Promoting Identities and Mental Health via Cultural/Community Activities Among Racially/Ethnically Mixed Urban American Indians

This qualitative, focus group study explored the role of cultural/community activities in potentially promoting identities and mental health among urban American Indians who have mixed racial/ethnic heritages (e.g., African, Hispanic, and Caucasian) including those with mental illness in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (n = 25). The study identified a variety of unique benefits of cultural/community activities including its role in nurturing identity, belongingness, spiritual wakening and renewal, and mental health. Overall, these activity-induced benefits helped urban American Indians gain a feeling of oneness to experience peace of mind and harmony within oneself and with other people and the environment/nature.