Research Library

This thesis explains the influence of African Indigenous Knowledge in the education and identities of Black African Immigrant graduate students in Alberta, situated within Canada’s multiculturalism. Black African immigrant students’ identities are formed and shaped by their African Indigenous experiences, which influences their socio-cultural development in Canada. Canada recognizes and promotes diversity and inclusion through the Federal Multiculturalism Act (1988), which preserves and enhances the multicultural heritage of all Canadians. This exploratory research explains how the exclusion of African Indigenous knowledge in the education of Black African students impacts them; whether a shift to acknowledge and validate African Indigenous knowledge would create a better educational impact for Black African Immigrant students; and how multiculturalism enables the diverse population to understand their human rights and support the reclaiming of self and identity. The study also looks at how the strategies adopted by the Indigenous people of Canada to reclaim their identities could inform the actions of Black Africans. This thesis explains the influence of African Indigenous Knowledge in the education and identities of Black African Immigrant graduate students in Alberta, situated within Canada’s multiculturalism. Black African immigrant students’ identities are formed and shaped by their African Indigenous experiences, which influences their socio-cultural development in Canada. Canada recognizes and promotes diversity and inclusion through the Federal Multiculturalism Act (1988), which preserves and enhances the multicultural heritage of all Canadians. This exploratory research explains how the exclusion of African Indigenous knowledge in the education of Black African students impacts them; whether a shift to acknowledge and validate African Indigenous knowledge would create a better educational impact for Black African Immigrant students; and how multiculturalism enables the diverse population to understand their human rights and support the reclaiming of self and identity. The study also looks at how the strategies adopted by the Indigenous people of Canada to reclaim their identities could inform the actions of Black Africans.
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South Asian immigrant youth (SAIY) confront challenges like racial discrimination, stigma, and acculturative stress due to their marginalised identities. Limited research exists on the barriers they face adjusting to Canadian life. Our findings underscore the varied experiences of SAIY in Edmonton, Alberta, highlighting the need for better accessibility to social and healthcare services. South Asian immigrant youth (SAIY) confront challenges like racial discrimination, stigma, and acculturative stress due to their marginalised identities. Limited research exists on the barriers they face adjusting to Canadian life. Our findings underscore the varied experiences of SAIY in Edmonton, Alberta, highlighting the need for better accessibility to social and healthcare services.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The challenges faced by Muslim youth in Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto in developing a meaningful and stable identity in an era of global conflicts, collective surveillance, and suspicion are explored. The study focuses on the negotiation of belonging and citizenship among Canadian Muslim youth, who navigate multiple, complex, and hybrid identities. 5 major themes were identified: navigation of multiple identities, religious identity and spirituality, media portrayals of Muslims, claiming inclusion and belonging in the face of anti-Muslim racism, and recommendations for positive youth development. By listening to the voices of Canadian Muslim youth, policymakers, practitioners, Muslim communities, and organizations can develop strategies to support their development. The challenges faced by Muslim youth in Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto in developing a meaningful and stable identity in an era of global conflicts, collective surveillance, and suspicion are explored. The study focuses on the negotiation of belonging and citizenship among Canadian Muslim youth, who navigate multiple, complex, and hybrid identities. 5 major themes were identified: navigation of multiple identities, religious identity and spirituality, media portrayals of Muslims, claiming inclusion and belonging in the face of anti-Muslim racism, and recommendations for positive youth development. By listening to the voices of Canadian Muslim youth, policymakers, practitioners, Muslim communities, and organizations can develop strategies to support their development.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This study examined the underexplored relationship between winter sport, newcomer participation, integration, and national identity. This study examined the underexplored relationship between winter sport, newcomer participation, integration, and national identity.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This research examines everyday place-based experiences of settlement sociability among racialized immigrants based on the understanding that racial matters are spatial matters. Findings indicate that racialized immigrants felt comfortable in “de-racialized” spaces, where they were temporarily relieved from their ethnic visibility and a sense of being out of place. They were uncomfortable in areas that triggered “racialized insecurity,” where they felt vulnerable because of their racialized identity. The findings of this research call attention to the need for a closer inspection of how places of immigrant settlement and race are inextricably linked. The promotion of settlement sociability needs to go beyond physical proximity to social closeness, valuing co-ethnicity and cultural familiarity, especially in the initial stage of settlement. This research examines everyday place-based experiences of settlement sociability among racialized immigrants based on the understanding that racial matters are spatial matters. Findings indicate that racialized immigrants felt comfortable in “de-racialized” spaces, where they were temporarily relieved from their ethnic visibility and a sense of being out of place. They were uncomfortable in areas that triggered “racialized insecurity,” where they felt vulnerable because of their racialized identity. The findings of this research call attention to the need for a closer inspection of how places of immigrant settlement and race are inextricably linked. The promotion of settlement sociability needs to go beyond physical proximity to social closeness, valuing co-ethnicity and cultural familiarity, especially in the initial stage of settlement.
