Cultural connectedness protects mental health against the effect of historical trauma among Anishinabe young adults

Canada's Indian Residential School (IRS) system aimed to annihilate Indigenous culture among Indigenous children. Negative health impacts have been documented not only among survivors but also among their descendants. Reconnection with culture has been promoted as a means to recovery for people affected by this historical trauma. This study aimed to assess whether cultural connectedness has a specific protective effect on mental health among the descendants of IRS survivors. Cross-sectional survey. A randomly selected cross section of Anishinabe people, aged 18–39 years, from one community were invited to complete a brief questionnaire. Associations were calculated between IRS attendance, cultural connectedness, and mental health. A total of 147 people participated. Among participants without a family history of IRS attendance, cultural connectedness was not significantly associated with improved mental health. Among participants with a family history of IRS attendance, a high level of cultural connectedness was significantly associated with a 31% greater probability of reporting high mental health and mental health status similar to those with no family history of IRS attendance. Cultural connectedness appears to act as a strong and specific protective factor against the intergenerational effects of IRS on the mental health of Anishinabe young adults, providing epidemiological support for the notion of ‘culture as treatment.’ [Display omitted] •Cultural connectedness is associated with mental health among Indigenous people.•The association is stronger among those whose families attended residential school.•This finding strengthens the case for ‘culture as treatment’ of historical trauma.