Water justice & youth mental health resilience: co-creating art-based solutions with Alaskan Native and Awajun communities

Lead Research Organisation: University of Greenwich
Department Name: Natural Resources Institute, FES

Abstract

For Indigenous Peoples, water provides lifeways, subsistence, and has undeniable spiritual significance. Indigenous Peoples are increasingly recognised as global leaders, actively shaping, through their knowledge and wisdom, national and international water policymaking. Yet, for generations, Indigenous Peoples continue to struggle for water justice across the globe, and colonial legacies still have profound effects on Indigenous Peoples' right to self-determination, socioeconomic development, cultural identity and health outcomes.

Water connects generations over time and can do so in both healing and destructive ways, depending on how the various generations interact with it. The waters we interact with today have experienced historical traumas, just as Indigenous Peoples. Traditional and contemporary art is increasingly being used by Indigenous Peoples to promote intergenerational healing by reflecting on their connection to land and water through family histories. Indigenous youth are playing a critical role by connecting with Elders and leading a dialogue through art, to inspire change and design solutions to recover from historical trauma to water and to peoples.

The goal of our research is to work with Indigenous youth to address current water and mental health issues affecting Indigenous communities. Our approach will be informed by the concept of "two-eyed seeing", blending Indigenous and Non-Indigenous ways of knowing, through a common language: art. We acknowledge that the uneven relationship between non-Indigenous and Indigenous knowledge systems, will require our research team to be careful and consciously aware of their values, positions, and motives.

We will work with Awajun and Alaskan Native Peoples in Amazonas (Peru) and Alaska (USA) respectively, where members of the project team have long-term established collaborations and trusted relationships with local organisations and communities. The early stages of our project will aim to consolidate a cross-country Indigenous and non-Indigenous partnership, based on mutual trust and understanding. Within the research team and with the communities we will develop a common vision of the collaborative process to support the creation of: (i) a shared understanding of how to talk together; (ii) a shared vision of how to walk together; and (iii) a shared understanding of terms and concepts.

Blending narrative and participatory art approaches, which are consistent with and guided by Awajun and Alaskan Native Indigenous ways of knowing, we will raise consciousness for social change, and open new pathways to knowledge development, which shift the power towards Indigenous Peoples and communities. Through artistic caravans, traditional art workshops, an arts-based social enterprise and photovoice, we will explore the linkages between mental health and water and the challenges of equity and justice in water governance in Indigenous communities.

The final stages of our project focus on developing a network to connect Indigenous youth, researchers, artists, activists and policy makers from around the world who share a commitment to arts-based research and intercultural knowledge exchange. The network will facilitate dialogues through an online discussion platform, podcast series and a travelling exhibition.

This study will demonstrate that Indigenous youth are experts on their lands and that they are able to make decisions to inform a future that is compatible with their own goals, ways of knowing and of being. By combining diverse research expertise with Indigenous knowledge and interests, and by building an arts-based understanding of how to harness Indigenous principles in support of water and human health, this project has the potential to inform sustainable strategies using approaches which may be replicated in other regions of the world.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description Influence training of researchers
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to new or improved professional practice
 
Description VC PhD Scholarship
Amount £100,000 (GBP)
Organisation University of Greenwich 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2024 
End 06/2027
 
Title New framework on water conflicts and mental health for book chapter 
Description Developing a new framework on water conflicts, moral economies for water and mental health outcomes 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2024 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact None yet 
 
Title Thematic framework on the linkages between water justice and Indigenous mental health 
Description Literature review and thematic framework 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact None yet 
 
Title Theory of change guiding impact pathways of the project and conceptualisations 
Description Theory of change with Indigenous Peoples in the Peruvian Amazon 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact Change of views within the project's team 
 
Title Qualitative data collection and analysis from stakeholder informant interviews in the Peruvian Amazon 
Description Qualitative interviews around the project's topics of water justice, youth's mental health and arts-based activities 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact None yet 
 
Description Collaboration with Dartmouth College 
Organisation Dartmouth College
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Collaboration with Dartmouth-based staff specialised in arctic studies. PResentation of the project's objectives at Dartmouth. Collaboration with Dartmouth students on literature reviews, one has been submitted for publication.
Collaborator Contribution See above
Impact Review journal article submitted to "Environmental Research Letters"
Start Year 2023
 
Description Collaboration with Dr Evon Peter 
Organisation University of Alaska Fairbanks
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Working on a review article on Indigenous water governance frameworks.
Collaborator Contribution See above
Impact Journal article in preparation
Start Year 2023
 
