Inupiaq youth in the Alaskan Arctic face challenges navigating Indigenous and Western worlds which can impact how they view their future. Narratives provide insights into personal and community experiences that have implications for both the present and future. This paper uses the organizing schema of “capacity to aspire” which is how choices are affected by cultural, economic, and political contexts; navigating these contexts can have immense implications for the future. The Inupiaq Alaska Native population is located above the Arctic circle. Traditionally, their subsistence culture was grounded in a connection to nature through hunting, fishing, gathering and spending time on the land. As a result of colonization, three generations of this population have experienced very different life circumstances. The cultural dissonance between these generations is often a social challenge and a cause of health disparities.
This study engaged 11 Inupiaq youth, whose role was that of co-researchers, in intergenerational dialogue exchange and action. This entailed dialogue in their community with adults and Elders as a focal point. There was a component of photovoice and digital storytelling which also promoted dialogue using photographs. In addition, pre- and post- interviews were conducted to understand future challenges the community may face, how the community might get through them, and what they hope for the next generation.
The study found that Elders mourned the collective loss of their tradition which endangers their identity, and a need to reconcile two disparate worlds that exist between the youth and Elders. The identity of the Inupiaq is rooted in spending time on the land, speaking Inupiaq, and engaging in cultural activities such as sewing and cooking Native foods. Technology, schools, and political systems have had an impact on the loss of culture. The collapse of traditional identities was tied to social suffering such as suicide, alcoholism, and domestic violence, and this is rooted in the loss of resilience that once existed with a stronger cultural identity. The Inupiaq youth have struggled with navigating their Western and Indigenous identities and roles and lack the resources to handle these tensions adequately. The lack of a specific cultural identity for the youth creates a vacuum and affects how they look for meaning and position a narrative for their future.
Inupiaq youth are in the difficult position of having to straddle two separate worlds – traditional, subsistence culture and Western culture – which has implications for their future. Their ability to adapt to the challenges faced in their Arctic life affect health outcomes. It is important to document the narratives of youth who can navigate both their Indigenous and Western lives successfully because they can provide good examples of how to do so creatively and find their way to a successful narrative for their future.
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