Dr. Natasha Blanchet-Cohen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Human Sciences. Her research centers on community youth development with a focus on rights-based approaches to programs and services, culture, and eco-citizenship, particularly as it relates to immigrant and indigenous young people. She is interested in the opportunities and limitations for immigrant and indigenous young people in being change agents in their schools, homes, and communities, as well as the perspectives of youth in providing for rights-based and culturally-responsive services and programs. She is also interested in developmental evaluation as a way of creating space to engage young people and communities to assess their own realities and use this knowledge to inform future action. Dr. Blanchet-Cohen has a well-rounded record of publications, and has been an invited speaker nationally and internationally in the area of youth participation and citizenship, culturally-responsive ecocitizenship, developmental evaluation, and children’s rights. As an interdisciplinary and engaged scholar, her participation in national and international initiatives have contributed to building the capacity of human ecologies - including federal, provincial, and municipal polices and services, and school, family and peer groups – to positively support the quality of young peoples’ lives.
Education
PhD, Curriculum and Instruction, University of Victoria
MA, International Affairs, Carleton University
MA, Public Policy & Public Administration, Carleton University
BA, Political Science, McGill University
Affiliations
Dialog - Réseau de recherche et de connaissances relatives aux peuples autochtones
Observatoire jeunes et société
Centr’ERE - Centre de recherche en éducation et formation relatives à l’environnement et à l’écocitoyenneté
Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability (fellow)
Carrefour Action Municipale des Familles (accreditation committee)
Equitas (Progam committee board member)
Research interests
Child agency and child participation
Community youth development
Children and ecocitizenship
Developmental evaluation
Immigrant youth
Indigenous youth
Culturally-safe child and youth services and programs
Recent publications
Blanchet-Cohen, N., Robert-Careau, F., et Pinsonneault, A. (printemps 2021). Repenser le soutien des transitions scolaires harmonieuses pour les jeunes autochtones en milieu urbain. Education et Francophonie. XLIX(1) https://revue.acelf.ca/pdf/EF-49-1-112_BLANCHET-COHEN_vf1.pdf
Blanchet-Cohen, N., Cloutier, É., Laroche, S., Lévesque, C., & Wawanolath, M. (2021). Moving towards an indigenous-centered approach to perinatal care in urban Québec. International Journal of Indigenous Health, 16(2), 54-69. https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/ijih/article/view/33211
Blanchet-Cohen, N, Di Mambro, G., Petiquay, M. (2020). Le comité Witcihitiso(entraide) par et pour les familles d’adolescents autochtones en ville. First peoples child and family review, 15(2), 87-105. https://fpcfr.com/index.php/FPCFR/article/view/487/351
Hovington, S., Blanchet-Cohen, N., & Mann Feder, V. (2020). Innovation in a capstone course in Youth Work: Using the authentic situated learning and teaching framework. International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies, 11(3). https://journals.uvic.ca/index.php/ijcyfs/article/view/19713
Blanchet-Cohen, N., Torres, J., Grégoire-Labrecque, G. (2020). Youth and their multiple relationships with their city: experiences of exclusion and belonging in Montreal. Sociological studies of children and youth (Rethinking young people’s lives through space and place), 26, 85-103.
Blanchet-Cohen, N., Di Mambro, G., Sioui, G., & Robert-Careau, F. (2018). Le point de vue de jeunes autochtones en milieu urbain sur leur parcours scolaire. Revue jeunes et société, 3(2), 95-115. http://rjs.inrs.ca/index.php/rjs/article/view/152
Blanchet-Cohen, N., Geoffroy, P & Hoyos, L.M., (2018). Culturally safe developmental Evaluation: Supporting the Shift in Services for Indigenous Children. Journal of multidisciplinary evaluation.14(31), 19-31. https://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/497
Blanchet-Cohen, N. & Urud, M. (2017). Tana’Bawang: Cultural safety and the Kelabit land struggle in Borneo. AlterNatives. 13(2),170-178.
Blanchet-Cohen, N., Denov, M, Sarah, F. & Bilotta, N. (2017). The nexus of war, resettlement and education: War-affected youth’s perspectives and responses to the Quebec education system. International journal of Intercultural Relations, 60, 160-168.
