Seven spans thick exploring resilience from the perspectives of Aboriginal peoples living off-reserve

Summary: Building on the limited foundation of asset-based research in Aboriginal communities, this study explores how Aboriginal peoples living off reserve experience and perceive resilience. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five Aboriginal members of a small, non-native community. Themes emerging from the interviews highlight the importance of connections to family, culture, community, land, and public services, as well as to a sense of life purpose. These results support and expand existing resilience theory, and relate to social determinants of health and social capital theories. Implications of the study demonstrate the importance of a holistic approach to personal well-being, responsibility for which is balanced between the individual and society, and which requires careful negotiation between Aboriginal and mainstream cultures.

Record details

Physical Description: electronic
electronic resource
1 electronic text (124 p.) : ill., digital file.
Publisher: Montréal : McGill University, 2009.

Content descriptions

Dissertation Note:	Thesis (Master of Social Work)--McGill University, 2009.
Bibliography, etc. Note:	Includes bibliographical references.
Formatted Contents Note:	Review of the Literature -- Aboriginal Context in Canada -- Historical overview -- Present Context -- Deficit versus Asset-Based Research -- Resilience as a Framework for Research -- Introduction to Resilience Theory -- Debates and Critiques of Resilience -- Resilience Research in Aboriginal Contexts -- Research Questions -- Methodological Process -- Philosophical and Theoretical Framework -- Phenomenology -- Grounded Theory -- Study Design -- Sample -- Data Collection -- Data Analysis and Verification -- Presentation of Results -- Dissemination of Research -- Ethical Considerations -- Results -- Individual Narratives: Portraits of Resilience -- Analysis: Major Emergent Themes -- Connection to Family -- Sense of Self and of Purpose -- Aboriginal Culture -- Remembering and Forgetting -- Spirituality -- Connection to Land -- Solidarity and Gathering Together -- Education and Knowledge -- Contact with Social Services -- Community Characteristics -- Discussion: Themes to Theory -- Resilience Theory -- Supported Theoretical Concepts -- Theoretical Debates -- Resilience Theory Broadened -- Additional Theories -- Social Capital -- Social Determinants of Health -- Emerging Tensions and Balances -- Agency and Determinism -- Them and Us -- Resistance and Resilience -- Limitations and Future Directions -- Research Limitations -- Implications of Research Findings -- Practice Implications -- Research Implications -- Policy Implications -- Appendix A: Letter of Introduction -- Appendix B: Consent Form -- Appendix C: Interview Guide -- Appendix D: Questionnaire -- Appendix E: Follow-up Letter -- Appendix F: Tri-Council Policy Statement Certificate -- Appendix G: Ethics Certificate.
Type of Computer File or Data Note:	application/pdf
System Details Note:	Mode of Access: World Wide Web.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction Note:	Charlotte Hardie, 2009