Narrowly focused pre-employment programs that evaluate impact in terms of finding work have been considered inadequate for meeting the realities and needs of urban Indigenous youth.
Purpose: This article focuses on Odabi (“roots” in Anicinabe), a skills and employment program for youth created and offered by an urban Indigenous organization in Quebec
Setting: The study is part of a 4-year community-university partnership with Val-d’Or Native Friendship Center.
Research design: An Indigenous evaluation framework served to examine the evolution and program’s impact from the participants’ perspective.Data collection & analysis: Informing the study was a combination of participant observation, participatory group activities, sharing circles, and individual interview with program participants (25) and staff (11).
Findings: The evaluation research shows that reshaping the program involved broadening the definition of success to encompass a comprehensive Indigenous view of well-being that is greater than finding and maintaining a job. Participants tell the story of what counts in terms of the program being rooted in the collective and group aspect, suggesting that the technical aspects of employment should not be at the program’s core, but rather the relational component and the strengthening of the sense of identity and pride.
