Revitalising strong cultural connections and resilience: Co-designing a pilot Elder-led mentorship program for Indigenous mothers in a remote northern community in Alberta, Canada
Connecting with traditional knowledge and culture promotes the well-being of Indigenous parents and creates healthy environments for child development. Community Elders in a remote northern community in Alberta, Canada, collaborated with researchers to design a pilot Elders Mentoring Program. The pr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Global Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2025.2457109 |
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| author | Stephanie Montesanti Kayla M. Fitzpatrick Barbara S.E. Verstraeten Beverly Tourangeau Lorraine Albert Richard T. Oster |
| author_facet | Stephanie Montesanti Kayla M. Fitzpatrick Barbara S.E. Verstraeten Beverly Tourangeau Lorraine Albert Richard T. Oster |
| author_sort | Stephanie Montesanti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Connecting with traditional knowledge and culture promotes the well-being of Indigenous parents and creates healthy environments for child development. Community Elders in a remote northern community in Alberta, Canada, collaborated with researchers to design a pilot Elders Mentoring Program. The programme aims to support young Indigenous mothers(-to-be), bringing back cultural traditions and teachings. Twelve workshops for Indigenous mothers(-to-be) focused on cultural activities and passing down traditional knowledge from Elders. Nine mothers(-to-be) completed a survey about their perinatal and postpartum experiences and care needs. Sharing circles with Elders and individual debriefings with mothers were conducted to understand their experiences in the workshops. Survey responses showed limited childcare services and transportation availability as barriers to accessing perinatal and postpartum support. Four themes emerged from qualitative data analysis: (1) the meaningful role of Elder mentorship for Indigenous mothers(-to-be); (2) Weekly workshops provided a safe space to share and develop relationships; (3) Participation in workshop activities fostered positive coping and improved self-esteem; (4) Elder-led workshops encouraged cultural connection and transference of traditional knowledge to younger generations. Cultural workshops led by Elders enhanced the connection to culture and resilience for Indigenous mothers and expectant mothers in a remote northern community. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-39f82507484e4690b6c1bd0053632d74 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1744-1692 1744-1706 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-39f82507484e4690b6c1bd0053632d742025-01-29T15:29:25ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Public Health1744-16921744-17062025-12-0120110.1080/17441692.2025.2457109Revitalising strong cultural connections and resilience: Co-designing a pilot Elder-led mentorship program for Indigenous mothers in a remote northern community in Alberta, CanadaStephanie Montesanti0Kayla M. Fitzpatrick1Barbara S.E. Verstraeten2Beverly Tourangeau3Lorraine Albert4Richard T. Oster5School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaSchool of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaSchool of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaAthabasca Chipewyan First Nations, Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, CanadaMikisew Cree First Nation, Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, CanadaIndigenous Wellness Core, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaConnecting with traditional knowledge and culture promotes the well-being of Indigenous parents and creates healthy environments for child development. Community Elders in a remote northern community in Alberta, Canada, collaborated with researchers to design a pilot Elders Mentoring Program. The programme aims to support young Indigenous mothers(-to-be), bringing back cultural traditions and teachings. Twelve workshops for Indigenous mothers(-to-be) focused on cultural activities and passing down traditional knowledge from Elders. Nine mothers(-to-be) completed a survey about their perinatal and postpartum experiences and care needs. Sharing circles with Elders and individual debriefings with mothers were conducted to understand their experiences in the workshops. Survey responses showed limited childcare services and transportation availability as barriers to accessing perinatal and postpartum support. Four themes emerged from qualitative data analysis: (1) the meaningful role of Elder mentorship for Indigenous mothers(-to-be); (2) Weekly workshops provided a safe space to share and develop relationships; (3) Participation in workshop activities fostered positive coping and improved self-esteem; (4) Elder-led workshops encouraged cultural connection and transference of traditional knowledge to younger generations. Cultural workshops led by Elders enhanced the connection to culture and resilience for Indigenous mothers and expectant mothers in a remote northern community.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2025.2457109Indigenous Peoplespregnancymaternal healthElder mentorshipcultureSDG 3: Good health and well-being |
| spellingShingle | Stephanie Montesanti Kayla M. Fitzpatrick Barbara S.E. Verstraeten Beverly Tourangeau Lorraine Albert Richard T. Oster Revitalising strong cultural connections and resilience: Co-designing a pilot Elder-led mentorship program for Indigenous mothers in a remote northern community in Alberta, Canada Global Public Health Indigenous Peoples pregnancy maternal health Elder mentorship culture SDG 3: Good health and well-being |
| title | Revitalising strong cultural connections and resilience: Co-designing a pilot Elder-led mentorship program for Indigenous mothers in a remote northern community in Alberta, Canada |
| title_full | Revitalising strong cultural connections and resilience: Co-designing a pilot Elder-led mentorship program for Indigenous mothers in a remote northern community in Alberta, Canada |
| title_fullStr | Revitalising strong cultural connections and resilience: Co-designing a pilot Elder-led mentorship program for Indigenous mothers in a remote northern community in Alberta, Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Revitalising strong cultural connections and resilience: Co-designing a pilot Elder-led mentorship program for Indigenous mothers in a remote northern community in Alberta, Canada |
| title_short | Revitalising strong cultural connections and resilience: Co-designing a pilot Elder-led mentorship program for Indigenous mothers in a remote northern community in Alberta, Canada |
| title_sort | revitalising strong cultural connections and resilience co designing a pilot elder led mentorship program for indigenous mothers in a remote northern community in alberta canada |
| topic | Indigenous Peoples pregnancy maternal health Elder mentorship culture SDG 3: Good health and well-being |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2025.2457109 |
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