Being useful: achieving indigenous youth involvement in a community-based participatory research project in Alaska

Youth-guided community-based participatory research (CBPR):
• the local steering committee made up of youth, tribal leaders, and elders,
• youth-researcher partnerships
• youth action-groups to translate findings

This work involved a community-based participatory research project in Southwest Alaska looking at youth involvement in health promotion. Utilizing the CBPR framework as a way to involve young people in health promotion and prevention strategizing as part of translational science practice at the community-level. This strategy drew from two community-based action activities: (a) being useful by helping elders and (b) being proud of our village. In our study, youth informed the research process at every stage, but most significantly youth guided the translation and application of the research findings at the community level. Findings from the research project were translated by youth into serviceable action in the community where they live. The research created an experience for youth to spend time engaged in activities that, from their perspectives, are important and contribute to their wellbeing and healthy living. Youth-guided CBPR meant involving youth in the process of not only understanding the research process but living through it as well.

Youth researcher partnerships
Community-Based Participatory Research (CPBR):

Indigenous youth driven community based participatory action research model (p. 3)

Creating trust and being in good relation with community and youth
Culturally appropriate methods of engagement in research
Promoting Indigenous youth involvement in research process

Two community-based action activities:
• being useful by helping elders
• being proud our your village

Empowering youth with research skills and experience
Changing and the power dynamics in research relationships

"We learned from youth participants in the project that being useful to others was part of living a culturally healthy life and contributes to well-being" (p. 4)

Indigenous Health
Indigenous Studies
Circumpolar Health