“Our people are feeling there’s no hope for the future”: Indigenous teenagers and youth culture as a coping strategy in the archive of the Sioux Lookout Zone Hospital, 1969-1996

Abstract

Introduction: To analyze the use of youth culture as a coping mechanism by youth in the Sioux Lookout Zone from 1969 to 1996. Method: This project employs an archival research method to study the records of the Sioux Lookout Zone Hospital, located at the University of Toronto. The hospital was operated by the federal government for Status Indians. From 1969 to 1996, the hospital’s medical service was provided by the University of Toronto. Discussion: The period of 1969 to 1996 was a challenging time for teenagers in the Sioux Lookout Zone. They had poor job prospects and often struggled with the loneliness of attending high school in southern communities. They turned to youth culture as a coping mechanism, sometimes in healthier ways such as rock music and fashion, but also in less healthy ways such as substance use and gang membership. Conclusion: This project serves as a case study of the challenges that faced youth in the Sioux Lookout Zone in order to contribute to our understanding of the historical antecedents of the poor health outcomes of youth in the Sioux Lookout Zone today.