STORIES & IMAGES OF COMMUNITY STRENGTH FROM A YOUTH DOG MUSHING PROGRAM IN RURAL ALASKA
A two year Research Project between UAF (BLaST) & A-CHILL
YEAR 1 (2017-2018)
Jacques Philip, PI, Inna Rivkin, Co-I, Janessa Newman, Joe Bifelt
Project background
The two-year Biomedical Learning and Student Training (BLaST) faculty pilot research project entitled Stories and Images of Community Strength from a Youth Dog Mushing Program in Rural Alaska, began in August 2017. The collaboration between the Koyukon Athabascan community of Huslia and the Jimmy Huntington School students involved two Koyukon Athabascan University of Alaska-Fairbanks (UAF) undergraduates, Joe Bifelt and Janessa Newman. These two students were actively involved throughout the research; they were trained in photo-voice and digital storytelling, engaged Huslia youth and community members, co-facilitated the workshops, conducted qualitative data analysis, participated in community and academic presentations, and took lead roles in community dissemination activities.
The research explored the effects of the Frank Attla Youth & Sled Dog Care-Mushing Program (FAYSDP), subsequently Alaska- Care and Husbandry Instruction for Lifelong Learning (A-CHILL), on the community of Huslia to understand its potential to improve behavioral health outcomes by building social capital. Through pictures and digital stories, the objective of Year 1 was to obtain middle and high school students’ perspectives on the program, which involved dog handling and mushing skills taught by kennel owners, Elders, and volunteers.
Jacques Philip, PI, Inna Rivkin, Co-I, Janessa Newman, Joe Bifelt, Mickey Kenny and Huslia students
The assignment
Take photographs that represent how participating in the FAYSDP program has affected you and your community and create a digital story.