Healthy and safe relationships with Indigenous Youth

The First Nations community of the Algonquins of Barrière Lake is located in Rapid Lake, Quebec within the Outaouais region of Western Québec, Canada with a population of approximately 800 community members living on reserve. Algonquins of Barrière Lake is a rural community located approximately 270 km northwest of Ottawa. This is a young population, with 53% of the population under 19 years of age. There is a 100% fluent level of Algonquin proficiency in the Anishnaabe Nation, with Algonquins of Barrière Lake being the leader at preserving the Algonquin language. 

The Algonquins of Barrière Lake have had immense social, environmental, cultural and political changes imposed upon them by colonization and residential school, which have resulted in widespread intergenerational trauma and loss on the individual, family and community levels thus ultimately affecting and impacting the current generations. The Algonquins of Barriere Lake have also experienced a post-colonial history of racism, exclusion, and forced assimilation. These changes endured by the people have resulted in adverse consequences to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. The inequalities among the Algonquins of Barrière Lake are evident in the key population health indicators, with higher rates of poverty, chronic disease, substance abuse, family violence and poor living conditions. A needs assessment conducted in 2020 identified numerous health and social problems in Rapid Lake, including: 1) housing insecurity: the average residence is a one-story, two-bedroom home with an average of 7.7 residents living in it, 2) food insecurity: the nearest grocery store is a 1 – 1.5 hours’ drive from the community, and 3) job insecurity: the unemployment rate is 82%.

The Algonquins of Barrière Lake Health Centre is currently conducting a survey among youth (< 25 years old) in the community that focuses on gender-based violence and relationships. Preliminary results of this survey have been extremely startling: 40% of youth report being sexually abused by someone who was older than them, 45% of youth report being sexually assaulted, 54% of youth report troubling behaviour in romantic relationships (including violence, interference in relationships with family and friends, and sexual abuse). In addition, the majority of youth who participated in this survey did not understand the concept of consent. 

When asked how the physical and mental health of Indigenous youth living in Algonquins of Barrière could be improved, the most common responses were land-based traditional activities, teachings by Elders, healing circles, and more safe spaces for youth.

The Healthy Relationships initiative focuses on developing Indigenous youth-led approaches to healthy relationships in the rural First Nations community Algonquins of Barrière Lake through community dialogue, a land-based youth forum, and establishment of a youth group to support community change. The activities of this initiative were directly informed by the gender-based violence survey among youth (<25 years old) in Algonquins of Barrière Lake. 

The Healthy Relationships initiative is Indigenous-informed, Indigenous-focused, and Indigenous-led, keeping in the values of data sovereignty and self-determination of health.

The Healthy Relationships initiative focuses on developing Indigenous youth-led approaches to healthy relationships in the rural First Nations community Algonquins of Barrière Lake. The aims of this initiative are as follows:

1) Facilitation of community dialogue: a community feast will be held with an opening ceremony led by community Elders to introduce the Healthy Relationships initiative. This feast will facilitate dialogue within the community to identify relevant issues impacting youth, discuss findings of the gender-based violence survey, and provide meaningful engagement of Elders, community leaders and those with lived/living experiences to guide this initiative. Intersecting determinants of health will be discussed, as well as long-term health impacts and risk of comorbidities; this will include sex and gender, with a focus on two-spirited individuals.

2) Organize and host a land-based youth forum for Indigenous youth in Algonquins of Barrière Lake, focused on Healthy Relationships: 

3) Establish of a youth group to support community change: ongoing feedback from youth in the community of Algonquins of Barrière Lake has made it clear that youth want to be more involved in decisions impacting the community. This youth group would provide leadership opportunities for future community leaders, build capacity in youth, and provide a safe-space for youth to meet and share. Following the youth forum, participants will be invited to join a youth group, which will meet once a month. This activity is directly informed by the gender-based violence survey.

4) Disseminate learnings and knowledge to the other Algonquin nations: the dissemination of learning and knowledge produced through dialogue, reflection, experiences and partnerships include: 1) production of knowledge products (flyers, information for health clinic, information for community distribution) following consultation with Elders, community members and Indigenous knowledge keepers, 2) publication of best practices, 3) publication of findings in an open-access peer reviewed journal, and 4) a sharing circle led by Elders and feast to share the findings of these activities. All knowledge products and activities will be translated to Algonquin. The development of culturally-specific knowledge products and activities focusing on healthy relationships in youth allows for higher uptake of knowledge and increased community engagement. This community-based research initiative will empower members of the community in a meaningful and culturally safe manner to decide how to inform policy, change practice and improve community conditions. This initiative will provide valuable lessons learned regarding models of community engagement for other First Nations.