Description Partnership within the project 
Organisation Health Without Limits Peru
Country Peru 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution NRI set up the project's partnership internally. Frequent meetings and exchanges have been ongoing and the collaboration is growing strong.
Collaborator Contribution Contributions to the different aspect of the research plan, as stipulated in the proposal.
Impact Multidisciplinary - Anthropology, film-making, economics, psychology, environmental science, rural development
Start Year 2023
 
Description Partnership within the project 
Organisation McGill University
Country Canada 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution NRI set up the project's partnership internally. Frequent meetings and exchanges have been ongoing and the collaboration is growing strong.
Collaborator Contribution Contributions to the different aspect of the research plan, as stipulated in the proposal.
Impact Multidisciplinary - Anthropology, film-making, economics, psychology, environmental science, rural development
Start Year 2023
 
Description Partnership within the project 
Organisation University of Greenwich
Department Natural Resources Institute Greenwich
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution NRI set up the project's partnership internally. Frequent meetings and exchanges have been ongoing and the collaboration is growing strong.
Collaborator Contribution Contributions to the different aspect of the research plan, as stipulated in the proposal.
Impact Multidisciplinary - Anthropology, film-making, economics, psychology, environmental science, rural development
Start Year 2023
 
Description Partnership within the project 
Organisation Yukon River Inter Tribal Watershed Council
Country United States 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution NRI set up the project's partnership internally. Frequent meetings and exchanges have been ongoing and the collaboration is growing strong.
Collaborator Contribution Contributions to the different aspect of the research plan, as stipulated in the proposal.
Impact Multidisciplinary - Anthropology, film-making, economics, psychology, environmental science, rural development
Start Year 2023
 
Description First round of stakeholder field interviews in the Peruvian Amazon 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact From 5 to 12 December 2023 a first fieldwork was carried out in the Amazonas region, Peru to achieve the following objectives: 1) presentation of the objectives, activities and goals of the project to stakeholders and local and communal authorities of the prioritised territory; 2) collect first impressions and ideas of the themes to work on in the research; 3) investigate possible alternatives and define places to work according to the objectives of the project; 4) contact possible local partners with experience in the use of artistic methodologies for the development of social themes.
In this way, we visited different territories to make a general presentation of the project and dialogue with different actors. First, we went to Chachapoyas, the capital of Amazonas region, and presented the project to the Executive Director of the Regional Environmental Authority of the Regional Government of Amazonas. Second, we went to the province of Bagua and spoke with the head of the community mental health establishment, and another specialist in community participation, then we spoke with a specialist from the National Water Authority of the territory, and two leaders of Awajun indigenous organisations. Third, we went to the district of Chiriaco, where we presented the project and spoke with the Director of the Technological Institute, the Municipal Manager of the District Municipality of Chiriaco, the Head of the Bagua - Chiriaco Forest Headquarters belonging to the Regional Environmental Authority, the Head of the Chayu Naim Communal Reserve Office, health personnel from Chiriaco health centre, a specialist from the Rural Care Service of the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations, as well as leaders of indigenous organisations from the Awajun territory in the area. After these conversations, we saw the possibility of working on the project in the indigenous community of Wachapea, so we interviewed the Apu or Chief of the community to learn more about the community's experiences and to ask about their interest in participating in the project, which was affirmative. Finally, we went to Santa María de Nieva to talk with health professionals dedicated to working on mental health issues in the territory, with the Head of the Project Formulation Unit of the Subregional Management of Condorcanqui and with an indigenous leader of the province. In addition, we spoke with the Director of the Higher School of Artistic Training in Bagua and with an Awajún artist to see if they could support us in the artistic caravans to be carried out in the territory. In total, we conducted 20 initial interviews, which have been transcribed and are in the process of qualitative analysis through analysis matrices.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Invited as speaker to British Academy-WFP roundtable on climate resilient food systems 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited to speak at an expert closed panel of experts in an event co-organised by the British Academy and WFP London.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Liaison with actors in Alaska and Finland 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Liaison with representatives form the university of Alaska Fairbanks, the Anchorage Museum and the Alaskan NAtive HEritage Center in Alaska. Application to conduct archival research in the Anchorage Museum. Planning of workshop with Indigenous youth.

Liaison with Sami Youth Council and Sami undergrad students in Finland to organise a youth workshop.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024
 
Description Presentation in Dartmouth College 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Presentation ("Tales of River and Ice") at Dartmouth College in Sept. 2023
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://president.dartmouth.edu/events/event?event=71698&listing=1
 
Description Statement presented at the Arctic Observing Summit 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation of statement to the Arctic Observing Summitt
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://arcticobservingsummit.org/summits/aos-2024/