A Group-Focused Mindfulness Intervention to Examine Psychological Openness Leveraging Indigenous Cultural Strengths and Craft Making in a Northeast Tribal Community: Results from the IndigenousMIND Project

Abstract IndigenousMIND-crafts is a culturally grounded, intergenerational mindfulness intervention designed for group clinical social work settings in Native American communities. Piloted with a Northeastern tribal nation, the program paired Elders and youth in weekend workshops that integrated mindfulness practices with traditional crafts such as corn husk dolls and finger weaving. Rooted in the IndigenousMIND framework, IndigenousMIND-crafts emphasized psychological openness, cultural identity, and intergenerational healing. Twenty-four tribal citizens were recruited through community networks and consented via a culturally attuned virtual process. Using Rapid Qualitative Analysis, we identified three key themes: (1) cultural crafts fostered openness and affirmed identity; (2) intergenerational engagement enhanced emotional well-being and community connection; and (3) cultural transmission was viewed as a vital responsibility linked to survival and ancestral ties. Participants described both immediate emotional benefits and a desire for sustained, culturally rooted programming. Findings highlight the potential for IndigenousMIND-crafts to be adapted across tribal contexts, demonstrating how traditional knowledge and mindfulness can be woven together to support therapeutic, culturally affirming care.