Indigenous Mentorship for the Health Sciences
Date
2021-09
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The present study aimed to establish the credibility and attributed outcomes of an existing Indigenous mentorship (IM) model from the perspective of Indigenous mentees in health sciences and community research. Six mentees from mentorship networks associated with the Canadian Institute of Health Research’s IM Network Program participated in 1-2 hour long semi-structured interviews inquiring: 1) their resonance with the IM model, 2) personal stories related to the behavioural constructs in the model, 3) outcomes their mentors’ behaviours had on them, and 4) components they felt were missing from the model. Overall, the model resonated with participants. Of the model constructs, mentees discussed mentor behaviours associated with practicing relationalism the most frequently (26%), followed by fostering Indigenous identity development (23%), mentee-centered focus (21%), and imbuing criticality (16%). Advocacy (9%) and abiding by Indigenous ethics (5%) were addressed, but not given as much attention as the other constructs. Outcomes included positive career and work attitudes, engaging in more helping behaviours, motivation, overall well-being, and enhanced criticality. Recommendations to expand the model included incorporating: 1) additional mentor behaviours (transference of traditional knowledge, prayer, modeling resiliency, and engaging in trauma-informed practices), 2) higher-order dimensions (e.g., institutional impact), 3) specific mentee characteristics (e.g., age and gender), and 4) additional types of mentoring relationships (e.g., peer, multiple mentors). This research provides valuable insight to the IM model and IM theory more generally. This information can be applied to refine culturally appropriate mentorship practices, mentor selection and support, and evaluation of mentorship programs.
Description
Keywords
Indigenous mentorship, Mentorship, Intercultural mentorship, Mentorship model, Indigenous theory
Citation
Atay, E. (2021). Indigenous mentorship for the health sciences (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.