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Incorporating Traditional Culture Into Positive Youth Development Programs With American Indian/Alaska Native Youth
Author(s) -
Kenyon DenYelle Baete,
Hanson Jessica D.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
child development perspectives
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1750-8606
pISSN - 1750-8592
DOI - 10.1111/j.1750-8606.2011.00227.x
Subject(s) - positive youth development , psychological intervention , psychology , youth culture , native american , developmental psychology , sociology , anthropology , psychiatry
— The majority of research and programs for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth focus on negative health behaviors and risks, ignoring the positive attributes that traditional AI/AN culture can provide. Therefore, it is critical to highlight the importance of incorporating traditional AI/AN worldviews and values into youth programming and health interventions. Accordingly, this article provides (a) a brief overview of AI/AN culture and historical policies and practices, (b) a description of the positive youth development (PYD) framework with a focus on research and programs that include AI/AN youth, (c) details on the strengths of AI/AN culture and how they can be incorporated into programming for AI/AN youth, and (d) examples of exemplary PYD programs for AI/AN youth.