The stage at which the individual is located within the life course is another mediating factor of wellness. As a mediator of wellness, several important stages of the life course, as well as events within the life course, were discussed:
• children and youth
• adult
• elder
• adverse life events
Renee Williams discussed that, for all life spans, it is important that communities are able to determine how programs are delivered, what is culturally appropriate for them, and measures are in place to revise the programs specific to the needs of their communities. Gwen Phillips expressed a similar mindset, stating that "children are an investment in the future, and become what they are given."
Many presenters emphasized the importance …show more content…
of implementing programs that nurture children and youth, as well as programs that function to prevent and address adverse childhood events and abuse. Felicia Hodge discussed that in her study participants, those who reported childhood abuse were significantly more likely to also report suicidal ideation, poor general health status and low participation in cultural activities. She stressed the need to identify childhood trauma and increase awareness and understanding in communities of the association between adverse childhood events and adult health.Of particular note were her findings around adverse childhood events (ACE). An ACE is defined as physical, verbal, sexual, mental and emotional abuse experienced during childhood and adolescence. Having history of an ACE was suggested by Felicia Hodge to be a major risk factor for chronic illness later in life.
Ted Mala described a program called the Family Wellness Warriors Initiative (FWWI), which aims to end domestic violence, child sexual abuse, and child neglect in the state of Alaska in this generation. FWWI trainings focus on the root issues of violence and abuse in communities (the source) and not just the symptoms. To break the cycle of abuse, the FWWI works with those who have been harmed, and those who have caused or are at risk of causing harm to others.
Another upstream wellness initiative, the presenters from the Cuystwi online youth wellness program explained that the Cuystwi project evolved from conversations with First Nations in Northern British Columbia about their concerns regarding youth suicide.
It was suggested that if youth could have a platform to explore their identities and cultures as Indigenous peoples, as well as understand colonization and how the on-going cumulative impacts affect Indigenouspeople and families, that they may have a stronger foundation to depend on when encountering difficult periods in their lives. Thus, a key component of the program is an emphasis on building resilience in youth. Phase one of the Cuystwi program is currently being run in partnership communities for youth aged 10-12 years old. In the program, youth are invited to go on a quest that takes them through a series of online wellness activities and videos that are meant to be paired with activities in their existing community-based youth groups.
John Waldon discussed how no social group can remain cohesive and distinct if it is restricted by preventable and inequitable burden to nurture its children. Ted Mala acknowledged the need for youth to have mentorship. He discussed the importance of youth seeking out different mentors that have gone through challenges—recognizing that a mentor is not someone who has all of the answers, but is a source of support and
encouragement.
The adult and elder stages also mediate wellness in unique ways, particularly in supporting the wellness of the younger generation. Georgia Kyba showed that this perspective is depicted in the FNHA Perspective on Wellness model, where on the outer edge of the model are people holding hands. This represents the FNHA vision of strong children, families, elders and people in communities demonstrating unity, relationships and respect – in the words of one British Columbia elder, “one heart, one mind.” Lastly, the people holding hands on the outside of the circle also symbolize our interconnectedness and the cyclical nature of wellness. Combined, both relationships and the life course affect our ability to work together and harness our collective strengths as Indigenous peoples. They act as important mediating factors in our journey towards wellness and must be considered in wellness indicator frameworks.