Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, 2-126B Li Ka Shing Centre for Research, 11203-87 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H5, Canada.
Ermineskin Cree Nation, Maskwacîs, AB, T0C 1N0, Canada.
BMC Health Serv Res. 2024 Sep 12;24(1):1059. doi: 10.1186/s12913-024-11518-7.
The Elders Mentoring Program (EMP) is part of a strengths-based community-based participatory research partnership with the Cree communities of Maskwacîs, Alberta, Canada. The EMP objective is to promote maternal and child health through traditional Cree teachings and support from community Elders to pregnant women and their partners. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Elders decided to shift the program to an online format in early 2021. The Elders continued to offer mentorship to program participants virtually by Zoom and telephone, and online workshops. The objective of this study was to qualitatively explore the experiences of women that took part in the virtual EMP.
We utilized qualitative description as our method, informed by our overarching community-led research partnership. Semi-structured phone interviews were conducted by Maskwacîs research assistants (RAs) with 11 women who participated in the virtual program. Interviews were conducted between December 2021 and June 2022. The participants were asked about their perceptions of the program and its benefits. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded by four RAs using thematic analysis.
Although cultural teachings are traditionally offered in person, the shift to the virtual platform was greatly appreciated by all the women. Technology can be a useful tool for cultural teachings and language to be shared among community members when they cannot be physically together. Four main themes emerged from the data, representing the participants' experiences, and learning through their interactions with the Elders from the EMP. The themes are: Ohpikihâwasowin (grounding and guiding on the path to be a healthy parent); Indigenous ways of healing; On the path of cultural learning; and Identity for self and baby.
The virtual adaptation of the EMP allowed a space for Elders to offer support to women living in and out of the community to provide guidance with their pregnancies and into motherhood. The workshops and one-on-one calls allowed for cultural revitalization which is critical for Indigenous well-being. All the participants found that the teachings and interactions positively impacted their pregnancy and parenthood. Overall, the virtual program demonstrated a venue for intergenerational healing and resilience.
长老辅导计划（EMP）是基于优势的社区参与式研究伙伴关系的一部分，该伙伴关系与加拿大阿尔伯塔省马斯科瓦斯的克里社区合作。EMP 的目标是通过传统克里教义和社区长老为孕妇及其伴侣提供支持，促进母婴健康。在 COVID-19 大流行期间，长老们于 2021 年初决定将该计划转移到在线模式。长老们继续通过 Zoom 和电话以及在线研讨会为计划参与者提供虚拟辅导。本研究的目的是定性探讨参加虚拟 EMP 的女性的经验。
我们采用定性描述作为方法，以我们的社区主导的研究伙伴关系为指导。马斯科瓦斯研究助理（RA）通过电话对半结构化访谈与 11 名参加虚拟计划的妇女进行了访谈。访谈于 2021 年 12 月至 2022 年 6 月进行。参与者被问及他们对该计划及其益处的看法。采访由四名 RAs 进行录音、转录和编码，采用主题分析。
尽管传统上提供文化教义，但所有女性都非常赞赏向虚拟平台的转变。当社区成员无法亲自相聚时，技术可以成为在社区成员之间共享文化教义和语言的有用工具。从数据中出现了四个主要主题，代表了参与者的经验以及通过与 EMP 中的长老互动而获得的学习。这些主题是：Ohpikihâwasowin（健康父母之路的基础和指导）；土著疗愈方式；文化学习之路；自我和婴儿的身份。
EMP 的虚拟改编为长老们提供了一个空间，为居住在社区内外的妇女提供支持，在怀孕和育儿期间提供指导。研讨会和一对一通话允许进行文化振兴，这对土著福祉至关重要。所有参与者都发现，这些教义和互动对他们的怀孕和育儿产生了积极影响。总体而言，虚拟计划展示了一个代际疗愈和复原力的场所。
