Decorating Feathers to Center Voices: A Co-Developed Culturally-Relevant Qualitative Method with First Nations Youth

Introduction. Stark health inequities exist between First Nations (FN) youth in Quebec, Canada and their non-Indigenous peers. Researchers and practitioners increasingly seek to hear FN youth’s needs to ensure resources are culturally relevant and effective in promoting their well-being. Traditional qualitative methods (e.g., interviews, focus groups) are, however, not well adapted to capture FN youth’s voices.

Goals and Methods. We aimed to understand which existing or desired environmental factors FN youth identify as supporting their well-being. To do so, we co-developed a culturally relevant arts-based method guided by the 5 Rs of Indigenous research methodology – relevance, relationality, respect, reciprocity, and responsibility – with FN youth, youth workers and community members. The activity took place during a three-day FN community trail making activity organized by a partnering FN organization. Local high school students participated in trail construction and, during down time, decorated pre-cut leather feathers to illustrate what  in their environment made them “feel good”. Informal conversations with the researcher deepened reflections. Feathers were tied to branches hung at the entrance of the trail, named Mikuaniss (“small feather” in Innu-Aimun) by a student.

Results. Co-development was key to ensuring alignment with the 5 Rs: decorating feathers (relevance), building relationships through informal activity (relationality), adapting to youth’s rhythm and interests (respect), honouring youth voices by displaying them on the trail (reciprocity), and hearing more youth voices than with traditional methods (responsibility). Youth expressed pride at seeing their feathers, and community members were moved to witness their voices honoured. Youth perspectives were communicated to Ministry of Education and other partners to inform youth resources.

Conclusions. Arts-based, Indigenous-informed approaches are crucial in qualitative research to ensure FN youth are heard. Such methods not only center their voices but also can contribute to meaningful improvements to their well-being and reduce health inequities.