Creating Warm Places in Cold Cities: A Relational Youth Work Practice with Indigenous Youth

• Author / Creator

  Daena Crosby

• This thesis is a comprehensive qualitative study of four youth-serving organizations, iHuman Youth Society (iHuman) and YOUCAN Youth Services (YOUCAN) in Edmonton, and Ndinawewaaganag Endaawaad Youth Resource Centre (Ndinawe) and Spence Neighbourhood Association (SNA) in Winnipeg. I analyze the organizational responses to Indigenous youths’ needs and youth work practices with this population through a “standing with” (TallBear 2014), analysis of qualitative data collected through a five-month critical ethnography from February to June 2015 that included a two-week participant observation at each organization and peacemaking circles and semi-structured interviews with 19 youth, 27 frontline staff, and four executive directors. This initial data collection was followed by two and a half years of data analysis and interpretation that led to the inclusion of Indigenous youth’s rhythm and poetry (rap) and my own photography. The principle focus of this thesis is the complex and multifaceted needs of Indigenous youth living on and off the streets in Edmonton and Winnipeg and how, and to what extent, the ethic of care practices at these organizations do or do not address youth’s Indigeneity as central to their needs.
  In these cold cities, Indigenous youth at these organizations need care to improve their well-being and to alleviate suffering. This thesis argues that an ethic of care (Bergum & Dossetor, 2005; Fisher & Tronto, 1990; Gilligan, 1982; Klodawsky et al., 2006; Smyer, 1999; Tronto, 2010, 1993), youth organization’s relational response-ability to the needs of Indigenous youth, permeates the organizational philosophies, the daily realities of youth work practices and qualitative research with this population. A relational ethic of care in youth work practice means that some Indigenous youth can develop a sense of welcome and belonging to their identities, the organizational spaces and program responses, and frontline staff. This ethic transforms these organizations into “warm places,” which are comprised of four interconnected elements: 1) understanding and attention to youths’ Indigeneity and youthfulness, 2) physical spaces that become meaningful places for Indigenous youth, 3) opportunities, programs, and resources to meet youth’s needs, and 4) respectful, optimistic, and trusting interpersonal relationships among Indigenous youth and frontline staff. “Warm places” provide temporary reprieve from the cold of the cities where some Indigenous youth feel welcome and a sense of belonging.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • youth work
  • First Nations
  • relationships
  • youth
  • Indigenous
  • ethic of care
  • young people
  • Metis

• Graduation date

  Fall 2018

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Doctor of Philosophy

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3KH0FF6D

• License

  Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission.