Blackfoot Art and the Ongoing Survivance of Blackfoot Communities in Covid-19
Date
2023-04-06
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Abstract
In this dissertation I, Shannon Tabor, offer an introduction to myself that provides a context for understanding my research and writing as a non-Indigenous counselling psychology doctoral student and psychologist. I outline the underpinnings and foundational concepts that guide my research engagement with Blackfoot communities. I discuss my community-based work and describe its foundations in relational accountability. I share the methodological process of how I collaborated with a Blackfoot Advisory Council in exploring the question: “How have Blackfoot artists' engagement in art contributed to the ongoing survivance of Blackfoot communities during the Covid-19 pandemic?” Specifically, I outline the methods applied for recruiting, protocol, knowledge gathering, meaning making, and ensuring quality that emphasize a value for the knowledge offered by both story and inward knowing. Finally, I share the results of my meaning making process in three visual concept maps and conclude this dissertation with a discussion. The first map outlines factors of survivance and associated threats of Covid-19: (1) meeting basic needs vs. need insecurity; (2) connection vs. isolation; (3) finding purpose vs. losing purpose; (4) being present vs. grief and fear; and (5) awareness of spirit, culture, and self vs. disconnection from culture. The second map then outlines the specific ways that art contributes to each factor of survivance. The third map places the personal strengths of Blackfoot people and artists, also referred to as the Blackfoot Warrior Spirit (strength, courage, perseverance, adaptability, confidence, love, caretaking, and compassion) at the core of Blackfoot survivance. I discuss the findings from the meaning making process in relation to existing research and literature and share reflections on how this might apply in the field of counselling psychology and make recommendations accordingly. I further consider the strengths and limitations of my dissertation research and present considerations for future research.
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Art, Blackfoot, Blackfoot Warrior Spirit, Circle of Survivance, Community-Based Research, Concept Map, Covid-19, Counselling Psychology, Culturally Rooted Intervention, Decolonization, Hierarchy of Needs, Indigenous, Pandemic, Reconciliation, Resurgence, Resilience, Resistance, Story, Storywork, Strength-Based, Survivance, Wellness
Citation
Tabor, S. M. (2023). Blackfoot art and the ongoing survivance of Blackfoot communities in Covid-19 (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.