Blanchet-Cohen, N., & Di Mambro, G. (2016). L’éco-citoyenneté chez les enfants : potentiel et paradoxe. Éducation relative à l’environnement. Regards, recherches et réflexions,13(2). https://www.erudit.org/en/journals/ere/2016-v13-n2-ere04029/1052535ar/
Denov, M., & Blanchet-Cohen, N. (2016) Trajectories of Violence and Survival:Turnings and Adaptations in the Lives of Two War-affected Youth Living in Canada. Peace & Conflict : Journal of Peace Psychology, (22)3, 236-245.
Torres, J. et Blanchet-Cohen, N. (2016). Au-delà de l’accréditation : changement et continuité au sein des villes amies des enfants du Québec. Annales de la recherche urbaine n°111, 100-111.
Blanchet-Cohen, N. & Torres, J. (2015). Accreditation of child-friendly municipalities in Quebec: Opportunities for child participation. Children youth,environments [Special issue: Child-friendly cities: critical approaches].25(2), p. 16-32.
Blanchet-Cohen, N.,& Denov, M. (2015). War-affected children’s approach to resettlement: Implications for child and family services. [Special issue: The role ofanthropology in improving services for children and family]. Annals of Anthropological Practice,39(2), 120-133.
Ranahan, P., Blanchet-Cohen, N., Mann-Feder, V.(2015). Moving towards an integrated approach to youth work education.International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies, 6(4), 516-538.
Blanchet-Cohen, N., & Di Mambro, G. (2015). Environmental action research with immigrant children in schools: Space, audience and influence. Action Research, 13(2), 123-140.
Blanchet-Cohen, N. (2015). Igniting citizen participation in creating healthy built environments: The role of community organizations. Community Development Journal. 50(4), 264-279.
Books
Swadener, B., Lundy, L., Habashi, J., & Blanchet-Cohen, N. (Eds.). (2013).
Children’s Rights in Education: International Perspectives. New York, NY: Peter Lang.
Journal special issue
Lavoie, C., Blanchet-Cohen, N., Bacon, M. (printemps 2021). Vers l’autochtonisation: pratiques éducatives inspirantes à l’ère de la réconciliation. Éducation et francophonie. Rédacteurs invités du numéro. https://www.acelf.ca/c/revue/pdf/EF-49-1-001_liminaire_vf1.pdf
Jean-Pierre, J., Blanchet-Cohen, N., De Finney, S., (2020). An empirical exploration of child and youth care pedagogical and curricular practices. International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies, 11(3).
Blanchet-Cohen,N., & Richardson, C. (2017). Cultural Safety: Applications and implications for Indigenous children, families, and communities
AlterNatives:
An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples.13(2),
138-141.
Blanchet-Cohen, N. with Linds, W., Mann-Feder, V., & Yuen, F. (Eds.). (2013). Transforming practices: emancipatory approaches to youth engagement [Special issue].
International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies,
4(3-3.1). Retrieved from
http://journals.uvic.ca/index.php/ijcyfs.
Research reports and practitioner manual
Blanchet-Cohen, N., Lefevre-Radelli, L., Robert-Careau, F., et Talbot, C. (2020). Réussite éducative et développement identitaire des Innus dans les écoles à Sept-Îles. Rapport de recherche. Institut Tshakapesh et Chaire-réseau jeunesse.
Blanchet-Cohen, N.,& Torres, J. (2017). Living in Montreal in the 21stcentury; perspectives from young montrealers. Montreal: Fondation du Grand Montreal. https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/3447383
Blanchet-Cohen, N. & Torres, J. [sous la direction de]. (2013). Municipalité amie des enfants: établir une demarche participative avec les jeunes. Carrefour Action Municipale et Famille. Retrieved from http://www.amiedesenfants.ca/attachments/article/88/Guide_FINAL_PDF.pdf
Dozois, E., Langlois, M., & Blanchet-Cohen, N. (2010). DE 201: Practitioner’s guide to developmental evaluation. Victoria: McConnell Foundation and International Institute for Child Rights and Development. Retrieve from : http://www.mcconnellfoundation.ca/en/resources/publication/de-201-a-practitioner-s-guide-to-developmental-evaluation
Blanchet-Cohen, N., Mack, E., & Cook, M. (2010). Changing the landscape: Engaging youth in social change. Victoria: International Institute for Child Rights and Development. See: http://www.mcconnellfoundation.ca/en/resources/report/youthscape-guidebook-changing-the-landscape-involving-youth-in-s
Book chapters
Blanchet-Cohen, N. (2020). Reflections, capacities and opportunities: being bold and creative (chapter 7). V. Caputo (ed). The children’s senator. Landon Pearson and a lifetime of advocacy (pp. 113-117). McGill Press.
