The Engagement of the Raising the Spirit Mental Wellness Team with First Nations Communities in the Manitoulin, North Shore and Bemwijaang Tribal

Transcription

1 The Engagement of the Raising the Spirit Mental Wellness Team with First Nations Communities in the Manitoulin, North Shore and Bemwijaang Tribal Council Areas Susan Manitowabi November 2015

2 Setting the Context

3 Mental Wellness Team: Flexible Team Approach Indiv. & Family

4

5 Raising the Spirit Goals & objectives Collaboration - Mental Wellness Team, community mental health and addictions workers and other service providers Access to specialized services; Enhance knowledge, skills and capacities; Support - consultation, clinical supervision, coaching & mentoring; Bridge traditional & mainstream approaches

6 Ethical Considerations Evaluation Advisory Committee Steering Committee and Elders Approval from two research ethics boards Laurentian University REB Manitoulin Anishinaabek Research Review Committee

7 4 aspects to the research How to: Engage & support 10 First Nation communities; Collaboration with communities & key partners; Integrate mainstream & traditional approaches Build capacity & knowledge at the community level.

8 The Methodology Service Providers/Agencies Storytelling interview Focus Group Photo voice First Nations Leadership Storytelling interview MWT Self-reflective journal Storytelling interviews Photo voice MW Steering Committee/ Traditional Advisory Circle Storytelling interview

9 2010 Photovoice Self-reflective Journals Community Focus Groups Interviews MWT Staff Leadership/Health Directors Steering Committee 2012 Focus Groups Community MWT staff Interviews Chiefs/Health Directors

10 Successes Commitment - Steering Committee & MWT Supportive community partners Collaborative Relationships Health Canada s Belief in the project Capacity building, knowledge transfer and skills enhancement Bridging western and traditional approaches

11 Collaborative Relationships Looking at the whole timeline of the project, certainly the initial priority was met, 10 participating First Nation communities, significant effort on the part of the chair and program coordinator, significant effort in the beginning to do community presentations in being able to launch the project, its intention and meeting. [it is] evident that there has been acceptance and partnership. (focus group participant, 2011)

12 Challenges What was envisioned, mammoth ideas, huge apple, one bite at a time, some of the goals, beyond human and financial resources, trying to pare down.(focus group participant 2011)

13 Geography & 10 FN Communities

14 Traditional Teachings

15 Communication

16 Nurturing the team

17 Balancing the Medicine Wheel

18 Lessons learned A strong foundation Shared vision Grounded in Traditional /Western approaches Human and financial resources Support - Steering Committee, Elder s advisory, Community & funding agency (external advocate) Responsiveness to community needs Good communication strategy

19 Miigwech

20 References Archibald, J. (2008). Indigenous Storywork: Educating the heart, mind, body and spirit. Vancouver, BC: UBC Press. Baskin, C. (2005). Storytelling Circles: Reflections of Aboriginal Protocols in research. Social work review, 22, 2, Bishop, R. (1999). Collaborative Storytelling: Meeting Indigenous Peoples' Desires for Self- determination in Research. In: Indigenous Education around the World: Workshop Papers from the World Indigenous People's Conference: Education (Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 15-22, 1996); see RC Creswell. J.W. (2007). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches, 2nd Edition Sage Publications Inc. Thousand Oaks California Gibbs, D. (1988). Learning by Doing: A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods: London: Further Education Unit. Kirby, M. & Keon, W. (2006). Out of the Shadows at Last Transforming Mental Health, Mental Illness and Addictions Services in Canada, The standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology Kovack, M. (2009). Indigenous Methodologies: Characteristics, Conversations and Contexts. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press. Langois, K. (n.d.) First Nations and Inuit Mental Wellness Strategic Action Plan. Retrieved May 15, 2015 from: Strategic_Action_Plan-mental_wellness.pdf Langlois, K. (2008) "First Nations and Inuit Mental Wellness Strategic Action Plan", International Journal of Leadership in Public Services, Vol. 4 Iss: 1, pp.7 12 DOI: Mushquash, C. (2014). Using Storytelling in Alcohol Use Intervention. In Journey to Healing: Aboriginal People with Addiction and Mental health Issues: What Health, Social Service and Justice Workers Need to Know. Edit by Peter Menzies and Lynn F. Lavallee. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Mussel, W.J., Nicholls, W.M., Adler, M. T. (1993) Making Meaning of Mental Health Challenges in First Nations: A Freirean Perspective. Sal ishan Institute Society, Second edition. Nabigon, H., (2006). The Hollow Tree: Fighting Addiction with Traditional Native Healing. McGill-Queen s University Press. Pp

21 References Mussel, W.J., Nicholls, W.M., Adler, M. T. (1993) Making Meaning of Mental Health Challenges in First Nations: A Freirean Perspective. Sal ishan Institute Society, Second edition. Nabigon, H., (2006). The Hollow Tree: Fighting Addiction with Traditional Native Healing. McGill-Queen s University Press. Pp National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health. (2013). Setting the Context: An Overview of Aboriginal Health in Canada. University of Northern British Columbia. Prince George, B.C. Northeast Mental Health Centre. (2001). A Proposal from Northeast Mental Health Centre Native Services for the Development of a First Nation Mental Health resource Team. Sudbury, Ontario: Northeast Mental Health Centre. Sutherland, M. (2013) Mental Wellness Team: Key Learnings from 8 Pilot Projects Prepared for: Mental Wellness Division Interprofessional Advisory Program Support Directorate FNIHB - Health Canada. Retrieved from: %20Key%20Learnings%20from%208%20projects%20(2013).pdf Thomas, R (2005) Honouring the oral traditions of my ancestors through storytelling. In Brown & Strega (eds). Research as Resistance Critical, Indigenous and anti-oppressive approaches (pp ). Toronto: Canadian Scholars Press. Wang, C. C., & Burris, M.A. (1997). Photovoice: Concept, methodology, and use for participatory needs assessment. Health Education & Behavior, 24(3), Wiebe. P., Manitowabi D. & McNulty, F. (2009) Team Approaches to Mental Wellness in First Nations and Inuit Communities. First Nations and Inuit Health Branch Health Canada Ontario Psychiatric Outreach Program Retreat Sept 3, Retrieved from %20FNI%20Team%20approaches%20to%20Mental%20Wellness%20OPOP%20retreat%20Sept%203%2009.pdf