Surviving in the cracks: a qualitative study with indigenous youth on homelessness and applied community theatre

Abstract

Indigenous youth are disproportionately impacted by homelessness in Canada. Little is known about Indigenous youths’ lived experiences of homelessness and the dominant methodological orientation in related research uses quantitative research methods. There have been calls for increased engagement in qualitative and arts-based research methods. In this article, we answer this call through exploration of two key issues at the intersection of Indigenous youth, homelessness and arts-based research: (1) theory and (2) method. Using thematic analysis of interviews conducted with youth in an applied community theatre project, this study identifies seven conceptual themes related to youth experiences with homelessness, and nine methodological themes related to decolonizing arts-based research. We explore the entangled relationship of applied community theatre and decolonizing methodologies with youth, considering what is contentious, multifaceted and complex about this relationship.

Keywords:

• Indigenous youth homelessness
• arts-based research
• decolonizing methodologies

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jeffrey Paul Ansloos

Dr. Jeffrey Ansloos is Assistant Professor in Indigenous Mental Health and Social Policy and the Canada Research Chair in Critical Studies in Indigenous Health and Social Action on Suicide at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.

Amanda Claudia Wager

Dr. Amanda Wager (she/hers/her) is Professor of Education, the Canada Research Chair in Community Research in Art, Culture and Education, and the Director of the Community Action Research Centre for the Arts at Vancouver Island University.