Holistic Sexual Health Among Indigenous Boys and Men
This CIHR catalyst funded study investigated the sexual health of Indigenous boys and men in the Atlantic region through a community-based approach. This project was in partnership with the Mi’kmaq Native Friendship Centre (https://mymnfc.com) and Healing Our Nations (https://hon93.ca). After the initial step of completing a review of literature to discover what is currently known about Indigenous boys’ and men’s sexual health in Canada, the SHaG lab consultation with the community to better understand the status of Indigenous boys’ and men’s sexual health and wellness. Following the community consultation, the lab interviewed both stakeholders who work in the field of Indigenous sexual health and Indigenous men who were accessing social and cultural programming and were previously incarcerated. It was found in the interviews with the community stakeholders that sexual health of Indigenous boys and men is influenced by social, political, and cultural factors as a result of lasting negative impacts of colonial institutions such as residential schools. As well, Indigenous men spoke of facing overlapping systems of oppression and support when navigating issues of substance abuse, personal relationships, and identity.
Working off the success of this previous project, the SHaG lab is currently working under a new CIHR grant that continues our work on Indigenous boy’s and men’s sexual health. Continuing our partnership with the Mi’kmaq Native Friendship Centre and Healing Our Nations, the SHaG lab is currently working on the planning and eventual running of several learning lodges, gatherings and workshops with Indigenous boys and men across the Atlantic provinces. By using land-based methodologies such as ceremonies, learning lodges and other traditional cultural forums, this project seeks to open the dialogue among Indigenous boys and men regarding holistic sexual health. Community partners have provided the direction for these activities that will be facilitated by connecting to the land. It is anticipated that this program of research will result in a comprehensive analysis of Indigenous sexual health service needs and policy-related outcomes to improve the sexual health services for Indigenous boys and men in Atlantic Canada. Through these activities, we seek to gain insight into boys’ and men’s experiences of masculinity and sexual health. The overarching goal of this project is health to inform holistic sexual health programming.
Click below to read the full community report outlining our findings titled: Pathways for Sexual Health Promotion Among Indigenous Boys’ and Men.
Related Publications
Rand, J., Melro, C., Biderman, M., McMillian, J., Holmes, D. A., Lekas, S., Numer, M. (2022). Indigenous men’s pathways to ‘living the right kind of life and walking the right path’ post incarceration in Canada: understanding the impacts of systemic oppression, and guidance for healing and w(holistic) sexual health. Culture, Health & Sexuality. DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2022.2055149. (Open Access)
Biderman, M., Doria, N., Sinno, J., Rand, J., Hackett, L., Miller, D., McMillan, L.J., Lekas, S. & Numer, M. (2021). Pathways for Sexual Health Promotion Among Indigenous Boys and Men: Stakeholder Perspectives. AlterNative. 1(10). DOI 10.1177/11771801211023207 (open Access)
Hackett, L., Biderman, M., Doria, N., Courville, J., Bogner, E., Miller, A.D., Spencer, R., & Numer, M. (2020). A rapid review of Indigenous boys’ and men’s sexual health. Culture, Health and Sexuality. DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2020.1722856
Doria, N., Biderman, M., Miller, D., Prosper, A., & Numer, M. (2019). Graphic facilitation as a tool to guide community-based research on Indigenous boys’ and men’s sexual health. Journal of Indigenous HIV Research, 10, 20-27. Article Link (Open Access)