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The immigrant population in Canada is rapidly increasing and projected to rise exponentially in the coming years. The immigrant population faces complex and diverse challenges when transitioning into a new country, and this occurrence may be uniquely experienced by youth, who are also navigating transitions in child development, most notably into adolescence. Embedded in a broader mixed methods pilot project, the aim of this thesis was to qualitatively investigate the impact of the Immigrant-based Physical Literacy for Youth (IPLAY) program on mental health and well-being. 21 Afghan refugee youth in Calgary, AB who participated in IPLAY were interviewed. Results indicated that youth held a holistic conceptualization of mental health, contrasting what is common practice in the field and literature. Such findings provide a rich tapestry of understanding into how newcomer youth define, understand, and experience mental health, and implications for stress management. The immigrant population in Canada is rapidly increasing and projected to rise exponentially in the coming years. The immigrant population faces complex and diverse challenges when transitioning into a new country, and this occurrence may be uniquely experienced by youth, who are also navigating transitions in child development, most notably into adolescence. Embedded in a broader mixed methods pilot project, the aim of this thesis was to qualitatively investigate the impact of the Immigrant-based Physical Literacy for Youth (IPLAY) program on mental health and well-being. 21 Afghan refugee youth in Calgary, AB who participated in IPLAY were interviewed. Results indicated that youth held a holistic conceptualization of mental health, contrasting what is common practice in the field and literature. Such findings provide a rich tapestry of understanding into how newcomer youth define, understand, and experience mental health, and implications for stress management.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of depression among African immigrant men in Southern Alberta. The study adopted an exploratory descriptive qualitative research design using focused semi-structured interviews with ten African immigrant men. Thematic analysis showed that African men went through episodes of sadness and frustrations due to intersection of challenges post-migration, which negatively impacted both their physical and mental health. However, instead of seeking professional help, they employed a series of coping mechanisms to mitigate, tolerate, or overcome the mental distress. It was evident that African men’s cultural constructions around masculinity influenced how they perceived, interpreted, and expressed their mental distress. Culture and masculinity also shaped their strategies for coping with the mental distress and behaviour towards help-seeking. It is recommended that stakeholders and policy makers apply cultural safety approaches to support African immigrant men to enhance their mental well-being. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of depression among African immigrant men in Southern Alberta. The study adopted an exploratory descriptive qualitative research design using focused semi-structured interviews with ten African immigrant men. Thematic analysis showed that African men went through episodes of sadness and frustrations due to intersection of challenges post-migration, which negatively impacted both their physical and mental health. However, instead of seeking professional help, they employed a series of coping mechanisms to mitigate, tolerate, or overcome the mental distress. It was evident that African men’s cultural constructions around masculinity influenced how they perceived, interpreted, and expressed their mental distress. Culture and masculinity also shaped their strategies for coping with the mental distress and behaviour towards help-seeking. It is recommended that stakeholders and policy makers apply cultural safety approaches to support African immigrant men to enhance their mental well-being.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Interview with Jose (they/he), a queer, non-binary Mexican immigrant living in St. Albert, AB. Jose talks about how their supportive parents changed their entire coming out experience, especially as a Catholic immigrant. Interview with Jose (they/he), a queer, non-binary Mexican immigrant living in St. Albert, AB. Jose talks about how their supportive parents changed their entire coming out experience, especially as a Catholic immigrant.