Milo Pimatisiwin Project: Healthy Living for Mushkegowuk Youth

• Published in: International Journal of Indigenous Health 2018-01, Vol.13 (1), p.20-40
• Main Authors: Gaudet, Janice Cindy, Chilton, Carmen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Collaboration; Education; Health; Knowledge; Libraries; Literature reviews; Native culture; Native North Americans; Pedagogy; Philosophy; Projects; Society; Studies
• ISSN: 2291-9368; 2291-9376
• DOI: 10.18357/iiih.v13i1.30264

The Milo Pimatisiwin Project is a community-centred initiative of John Delaney Youth Centre in the Moose Cree First Nation community in the James Bay region, Ontario, Canada. This article describes the creation of this collaborative youth-centred project and how it re-centres Indigenous values and conception of health and wellbeing. The article begins with an overview of the Cree philosophy of milo pimatisiwin, "good and healthy living." This sets the background for the focus of the article, namely the significance of sharing pimatisiwin teachings over the local youth radio station and within land-based initiatives. The study includes the project results and feedback from the youth engaged in the project. It also describes the Youth Services Director's vision and leadership efforts to enhance culturally relevant programming at the Youth Centre. Finally, it discusses lessons learned in the project and suggests best ways to enhance wellbeing in community-engaged research initiatives. The aim is to privilege Indigenous people, their knowledge and experiences, and their critical role in decolonizing notions of health and wellbeing within research practices and community-centred initiatives.