Beading Native Twitter: Indigenous arts-based approaches to healing and resurgence

Authors: Jeffrey Ansloos et al.

Publication Year: 2022

Last Updated:

Journal: The Arts in Psychotherapy

Keywords: Communication Technologies; Cultural Sensitivity and Appropriateness; Beading; Arts; Healing; Psychotherapy; Digital Space; First Nations

 

Short Abstract: Beading is a cultural art form that holds great significance for Indigenous communities. Across history, the practice of beading has been widely recognized by Indigenous peoples as a means of recording and translating cultural knowledge, and of promoting wellness across various contexts. While beading existed long before Settler-European contact, its survival amidst Canada’s colonial history is profound.

 

Abstract: Beading is a cultural art form that holds great significance for Indigenous communities. Across history, the practice of beading has been widely recognized by Indigenous peoples as a means of recording and translating cultural knowledge, and of promoting wellness across various contexts. While beading existed long before Settler-European contact, its survival amidst Canada’s colonial history is profound. With the rise of social media platforms, Indigenous communities have taken up digital spaces such as Twitter to support cultural resurgence and healing. Our study is interested in the everyday ways in which digital environments like Twitter may be therapeutic. Conceptually situated within the interdisciplinary nexus of Indigenous studies, psychotherapeutic studies, and contextualist qualitative research, we draw on an analysis of tweets and interviews from Indigenous beaders within Canada. Using a thematic approach (Braun & Clark, 2006), our analysis yielded 12 themes that speak to the relationship between, and possibilities and challenges related to, beading, Indigenous healing processes, and digital space. A discussion is provided on the benefits of the digital space for therapeutic healing, its limitations, tensions, and the colonial legacies that become re-enacted in digital spaces. Strengths and limitations of the study are also discussed. NOTE: This article focuses on First Nation individuals in Canada with indigenous beading culture, not AI/AN individuals in the United States.

 

Source: Link to Original Article.

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Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197455622000351

Type of Resource: Peer-reviewed scientific article

Use Of Text Messaging And Facebook Groups To Support The Healthy Children, Strong Families 2 Healthy Lifestyle Intervention For American Indian Families

Authors: Megan E Curtis, Sarah E Clingan, Huiying Guo, Yuhui Zhu, Larissa J Mooney, Yih-Ing Hser

Publication Year: 2021

Last Updated: May 2021

Journal: Current Developments in Nutrition

Keywords: American Indian; Health Promotion; Obesity Prevention; Facebook; Text Messaging; Social Media; Family-Based Intervention; Access to Care; Technology; Communication

 

Short Abstract: Delivery of health promotion interventions for AI children via social media was supported to be found helpful by their AI caregivers. Social media may be an area to target in the future for similar programs, as social media accounts generally remain constant over time, while phone numbers are often changed. This intervention delivery method may be of notable help to the urban AI population.

 

Abstract: Background: American Indian (AI) families experience a disproportionately high prevalence of obesity compared to the general US population. Nearly 30% of AI children are obese, but few obesity interventions have been developed to target AI families. Purpose of Study: This study aimed to assess the use and reception of social media and texting technology for sharing health promotion messages to AI/AN parents/guardians as an obesity prevention intervention method for Healthy Children, Strong Families 2. Method: Adult/child dyads were randomized to a control group or the intervention group after being stratified by child weight status. Adults in the intervention group were sent health promotion tips through post mail, text messages, and an optional Facebook group. The families reported feedback a year after the intervention started on their attitudes towards the messages received. Researchers also used Facebook analytics to describe participant interaction with Facebook posts. Sample: AI adults with cell phones in urban and rural settings care for AI children between the ages of 2-5 that are at risk for obesity. Dyads recruited from 4 rural sites; n=240 adult/child pairs and from 1 urban site; n=210 adult/child pairs. Type of Info: Intervention; Intervention reception Results: Text messages and Facebook groups were reported overall to be helpful. Tangible content in messages/posts were reported to be the most helpful, ie ideas for recipes and activities. Urban participants found text messages significantly more helpful than their rural counterparts though. 67.8% of participants joined the Facebook groups, and participants reported higher satisfaction with posts on Facebook compared to text messaging. Urban participants were more likely to engage with Facebook posts compared to rural participants according to Facebook analytical data. 31.7% of participants reported changing their phone number during the intervention trial period. Limitations/Things to Note: Health behaviors in children were not analyzed or tracked. Reception of messages was positive, but that does not indicate whether health behaviors were changed and/or influenced by the communications. Conclusion: Delivery of health promotion interventions for AI children via social media is supported to be found helpful by their AI caregivers. Social media may be an area to target in the future for similar programs, as social media accounts generally remain constant over time, while phone numbers are often changed. This intervention delivery method may be of notable help to the urban AI population.

 

Source: Link to Original Article.

Source: https://academic.oup.com/cdn/article/5/Supplement_4/32/6276718