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Current industrialized food systems have detrimental consequences for people and the planet. Relocalizing food systems offers one strategy to mitigate these harms; advocates point to opportunities for ecological, economic, and social benefits as reason to localize food production. However, the assumption that the local is inherently preferable to the global can lead academics, practitioners, and consumers into the local trap. With increasing ethnic diversity in Canada, the perception that local is inherently good and global is inherently bad can translate into defensive and exclusionary tendencies towards the food preferences and practices of newcomers, immigrants and refugees. While the literature identifies various manifestations of the local trap, it offers limited investigation of strategies that may overcome this pitfall. In contrast to defensive localism, alternative conceptualizations of scale may support action in favour of collaborative, inclusive, and diversity-receptive outcomes in food systems. Therefore, in this thesis, I aim to identify strategies that may include the food preferences and practices of newcomers while also addressing problematic aspects of industrial food systems. I also seek to understand the mechanisms and conceptualizations that enable such strategies. To accomplish this, 1) I completed a literature analysis to synthesize potential strategies and models and 2) empirically explored food practices and goals of the EthniCity Catering program (Centre for Newcomers) in Calgary, Alberta to illustrate the potential application of such strategies in a specific time and place. This thesis hopes to offer theoretical contributions to geographical discussions on scale in food systems as well as practical implications for food system practitioners. Current industrialized food systems have detrimental consequences for people and the planet. Relocalizing food systems offers one strategy to mitigate these harms; advocates point to opportunities for ecological, economic, and social benefits as reason to localize food production. However, the assumption that the local is inherently preferable to the global can lead academics, practitioners, and consumers into the local trap. With increasing ethnic diversity in Canada, the perception that local is inherently good and global is inherently bad can translate into defensive and exclusionary tendencies towards the food preferences and practices of newcomers, immigrants and refugees. While the literature identifies various manifestations of the local trap, it offers limited investigation of strategies that may overcome this pitfall. In contrast to defensive localism, alternative conceptualizations of scale may support action in favour of collaborative, inclusive, and diversity-receptive outcomes in food systems. Therefore, in this thesis, I aim to identify strategies that may include the food preferences and practices of newcomers while also addressing problematic aspects of industrial food systems. I also seek to understand the mechanisms and conceptualizations that enable such strategies. To accomplish this, 1) I completed a literature analysis to synthesize potential strategies and models and 2) empirically explored food practices and goals of the EthniCity Catering program (Centre for Newcomers) in Calgary, Alberta to illustrate the potential application of such strategies in a specific time and place. This thesis hopes to offer theoretical contributions to geographical discussions on scale in food systems as well as practical implications for food system practitioners.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Children with disabilities are among the most at-risk groups for marginalization due to compounded disadvantages from the intersection of risk factors such as refugee status and disability status. Despite this high risk, there is no systematic data collected on this group and scant literature on the topic contributing to a feeling of invisibility. We conducted a narrative inquiry on the experiences of two Syrian refugee families with children living with disabilities. Narrative inquiry is a way to understand experience as a storied phenomenon. In order to understand the complexities of the experience as a refugee with a child living with disabilities, attending to the lived and told stories is essential. In hearing the narration of these experiences across time, place, and social contexts various narrative threads emerged. The narrative threads that resonated across the experiences of two families included waiting and a struggle for agency, as well as disruption and continuity. Children with disabilities are among the most at-risk groups for marginalization due to compounded disadvantages from the intersection of risk factors such as refugee status and disability status. Despite this high risk, there is no systematic data collected on this group and scant literature on the topic contributing to a feeling of invisibility. We conducted a narrative inquiry on the experiences of two Syrian refugee families with children living with disabilities. Narrative inquiry is a way to understand experience as a storied phenomenon. In order to understand the complexities of the experience as a refugee with a child living with disabilities, attending to the lived and told stories is essential. In hearing the narration of these experiences across time, place, and social contexts various narrative threads emerged. The narrative threads that resonated across the experiences of two families included waiting and a struggle for agency, as well as disruption and continuity.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly