The following story is written by Mitch Jackson.
Health psychologist and Carleton professor Kim Matheson was recently awarded a $2.5 million Partnership Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) for her project Youth Futures: Bringing Together Indigenous and Western Approaches to Promote Youth Resilience and Prosperity in First Nations Communities.
Ariel Root, a graduate student in the PhD in Public Policy program at Carleton, is working under the supervision of Matheson and contributing to the project.
Carleton PhD alumna Amy Bombay will also be part of the project.
Root is currently in Ottawa completing coursework but will finish her program from Sioux Lookout, in order to be in the heart of her research.
“Being in Sioux Lookout this past summer, I realized the need to be there,” said Root, who previously worked as a forest fire fighter for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Root will be able to visit remote communities and develop community partnerships and relationships.
“Many people have toes in so many different projects and the best way to meet them, and get a better sense of the on-going initiatives, is to be there, meet people, so you can benefit from all of the opportunities.”
Root had been helping Matheson with articles for the Canadian Health Adaptations, Innovations, & Mobilization (CHAIM) Centre. Through this relationship, Matheson knew that Root was interested in Indigenous health and well-being and asked her to become part of the Youth Futures project.
Since winter 2016, Root has been helping Matheson with an evaluation of the Hockey Canada Skills Academy at Sioux Mountain Public School at the Sioux Lookout elementary school.
Tristan Bouchard, Ariel, and Hailey Bouchard: students from Sioux Mountain Public School.
“Despite my initial panics and stresses, I loved being there,” Root said. “I knew that’s where I was supposed to be.”
Root is passionate about the Youth Futures project and feels honoured to be involved.
“It’s necessary. It’s long overdue. It’s our youth. Our futures. I can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t think this is important.”
When Root is asked about the project’s importance, she cites the differences in determinants of health between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, as well as underlying inadequacies and insufficiencies in program funding for improvements.
She hopes that this project will help bridge some of those gaps.
“We routinely hear of the struggles First Nations have in regards to education, employment, physical and mental health, and this is happening in the same province that I’ve lived my entire life,” she said.
But Root sees hope for change in these relationships.
“I’ve worked with and for a lot of kids in my careers, and they’re inherently resilient. The youth I work with in Sioux Lookout blow me away,” she said.
“They’re so amazing, and strong, and they inspire me without knowing how or why. And I hope to be able to do the same, to inspire them, encourage them, and support them.”
Abram Lake sunrise. Photo credit: Patrick Keating
Friday, October 28, 2016 in Grad Student Research, News
Share: Twitter, Facebook
