Holistic Well-Being of Youth Post-Disaster

• In Event: Navigating Educational Landscapes for Indigenous Youth and Communities

Abstract

In my doctoral study, I conducted ethnographic interviews with nine young adults who graduated from high school while living in and around High River the year of the 2013 Alberta floods. Using Jo-ann Archibald’s (2008) storywork methodology, I put the ethical and relational aspects of the research first in my practices. I conducted member checking with the participants at multiple stages. In the data analysis, I wove together the participants’ stories in storied métissage, engaged in generative dialogues within an Indigenous holistic framework, and synthesized my learning as part of a meaning making process. The findings offered important insights into the youths’ experiences during and post-disaster. The study offers practical suggestions for people looking to support youth living through disasters.

Author

• Jennifer Megan Markides, University of Calgary