The Healthy Relationships initiative is designed to serve youth (< 25 years old) living in the rural First Nations community of Algonquins of Barriere Lake. An ongoing gender-based violence survey among youth in Algonquins of Barriere Lake has determined that unhealthy romantic relationships are common. There are few resources to meet the needs of these youth that are culturally aware and culturally sensitive. This initiative will provides solutions that are developed by the youth and elders within the community, that will be free of colonial influences. 

The Healthy Relationships initiative directly benefits the rural First Nations community of Algonquins of Barriere Lake. The results of this initiative will be also shared to our sister communities within the Algonquin territory for duplication in their communities. 

The Algonquins of Barriere Lake Health Centre services the rural First Nations community of Algonquins of Barriere Lake. The Healthy Relationships initiative is led by Ms. Fay McLaughlin, MPH and Ms. Nicole Rat.

Ms. Fay McLaughlin has been the Public Health Consultant of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake Health Centre since 2014. Ms. McLaughlin lead the public health response to COVID-19. Ms. McLaughlin acts as a health liaison for community members and staff. She leads staff and community training in mental health and chronic disease health prevention. Ms. McLaughlin identifies as a knowledge user and community health leader. Ms. McLaughlin has exhibited meaningful and culturally safe involvement with the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, and the neighbouring Algonquin community of Kitigan Zibi.

Ms. Nicole Ratt is the Director of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake Health Centre, leading the development and delivery of health and social services to the community of Algonquins of Barriere Lake. Ms. Ratt has extensive experience holding and executing health-related grants to improve community health and wellness, including gender-based violence and suicide prevention. Ms. Ratt identifies as First Nation and is a member of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake community. In her role as Director, she has strong ties to Chief and Council, Elders, persons with lived experiences and community members of all ages. She identifies as community leader and knowledge user. 

This team is comprised of the right people to design and deliver this solution to the target population. They are designing and providing health and wellness solutions to the Algonquins of Barriere Lake community every day.

The needs and concerns of the youth (< 25 years of age) in Algonquins of Barriere Lake are being directly informed from an ongoing survey focusing on gender-based violence, as well as ongoing community interaction and dialogue. The aims outlined in the Healthy Relationships initiative were developed in direct response to feedback from youth in the Algonquins of Barriere Lake.

What are you doing to understand the needs of those you’re serving, and how are you engaging them as you develop the solution? How is the design and implementation of your solution meaningfully guided by the communities’ input, ideas, and agendas?

The 2023 youth gender-based violence survey of youth (<25 years old), has highlighted the issue of unhealthy relationships with youth within the community of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake. 

The participating youth have requested increased cultural and traditional teachings related to relationships and dealing with conflict or adversity in relationships. 

The Healthy Relationships initiative focuses on developing Indigenous youth-led approaches to healthy relationships in the rural First Nations community Algonquins of Barrière Lake through community dialogue, a land-based youth forum, and establishment of a youth group to support community change. The activities of this initiative were directly informed by the gender-based violence survey among youth (<25 years old) in Algonquins of Barrière Lake. 

The Healthy Relationships initiative is Indigenous-informed, Indigenous-focused, and Indigenous-led, keeping in the values of data sovereignty and self-determination of health.

Ms. Fay McLaughlin has been the Public Health Consultant for the Algonquins of Barriere Lake since 2014. Ms. McLaughlin lead the public health response to COVID-19. Ms. McLaughlin acts as a health liaison for community members and staff. She leads staff and community training in mental health and chronic disease health prevention. Ms. McLaughlin identifies as a knowledge user and community health leader. Ms. McLaughlin has exhibited meaningful and culturally safe involvement with the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, and the neighbouring Algonquin community of Kitigan Zibi.

The Healthy Relationships initiative is Indigenous-led, Indigenous-informed, and Indigenous-focused, making this a unique and innovative approach.