More than words: Listening to Indigenous voices

Posted by on October 21, 2013

The Penn State Brandywine Laboratory for Civic and Community Engagement and the Psychology Club are delighted to welcome Dr. Lynne Russell. Dr. Lynne Russell is a Māori academic researcher from Aotearoa New Zealand, whose work over the last 25 years has primarily focused on Indigenous mental health and wellbeing. She is also a full-time wife, mother and grandmother; her Iwi (tribes) are Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne and Ngāti Porou. As a Senior Research Fellow from the Health Services Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, Dr. Russell has had the opportunity to visit the US twice before – the first time as a delegate at the 2010 International Network of Indigenous Health Knowledge and Development conference in Poulsbo, Seattle where she presented a paper about the importance of listening to and hearing Indigenous voice; and again later that year when she returned as a Māori Health Postdoctoral
Research Fellow to learn from the wisdom of elders, health service providers, workers, scholars, researchers and other experts in Indigenous mental health and wellbeing across North America. This time she visits as a Fulbright/Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Travel Awardee to present back the findings of her postdoctoral study of Indigenous mental health and wellbeing across the US, Canada and Australia, as well as her use of traditional storytelling (‘kōrero’, ‘yarning’ and ‘sharing circles’) to undertake the research. This approach to knowledge gathering – the sharing of stories between researcher and participant – was brought about by Dr. Russell learning to retell her own story following the suicide of her husband. Through shared storytelling, a number of themes emerged that were common to all Indigenous peoples she met with. Dr. Russell will expand on these in a series of presentations she is giving in the States of Pennsylvania and Washington.

Penn State Brandywine Campus Seminar will be held on Tuesday, November 12th  at 11.30-12.45 in Room 113 Main Building.

More than words: Listening to Indigenous voice

Dr. Lynne Russell, a Māori academic researcher from Aotearoa New Zealand and a Fulbright grantee, will present on the importance of listening to Indigenous wisdom and Indigenous ways of telling for mental health recovery. Her presentation derives from her postdoctoral research, which explored Indigenous interpretations of mental health experiences, and the significance of culture in these understandings.

RSPV or Queries: Dr. Pauline Guerin at pbg12@psu.edu