Decolonizing HIV research using arts-based methods: What aboriginal youth in Canada had to say

BACKGROUND: One explanation for the elevated prevalence of HIV/AIDS within Aboriginal communities is that systemic colonial oppression faced by Indigenous populations propagates conditions of risk. Many conventional HIV prevention strategies that fail to take these legacies into account, have proven ineffective. METHODS: “Taking Action: Using Arts-Based Approaches to Develop Aboriginal Youth Leadership in HIV Prevention” is a community-based research project examining how Aboriginal youth understand the links between individual risk and structural inequalities. A participatory research design using arts-based approaches (e.g. photography, theatre, painting, hip hop) was adopted in six Aboriginal communities. Data were collected through the creation of cultural productions during weekend workshops and in-depth follow-up interviews. Over 100 youth participated. RESULTS. Youth involved identified that both the process and product of arts-based methods were important. They identified the process: as fun, participatory, empowering, instilling pride, helpful in learning about culture, healing, enhancing recall, and assisting in opening up dialogue. In addition, products were: a source of pride, accessibly transmitted complex information, useful in raising awareness, conveyed emotion, tangible and long lasting and helped to both bridge and challenge traditional culture. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the notion that arts-based approaches to HIV prevention with Aboriginal youth can work. As an innovative tool that involves youth “where they are at,” it also embeds cultural understandings of health in by-youth, for-youth prevention and policy efforts. Arts-based approaches represent one way to assist with decolonizing the research process, moving forward the agenda of self-determination.