments will be analyzed using unstructured interview strategy with participants either on a one-on-one basis or in a group setting. Analysis will be based on approaches such as ORID ("objective, reflective, interpretive, decisional"), which guides participants to explain the purpose and meaning behind the media data. Portions of the video may also be transcribed and analyzed for common themes using a constant comparison and development approach to further generate meaning. Part 2) Community talking circles ('focus groups'). Two to four talking circles will be conducted independently in Ndilo and Dettah with approximately 5-8 community members each to review the results of the youth participatory video project. These talking circles will take approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Participants will also assess lessons learned from other nation-wide physical activity campaigns and programs to gain insights about how other Aboriginal communities motivate people to engage with physical activity. These sessions will facilitate community-level critical thinking about active living and the implementation of culturally and geographically appropriate physical activity solutions. The range of participants’ experience and knowledge, facilitated by an experienced animator, will allow them to interact with one another, contributing to a meaningful discussion that will ultimately lead to consciousness-raising, a health-promoting activity in itself. “Because people form their attitudes and beliefs relative to others,” the interaction among the participants is therefore critical for data gathering and community envisioning. Ultimately, the sessions will aim to identify physical and human resources available in the community and externally to ensure sustainability of inclusive physical activity initiatives. The outcomes will include a working group and a community developed strategic plan outlining a vision for active living and sustainable next steps. The talking circles will conclude with a debrief session to assess the participants’ experience with the discussion process. These sessions will be digitally and/or video-recorded (with consent) for transcription purpose and to allow researchers to make field observations about the interactions among participants. Recruitment: Individuals from diverse backgrounds will participate in the talking circles. Research collaborators from the Community Wellness Program will facilitate the recruitment process. Purposeful sampling will identify community members and leaders with a vested interest in physical activity and related programs. Conversations with interested participants may also result in snowball recruitment. Posters for the talking circles will also be displayed at the community centres in both Ndilo and Dettah to attract potential participants. Contact will be facilitated through research collaborators. Consent: Participants will sign a consent form at the time of the talking circles after facilitators have formally introduced the research goals and objectives. In the event of oral consent, facilitators will follow the oral consent procedure described in part 1. Options to withdraw, end, or modify participation in the research will be made explicit to the participants in the introduction, and re-iterated later should circumstances require. Analysis: The transcribed texts will be analyzed for common themes using a constant comparison and development approach. The summary of the results will contribute to a part of the strategic plan that community members will create. Any data arising from the research or subsequent to the project will be synthesized and presented to the communities first before wider knowledge dissemination. All community members and leaders will be invited to a feast to view the youth-produced videos and results of the talking circle discussions. It is anticipated that further research results will be shared through the local channels such as community newsletters and bulletins. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from August 15, 2013 to December 31, 2013.