Indigenous Strength: Braiding Culture, Ceremony and Community as a response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health of urban Indigenous Peoples. This research sought to examine innovations and changes in service delivery by Indigenous service providers in the community who are addressing community needs based on an Indigenous worldview. The research was a collaboration between an academic team, an Indigenous research associate, and an Indigenous oversight committee. Fifteen in-depth interviews were conducted with Indigenous service organizations, non-Indigenous organizations with Indigenous programming, Indigenous volunteer-based organizations, and Indigenous volunteers. Participants were recruited based on having mandates focused on mental and emotional wellbeing, education, chronic health conditions, women and children, and Indigenous cultural needs. The findings showed that health inequities for urban Indigenous Peoples were compounded during the pandemic. A lack of local infrastructure contributed to increased volunteerism in delivering and improving access to services. Service interruptions and access barriers triggered innovative programming and a strengths-based response with activities embedded on the Land, braided with language, ceremony, and culture. Unmet community service needs and capacity development priorities were identified. Access to land, infrastructure, and cultural programming are key to wholistic health for the urban Indigenous community. Despite continued inequities, the urban-based Indigenous response exemplifies the strengths-based approaches that helped to address pandemic impacts, and demonstrated how Indigenous ways of knowing build strength and foster innovative program adaptations based on culture, ceremony, and creating space for community.