A Pilot Evaluation of Culture Camps to Increase Alaska Native Youth Wellness

Abstract

Suicide is a significant health disparity among Alaska Native youth, which is linked to cultural disruptions brought about by colonialism and historical trauma. Many Indigenous suicide prevention efforts center on revitalizing and connecting youth to their culture to promote mental health and resilience. A common cultural approach to improve psychosocial outcomes is youth culture camps, but there has been little evaluation research to test this association. Here, we conduct a pilot evaluation of a 5-day culture camp developed in two remote regions of Alaska. The camps bring together Alaska Native youth from villages in these regions to take part in subsistence activities, develop new relationships, develop life skills, and learn traditional knowledge and values. This pilot evaluation of the culture camps uses a quantitative pre/post design to examine the outcomes of self-esteem, emotional states, belongingness, mattering to others, and coping skills among participants. Results indicate that culture camps can significantly increase positive mood, feelings of belongingness, and perceived coping of participants. Culture camps are a common suicide prevention effort in Indigenous circumpolar communities, and although limited in scope and design, this pilot evaluation offers some evidence to support culture camps as a health promotion intervention that can reduce suicide risk.

Keywords: Alaska Native youth; Indigenous youth; culture; culture camps; protective factors; psychosocial outcomes; rural; suicide prevention; wellness.

FIGURE 1. Map of the Bering Strait and Northwest Arctic Regions of Alaska

NOTE: Black circles indicate the location of all villages in each region. White circles indicate the larger hub community in each region.

FIGURE 2

Camp Participation and Survey Attrition