Drumming brought her ‘closer to purpose’ after years of struggling with mental health. But an approach tailored to Indigenous culture remains out of reach for others like her
Assistant Professor of Learning Sciences & Human Development Emma Elliot-Groves was recently interviewed and cited for an article about Indigenous suicide by the Toronto Star. When suicidal behavior among members of the Cowichan Tribes in British Columbia increased more than 2.5 times between 2007 and 2012, Emma, who is originally from the community, was invited to find out why. By taking a narrative storytelling approach to working with community, rather than using the typical western concepts of individualism and autonomy, she was able to conduct mental health assessments “in a way that highlighted Indigenous concepts of self, and engaged Indigenous teaching and learning strategies.”