Abstract
Building on prior research on Indigenous land-based healing from the viewpoints of community members, this qualitative study sought to learn the perspectives of Elders regarding land-based interventions within a Mushkegowuk community in northern Ontario. While previous studies have shown the importance to community members of Elders’ involvement with land-based initiatives, the current project aimed to understand, via conversations with Elders, their broad view of land-based healing. Employing Indigenous and phenomenological methods, the authors conducted and summarized interviews with three Elders regarding their views on key components, challenges, and steps in transferring knowledge of land-based programming. Elders spoke about learning in a natural context, strengthening bonds between youth and Elders as well as ancestors, and preparing food in a traditional manner as important aspects of healing. They also underscored the benefits of enhancing a sense of community, cultural pride, and spirituality, as well as connecting with nature. Challenges discussed included funding, permits, parental support and participation, and participants’ reliance on technology. Conversations regarding the process of knowledge transfer revealed the significance of misunderstanding for non-Indigenous researchers working within Indigenous communities.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bartlett, C., Marshall, M., & Marshall, A. (2012). Two-eyed seeing and other lessons learned within a co-learning journey of bringing together Indigenous and mainstream knowledges and ways of knowing. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, 2(4), 331–340.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.
Canadian Psychological Association & The Psychology Foundation of Canada, Task Force on Responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Report (2018). Psychology’s response to the truth and reconciliation commission of Canada’s report. https://cpa.ca/docs/File/Task_Forces/TRC%20Task%20Force%20Report_FINAL.pdf. Accessed 14 Sept 2020
Churchill, S. (2000). “Seeing through” self-deception in narrative reports: finding psychological truth in problematic data. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 31(1), 44–62.
Churchill, S. (2012). Teaching phenomenology by way of a “second-person perspectivity” from my thirty years of teaching at the University of Dallas. Indo-Pacific Journal of Phenomenology, 12(sup 3), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.2989/IPJP.2012.12.3.6.1114.
Colaizzi, P. (1973). Reflection and research in psychology. Kendall Hunt.
Colaizzi, P. (1978). Psychological research as the phenomenologist views it. In R. Valle & M. King (Eds.), Existential-phenomenological alternatives for psychology (pp. 48–71). Oxford University Press.
Danto, D., & Walsh, R. (2017). Mental health perceptions and practices of a Cree community in northern Ontario: a qualitative study. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 15(4), 725–737.
Danto, D., Walsh, R., & Sommerfeld, J. (2020). Learning from those who do: land-based healing in a Mushkegowuk community. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00306-z.
Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment (2014). Take a kid trapping & harvesting: report 2013–2014. http://www.iti.gov.nt.ca/sites/iti/files/take_a_kid_trapping_and_harvesting_report_2013_14.pdf. Accessed 27 Aug 2020
Giorgi, A. (1985). Phenomenology and psychological research. Duquesne University Press.
Giorgi, A. (2009). The descriptive phenomenological method in psychology: a modified Husserlian approach. Duquesne University Press.
Hall, L., Dell, C. A., Fornssler, B., Hopkins, C., Mushquash, C., & Rowan, M. (2015). Research as cultural renewal: applying two-eyed seeing in a research project about cultural interventions in First Nations addictions treatment. International Indigenous Policy Journal, 6(2), 1–15.
Halling, S., Kunz, G., & Rowe, J. O. (1994). The contributions of dialogical psychology to phenomenological research. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 34(1), 109–131.
Hart, M. (2002). Seeking Mino-pimatisiwin: an Aboriginal approach to helping. Fernwood Books Limited.
Hunter, L. M., Logan, J., Goulet, J., & Barton, S. (2006). Aboriginal healing: regaining balance and culture. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 17(1), 13–22.
Iwama, M., Marshall, M., Marshall, A., & Bartlett, C. (2009). Two-eyed seeing and the language of healing in community-based research. Canadian Journal of Native Education, 32(2), 3–23.
Kovach, M. (2009). Indigenous methodologies: characters, conversations, and contexts. University of Toronto Press.
Marsh, T. N., Coholic, D., Cote-Meek, S., & Najavits, L. M. (2015a). Blending Aboriginal and Western healing methods to treat intergenerational trauma with substance use disorder in Aboriginal peoples who live in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. Harm Reduction Journal, 12, Article 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-015-0046-1.
Marsh, T. N., Cote-Meek, S., Toulouse, P., Najavits, L. M., & Young, N. L. (2015b). The application of two-eyed seeing decolonizing methodology in qualitative and quantitative research for the treatment of intergenerational trauma and substance use disorders. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 14(5), 1–13.
Marton, F. (1981). Phenomenography: describing conceptions of the world around us. Instructional Science, 10(2), 177–200.
Marton, F. (1986). Phenomenography: a research approach to investigating different understandings of reality. Journal of Thought, 21(3), 28–49.
Menzies, P., Bodnar, A., & Harper, V. (2010). The role of the Elder within a mainstream addiction and mental health hospital: developing an integrated model. Native Social Work Journal, 7, 87–107.
Plaskett, R., & Stewart, B. (2010). Caring for the circle within: Jackson Lake land-based healing program. Program overview & evaluation report. http://www.kwanlindun.com/images/uploads/KDFN%20Caring%20for%20the%20Circle%20Within-Evaluation%20report%202010.pdf. Accessed 27 Aug 2020
Radu, I., House, L. M., & Pashagumskum, E. (2014). Land, life, and knowledge in Chisasibi: intergenerational healing in the bush. Decolonization: Indigeneity, Education & Society, 3(3), 86–105.
Robbins, J. A., & Dewar, J. (2011). Traditional Indigenous approaches to healing and the modern welfare of traditional knowledge, spirituality and lands: a critical reflection on practices and policies taken from the Canadian Indigenous example. The International Indigenous Policy Journal, 2(4), 1–17.
Shosha, G. A. (2012). Employment of Colaizzi’s strategy in descriptive phenomenology: a reflection of a researcher. European Scientific Journal, 8(27), 31–43.
Vukic, A., Gregory, D., Martin-Misener, R., & Etowa, J. (2011). Aboriginal and Western conceptions of mental health and illness. Pimatisiwin: a Journal of Aboriginal and Indigenous Community Health, 9(1), 65–86.
Walls, M., & Whitbeck, L. B. (2012). The intergenerational effects of relocation policies on Indigenous families. Journal of Family Issues, 33(9), 1272–1293.
Walsh, R. (2004). The methodological implications of Gadamer’s distinction between statements and speculative language. The Humanistic Psychologist, 32(2), 105–119.
Walsh, R., Danto, D., & Sommerfeld, J. (2020). Land-based intervention: a qualitative study of the knowledge and practices associated with one approach to mental health in a Cree community. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 18(1), 207–221.
Welch, K. L. (2011). The extension of Colaizzi’s method of phenomenological inquiry. Contemporary Nursing, 39(2), 163–171.
Acknowledgements
The Authors express their appreciation for thehospitality and participation of the participants and the community in Mushkegowuk Territory. Weacknowledge the contributions of University of Guelph-Humber Psychology Students: Sara Mancuso andMarlena Williams.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Walsh, R., Sommerfeld, J. & Danto, D. Land-Based Healing: Toward Understanding the Role of Elders. Int J Ment Health Addiction 20, 862–873 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00409-7
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00409-7