The project will be led by University of Regina researchers. (Photo 25806649 © Canettistock | Dreamstime.com)

By Derek Cornet

Youth Project

Project receives federal funding to research violence and bullying in Indigenous communities

Nov 13, 2020 | 2:12 PM

A $400,000 federal grant issued to a University of Regina researcher will facilitate a project focused on Indigenous youth and the topic of violence and bullying.

The initiative is called the Northern Prairie Spirit Youth Cultural Continuity Project and is led by U of R researcher Dr. Raven Sinclair, who is a professor in the Faculty of Social Work. The objective of the project is to work with youth from Fond du Lac, Pelican Narrows, Prince Albert, Stanley Mission and Wollaston Lake to understand issues surrounding violence and bullying from their perspective.

“The purpose of the project is to look at ways to support youth and this project, in particular, is about going into the community, bringing youth together and saying ‘what is it you need? How can we gather this information and pull it altogether, so we have the voice of the youth informing policy and program development,” as stated in the release.

Dr. Brigitte Krieg, a mental health therapist with established relationships with the communities involved in the project, is named as a co-investigator. Along with Sinclair, the researchers will provide participants with resources such as cameras to explore issues surrounding violence and bullying in a digital storytelling way.

As the youth provide the researchers with their stories and experiences, the information will be compiled to create a collective insight. Sinclair explained getting the big picture of what’s going on can assist in developing ideas about how youth can deal with the issues, and what programs and services will work.

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“If we just stop and listen, they can tell us what it is they need,” she said. “That’s the real value of this project is just hearing from the youth themselves, and then our job is the amplify their voices and hopefully that’s going to inform policy and program development.”

The project will also explore ways to develop culturally-sensitive crime prevention practices among Indigenous and northern populations. Sinclair hopes that ultimately youth will develop confidence, research, writing, and public speaking skills, as well as understand the role of research in informing policy and program development for when they become community leaders and service providers.

Dr. Kathleen McNutt, who is the vice-president of research at the U of R, believes the funding will help support Sinclair’s work to make a difference in the lives of Indigenous youth who are vulnerable to violence and bullying.

“By understanding these issues from the youth’s perspective, Dr. Sinclair and her team will be able help develop the tools and resources needed for culturally-sensitive crime prevention practices for Aboriginal and northern populations,” McNutt said.

Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness said he is proud to announce federal funding for the project.

“It is important that we understand the issues Indigenous youth face around violence and bullying,” he said in an emailed statement. “This project will provide the University of Regina with the resources that are needed to explore ways to develop culturally sensitive prevention practices when it comes to violence and bullying.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno