Traditional crafting as a catalyst for Indigenous women’s intergenerational cohesion and wellness: a Canadian perspective

ABSTRACT

Indigenous crafting practices are increasingly being recognised for their benefit to community connectedness, health, cultural identity, and individual wellbeing. This article explores published literature to determine the role of Indigenous crafting in transferring traditional and cultural teachings from female relatives and Elders to girls and younger women. We examine the effect of crafting on intergenerational cohesion and social connectedness within the Indigenous community. Does crafting serve as an effective conduit for physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental change in learners and teachers? Our review identifies 12 publications that describe Indigenous mostly girls and younger women’s experiences as they acquire female Elders’, teachers’ and older family members’ traditional and cultural teachings while participating in crafting activities. The papers identify an array of traditional and cultural activities including: basket weaving, beading, sewing, language acquisition, traditional songs, traditional dance, and storytelling. More contemporary forms of artistic expression such as photography, theatre and film production are also included. Research findings show that learning, teaching and practicing Indigenous crafting is associated with increased intergenerational cohesion, cultural connectedness, and wellbeing for both teachers and learners. Further, learning about Indigenous crafts and activities helps inspire pride in Indigenous identity and promotes healing from historical trauma.

KEYWORDS:

• Traditional crafting
• traditional skills
• traditional teachings
• intergenerational cohesion
• cultural connectedness
• indigenous wellness
• indigenous identity
• narrative review

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the University of Alberta Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI) for the Cavarzan Chair in Mature Women's Health awarded to SR.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2023.2175763

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute for Indigenous People’s Health: ”Sharing Traditional Knowledge to Increase Intergenerational Cohesion - Effects on Physical, Mental, Spiritual, and Emotional Health. Maskwacis Sohki Teyhew (Strong Heart) Group Community-Based Participatory Research” awarded to CV (PI) and SR (co-PI).