Employment and Education Pathways: Exploring Traditional Knowledges Supports for Transitions Out of Homelessness for Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous Peoples are the fastest growing population in Canada, yet face persistent housing and homelessness crises. While Indigenous Peoples often move to cities in search of employment and education, they are overrepresented among the homeless population. There is little known about what current life transitions out of homelessness look like for Indigenous Peoples. This study asked: “How do traditional knowledge/Elders support the mental health and wellbeing of Indigenous homeless individuals transitioning to housing and seeking employment/education?” This study interviewed 13 Indigenous participants using a narrative inquiry methodology, in which their perspectives, experiences, and insights on housing transitions, employment barriers, and education supports were shared. Results included five metathemes: Housing Shelter; Indigenous Knowledges Community Connections; Education Employment Pathways; Social Services Programming, and Indigenous Existence in Society. Limitations, future directions, and implications for policy are included in this work.

Department dc:contributor.department

Applied Psychology and Human Development

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Gabriel, Mikaela Daria

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Stewart, Suzanne L

• Indigenous homelessness
• Indigenous mental health
• Indigenous traditional knowledges
• Indigenous youth education
• employment
• Indigenous youth life transitions

Statement dc:rights

• Attribution 4.0 International

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1807/109188

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:utoronto.scholaris.ca:1807/109188