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COMMUNITY CASE STUDY article

Front. Public Health
Sec. Substance Use Disorders and Behavioral Addictions
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1419250
This article is part of the Research Topic Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (J-DEI) in Substance Use & Mental Health Research and Practice View all 10 articles

From Trauma to Resilience: Advancing Cultural Responsiveness and Equity in the Muskowekwan First Nation's Healing Journey

Provisionally accepted
JoLee Sasakamoose JoLee Sasakamoose 1*Shauneen Pete Shauneen Pete 2Tiffany Wolfe Tiffany Wolfe 3Fred O'Soup Fred O'Soup 3
  • 1 University of Regina, Regina, Canada
  • 2 Royal Roads University, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
  • 3 Muskowekwan First Nation, Lestock, Canada

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Introduction: Introduction: The Muskowekwan First Nation (MFN) in Saskatchewan, Canada, epitomizes the enduring strength and cultural preservation of the Saulteaux people. This community faces the lasting effects of colonial trauma, especially the violence, abuse, and adversity experienced by students at the Muskowequan Indian Residential School (MIRS). Decades of abuse by institutional leaders caused generational trauma, contributing to current mental health and well-being challenges. This study highlights the community's role in sharing experiences and shaping healing processes to develop the MFN Family Healing and Wellness Centre in response to urgent community concerns. It examines the integration of Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (J-DEI) principles and cultural responsiveness in fostering community resilience and mental well-being. Methods: Adopting a community-based participatory research framework, this study employs a mixed-methods approach, including community engagement sessions and surveys. Collaborating closely with the MFN leadership, it draws upon the specialized expertise of Author2 and Author1, leaders in Indigenous health and research. The research uses qualitative and quantitative data collection, emphasizing the importance of community input and leadership in shaping the research process and outcomes. Results: Findings emphasize the community's commitment to spiritual and cultural practices as vital healing components. Amidst the heightened awareness of the lingering effects of the MIRS within the MFN community, these insights informed the development of the Centre, ensuring it incorporates the community's desires for culturally relevant healing practices. The grand opening of Phase I of the Centre in February 2023 emerged as a significant step forward, symbolizing a move towards holistic community health that honors resilience, holistic wellness, and cultural continuity. Discussion: This case study contributes to the literature on integrated, culturally responsive

    Keywords: Historic Trauma1, Cultural Responsiveness2, J-DEI (Justice, diversity, Equity, Inclusion)3, Indigenous Healing Practices4, Indigenous Community Resilience5

    Received: 17 Apr 2024; Accepted: 30 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Sasakamoose, Pete, Wolfe and O'Soup. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: JoLee Sasakamoose, University of Regina, Regina, Canada

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.