Struggles, strengths and solutions

The combination of social, economic and political issues affecting Aboriginal peoples and communities are virtually the same across Canada and have resulted in the descendants of the original peoples of this land as not having the same level of overall health and well being as other Canadians (Health Canada, 2004). [...] These gaps in the literature indicate a strong need for further research in the area of urban Aboriginal mothers and their children regarding food security issues and the strengths, resiliency and ways of resisting that these women carry. [...] These visual prompts were in the form of small posters made by the research team, which were taped to the walls of the room where the circles took place or were handed around by the participants as they sat in the circle. [...] For the making of the art mural, which took place two weeks after the circles were conducted, the research team first met with the artist to orient her to the project, the general information that came from the participants in the circles and her role as a facilitator. [...] Thus, we provided public transportation fares for them and their children, on site child care and the inclusion of their children in the making of the mural, healthy, traditional Aboriginal food, an informal, comfortable space that they were familiar with, and honourariums for participation in the circles and the art mural workshop.