Blanchet-Cohen, N. (2020). L’apport de la mobilisation communautaire pour un rapprochement école-famille en contexte autochtone au Québec. In A. Lenoir, L et Pelletier, L. (dir.). Regards critiques sur la relation école-familles (pp. 195-212). Éditions des archives contemporaines. France
Blanchet-Cohen, N., (2017). Apport des pédagogies autochtones à l’apprentissage de l’écocitoyenneté dans L. Sauvé, I. Orellana, C.Villemagne, et B. Bader. Éducation environnement Écocitoyenneté (pp. 67-80). Québec. Presse Universitaire duQuébec.
Torres, J., & Blanchet-Cohen, N. (2016). Reaching youth: tools for participating in the upgrading and evaluation of municipal equipment and services. In R. Thomas (Ed.) Planning Canada: A case study approach (ch. 6.4). Oxford University Press: Toronto.
Blanchet-Cohen, N., & Torres, J. (2015). Enhancing citizen engagement at the municipal level:youth’s perspectives. In J. Wyn, & H. Cahill (Eds.). Handbook of Children and Youth Studies (pp.391-404). Singapore: Springer.doi 10.1007/978-981-4451-96-3_62-1
Blanchet-Cohen, N. (2015). Indigenous children’s rights: Opportunities in Appropriation and Transformation. In W. Vandenhole, E. Desmet, D. Reynaert,& S. Lembrechts (Eds). Routledge International Handbook Children’s rights studies (pp.371-386). London: Routledge.
Peer-reviewed conferences & presentations (selected)
Blanchet-Cohen, N. Pinsonneault, A., Robert-Careau. F. (2019, Octobre). Portraits et approches pour soutenir les transitions scolaires auprès des jeunes autochtones en milieu urbain : résultat d’une étude collaborative. Colloque sur la persévérance et la réussite scolaires chez les Premiers Peuples, Montreal, QC.
Blanchet-Cohen, N. (panel chair). (2019, October). Moving forward with innovative Indigenous methodologies for education in Quebec with Elizabeth Fast (Concordia University), Sakay Ottawa (École secondaire Manawan), Jrene Rahm (Universite de Montreal), Michele Smith (Dawson College), Genevieve Sioui (Concordia University), Marie-Kristine Petiquay (UQAM) and other youth and community members. Colloque sur la persévérance et la réussite scolaires chez les Premiers Peuples, Montreal, QC.
Blanchet-Cohen, N., Mapara, A., & Grégoire-Labrecque, G. (2019, April). Youth community action to promote diversity, Child & Youth Care in Action VI. Moving through trails and trials towards community wellness. Victoria, BC.
Richardson, C., & Blanchet-Cohen, N. (2019, April). Into the future: doing Indigenous, collaborative, youth-centered, participatory action research in the Quebec Chair youth Research Network, Child & Youth Care in Action VI. Moving through trails and trials towards community wellness. Victoria, BC.
Blanchet-Cohen, N., Wright, L., Morrison, B. (2018, May). Shaking the movers: space, voice audience and influence. Transitions and transformations: 2018 Child and youth care conference, Vancouver, BC.
Invited presentations (selected)
Blanchet-Cohen, N. (2021, April). Tell us what we can do: Redefining youth-adult research collaborations. SFU Community-Engaged Research. Webinar with J. Torres. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzb2CburWys
New Perspectives for research and methodologies: engaging researchers and Indigenous youth. 4th Space Concordia University. Webinar with E. Fast and A. Turcotte. See podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6cLBUqGzk0
Blanchet-Cohen, N. (2020, October) Young people’s roles in building community resilience in 2020. Keynote Speaker at “Forum for youth insights: careers and education orientations for the post-Covid 19 world.” Quescreen, Youth4youthQuebec, and the Black Community Resource Center.
Website design
Grandir avec Montreal : https://www.grandiravecmontreal.org/
Chaire-Réseau de recherche sur la jeunesse du Québec: http://www.chairejeunesse.ca/index.php/a-propos