b'Protective Factors for the Journey on Earth Spiritual Mapping for Indigenous Children/Youth to Become Strong Healthy EldersThewordcommunityistranslatedinthe hadanopportunityforastrongculturalLakota language to tiospaye (tee-oh-shpa- connection, there is a prevailing sense of Whoye),whichisaconceptoffamiliesliving am I? Where am I going? Why am I here? I donttogether,beingrelatedtooneanother,and belonganywhere.Thiscanresultinincreasedtreatingeachotherasgoodrelatives.The risk factors.westernconceptofcommunityisbasedongeographyand/oronsimilarinterests, Whenthespiritoftheindividualisborn,thebeliefs, and life ways, such as a community of firstpersontotouchandgreetthebabyisayouth,Elders,ortheLGBTQ2S+community. GrandmotherorreveredElder.ShewelcomesOtherTribalNationshavetheirown the baby, greets the baby with love, predicts atranslationandconceptualmeaningof pathforthebabyTakoja(grandchild),youcommunity.Forthepurposesofthisarticle, areloved,cherished,youregoingtohaveathe Indigenous concept of community will be goodlife,beastrongleader;youregoingtousedand,morespecifically,aLakota be happy and healthy. In short, shes showingworldview will be used as an example. the baby what path to take. It is believed thatthegrandmotheristalkingtothespiritoftheThereisaLakotaconceptrelevanttothe infantandthathermessagewillsustainbabyjourney on earth which is called Oinajin (Oh- throughouttheirlife.Thatisanexampleofee-nuh-jheeToh-pah),whichtranslatesto anotherprotectivefactorbeinglovedandfour stages of life. These stages encompass cherished.pre-birth to puberty (around age 12); age 12 adulthood (adolescence to around age 21 or As the baby advances through that first stagewhen they establish their own family); age 21 oflife,otherceremoniesaredonetoensure 50 (adulthood); and 50+ (Elderhood). Within thehealthydevelopmentofthechild,e.g.,athese four stages of life are seven transitions, celebration is held when the baby takes a firstwhich will not be discussed in this article. step or says their first word or is given a spiritnamefromanAncestororbasedonanIt is believed that every individual is sent from Ancestorsdeed.Aspartofthespirit-namingtheSpiritWorldforaspecificpurposeor ceremony, a feast and giveaway are held in thepurposes. That belief in itself is a protective childshonor,celebratingthemasablessingfactorforindividuals,particularlyyouth;the fromthespiritworld.Alloftheseceremonies,message is that they were meant to be here and others, are protective factors designed toandthattheybelong.Intodays contributetothehealthydevelopmentofthecontemporarysociety,wheremany childsphysical,mental,emotionalandspiritIndigenous youth and their families have not aspects of their being.'