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Knowing the
community
means connecting with the community in many ways.
A well-known Aboriginal teaching speaks to how we must understand where we came from in order to know where we are going. Learning the story of an urban Aboriginal community can present challenges because many community members have moved
to the area at different times, for different reasons, from different nations, representing different cultures, and speaking different languages. Yet, bringing all of these individual stories together and understanding how they contribute to the dynamics of a community is essential.
Consistent with an Aboriginal way of viewing
the world that is holistic, with everyone and everything connected, and working with the understanding that many Aboriginal communities have experienced trauma and residential schooling, we used trauma-informed and culturally-safe approaches to gather and share information about our community.8
Starting with the individuals participating in the almost 30 programs offered at the North Bay Indian Friendship Centre, and depending on opportunities, funding, and partnerships, we used creative ways to gather information about many issues and topics concerning the past and current lives of community members including culture, language, racism, elder care, mental health, employment, and housing. During monthly potlucks and drumming, we could be found asking questions like, What community are you coming from? or What language do you speak? When it came to gathering information about more sensitive topics and issues like residential school, we sought guidance from Elders, participated in sharing circles, conducted key- informant interviews and supported other safe and creative activities.
8From a research perspective, we were putting “cultural safety” into practice. Carefully learning about the individual and collective history of community members, including that many had attended residential schools and experienced abuse, meant that our work and processes were culturally and trauma-informed. Working with that understanding increased safety for participants and promoted participation.
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Walking the Red Road | REPORT OF THE URBAN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES THRIVE PROJECT
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