The Coming of Age Project

This community-based collaboration developed resources to inform and advocate for a culturally-centered coming of age for urban Indigenous youth living in foster care in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on Lekwungen Territory.

  • “You need to take care of yourself. Don’t let people treat you badly. Be a strong woman. And speak your mind.”

    TS, interview

  • “…how [do we] recognize the old traumas that can resurface and draw strength from this, rather than being crushed by past memories and recollections.”

    Knowledge holder in young women’s sharing circle

  • “I need people to know there is more to me than just test scores and bubbly personalities. Sometimes I need space to do what I have to in order to keep myself calm.”

    CT, interview

  • “Coming of age is a time of teaching about our roles and responsibilities as a woman or as young ladies”

    Knowledge Holder, young women’s sharing circle

  • “…when I introduce myself, I want to say it in Gitxsan."

    TS, interview

“Day by day, coming of age is a process that takes time”

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s first call to action is to reduce the number of Indigenous children and youth in care, including keeping young people in culturally appropriate environments.

While we work towards this goal, culturally appropriate resources are needed to support children and youth as evidence shows that when Indigenous youth have access to cultural teachings, they have improved physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health outcomes.

Our project focused on the protective qualities of Indigenous coming of age teachings. Together with our community partner Surrounded by Cedar Child and Family Services, we worked to develop resources that inform and advocate for a culturally-centered coming of age for urban Indigenous youth living in foster care in Victoria, British Columbia on Lekwungen Territory.

Strengthening Cultural Identity

The Strengthening Cultural Identity project aims to connect urban Indigenous youth to culturally centered coming of age activities in lək̓ʷəŋən territory (Victoria, British Columbia). Elements identified by youth participants during the 2018-2021 Coming of Age Project, as a ways to strengthen their Indigenous identities have been carried forward by two of Surrounded by Cedar Child and Family Services’s (SCCFS) youth groups, the Xe’Xe’tuls’thut (leadership) group and the Youth Advisory Council.

Building on the partnership between SCCFS and the University of Victoria, funding from the Health Research BC REACH grant supported:

(1) Creation of coming of age regalia and teachings from community knowledge holders

(2) Support for the youth council’s drop-in initiative, where they hold space for peers in their community to share food, a safe space, and refuge from day-to-day challenges

(3) A blanket ceremony and community feast to close the first Coming of Age project

Resources and Publications

Awards & Recognitions

  • Indigenous Research Capacity and Reconciliation — Connection Grants 2018

  • Collaboration Grant

  • Graduate fellowship award

  • Best doctoral thesis and academic excellence - University of Victoria (2021)

  • Reach Program - supporting knowledge translation

Partners