The Kòts'iìhtła ("We Light the Fire") Project

• Observational field notes
• Focus groups
• Questionnaires
• Arts workshops on spoken word, sound production and design, film, photography, multimedia arts, jewellery making and visual arts.

This article is an evaluation of the Kòts’iìhtła ("We Light the Fire") project, a 5-day creative art and music workshop for youth in Behchokò, NWT. The study used a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the program, including observational field notes, focus groups, and questionnaires. A list of "lesson’s learned" is included which could help others who are interested in developing creative arts programming for youth in their own communities.

• Followed values of Kòts'iìhtła: (a). Community-based; (b). Youth-friendly; (c). Strengths-based approach; (d). Rooted in Tłı ̨cho ̨ values and traditions; (e). Respect and creating safe space; (f). Ownership, control, access and possession (OCAP)
• Established a research partnership between the Tłįcho CART and the Institute for Circumpolar Health (ICHR)
• Youth participants had ownership over their art. They chose what, how, where and when they wish to showcase their artwork

A strengths-based research approach focuses on empowering and building capacity amongst youth instead of focussing on the discussion of suicide prevention.

Arts is a catalyst for discussing issues and visions in their community and lives, about positive aspects of their community and visions for their own and collective future.

While art programming can be established to respond to the need to improving availability, access, cultural-safety, quality and continuity of mental wellness and addictions programming in communities, focussing on art-based skill building has the potential to build resiliency, form relationships and stimulate discussions for community change.

Youth that gained new skills in the arts expressed interest in continuing and building on their artistic skills.

Facilitators workshop reflection notes; questionnaires completed; observational field notes; observational data collected every day (these included records of youth attendance numbers, different activities youth engaged in that day and comments from conversations facilitators and research staff had with different youth about their art and the art mediums they were working with); art products (mural, music video and short film)

Youth participants displayed and discussed their work at the Tłįcho CART's Annual Youth Conference

"One-on-one and in groups over the course of the workshop, the youth participants began to share about challenges such as alcohol use, cyber bullying and suicide and employment, as well as positive aspects of their community and visions for their own and collective future through the artwork and in conversations" (p. 7)

Health
Arts