Experiences of resilience among Indigenous and newcomer students in Winnipeg high schools and CEDA
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Date
2024-06-21
Authors
Makinde, Sharifat
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Abstract
There continue to be disparities in education access for Indigenous and newcomer youth across Canada. Indigenous and newcomer youth often encounter unique challenges in educational settings, including racism, bullying, cultural alienation, and inappropriate school curricula. Despite these obstacles, Indigenous and newcomer youth demonstrate resilience and thrive in academic environments. Studies examining the factors contributing to their success and resilience are limited. There is a need to understand these dynamics better to create meaningful interventions that support Indigenous and newcomer youth's experience and success in high school. The Circle of Courage® is a resilience framework rooted in Native American cultures, and experiencing its components enhances positive youth development. This project aimed to explore how the Indigenous and newcomer youth at the Community Education Development Association (CEDA) experienced the Circle of Courage® and related to youth's goals, resilience, and wellness. Nineteen youth participating in the CEDA Pathways to Education program were purposively recruited for the study. Data collection involved one sharing circle with seven participants and eighteen in-depth interviews, allowing for the collection of rich narratives. The findings indicate that Indigenous and newcomer youth experience the Circle of Courage® to varying degrees within school environments, with CEDA promoting its components to a greater extent. Particularly, the Circle of Courage® enhanced positive learning experiences and fostered wellness, resilience, and future orientation among youth. Belonging emerged as the cornerstone of the Circle of Courage®. The study underscored the pivotal role of personal connections and relationships, both within school and at CEDA, in promoting resilience and wellness among youth. It also highlighted CEDA Pathways as an afterschool program that completed learning education and offered additional support where schools may fall short. Notably, the project identified strong similarities between Indigenous and newcomer youth in their experiences related to the Circle of Courage® components, suggesting this framework's universality. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting that the Circle of Courage® may be applicable to youth of different backgrounds and can be a valuable tool for promoting positive learning experiences, resilience, and wellness among youth in academic settings.
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Keywords
resilience, wellness, Indigenous youth, newcomer youth