Source: https://twitter.com/IndigenousX
Indigenous X is an Aboriginal owned and operated that began as a rotating Twitter account showcasing diverse Indigenous Australian experiences and perspectives.
The use of social networks and storytelling is well documented in the literature as being effective in sustaining the resiliency of native communities, in particular, those living in remote communities. In their research, Molyneaux et al. (2014) relayed:
Three important components of resiliency in First Nations are having access to social capital, sharing stories, and networking. Sharing stories facilitates bonding between storytellers and listeners. Stories are important because they help community members, particularly the youth, to understand their negative experiences and look forward to a more positive future; research has found that Aboriginal youth use stories to build a sense of cultural continuity. (p. 277)
Cultural continuity and cultural connectedness are emerging areas within Indigenous health research, and research has spoken to the importance of cultural continuity in shaping positive health and wellness
outcomes for Indigenous Peoples. The aboriginal youth behind Indigenous X use stories about their experiences and family and friends’ experiences to build community on the Twitter platform, and in doing so, claim a piece of cyberspace to celebrate their culture and the successes of their people.
References
Molyneaux, H., O’Donnell, S., Kakekaspan, C., Walmark, B., Budka, P. & Gibson, H. (2014). Social Media in Remote First Nation Communities. Canadian Journal of Communication, Vol 39 No. 2. 275-288. Retrieved from http://www.cjc-online.ca/index.php/journal/article/view/2619